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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 1 · Creation · 19 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.

Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›

Canto 1 · Chapter 12: Birth of Emperor Parīkṣit

1.12.18 1.12.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.12.19

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:The learned brāhmaṇassince 1.12.19inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

ब्राह्मणा ऊचु:

पार्थ प्रजाविता साक्षादिक्ष्वाकुरिव मानव: ।

ब्रह्मण्य: सत्यसन्धश्च रामो दाशरथिर्यथा ॥ १९ ॥

brāhmaṇā ūcuḥ

pārtha prajāvitā sākṣād

ikṣvākur iva mānavaḥ

brahmaṇyaḥ satya-sandhaś ca

rāmo dāśarathir yathā

Translation

The learned brāhmaṇas said: O son of Pṛthā, this child shall be exactly like King Ikṣvāku, son of Manu, in maintaining all those who are born. And as for following the brahminical principles, especially in being true to his promise, he shall be exactly like Rāma, the Personality of Godhead, the son of Mahārāja Daśaratha.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Protect Life and Remain True

1
The living being has no birth or death, but changes material bodies according to his work. Separation from the Lord’s service and the desire to control material nature bring this conditioning.
2
The Lord maintains living beings, who are His parts and parcels, and protects them through saintly kings. This protection includes animals, because all who are born in this world have the right to live.
3
The child would maintain others like Ikṣvāku and keep his promises like Rāma, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lord Kṛṣṇa’s teachings of devotional service were passed through disciplic succession for the welfare of human society.

Key points from the purport

The Vedic literatures are taught in higher planets also, as there is reference in the Bhagavad-gītā (4.1) about the teachings to the sun-god (Vivasvān) by the Lord, and such lessons are transferred by disciplic succession, as it was done by the sun-god to his son Manu, and from Manu to Mahārāja Ikṣvāku.
Mahārāja Ikṣvāku: One of the sons of Vaivasvata Manu.
Manu: The Manu mentioned in this verse as the father of Ikṣvāku is the seventh Manu, of the name Vaivasvata Manu, the son of sun-god Vivasvān, to whom Lord Kṛṣṇa instructed the teachings of Bhagavad-gītā prior to His teaching them to Arjuna.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 1.12.19 quotesBG 4.1

The Vedic literatures are taught in higher planets also, as there is reference in the Bhagavad-gītā (4.1) about the teachings to the sun-god (Vivasvān) by the Lord, and such lessons are transferred by disciplic succession, as it was done by the sun-god to his son Manu, and from Manu to Mahārāja Ikṣvāku.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

How it feels

Longing → Joy and continuity. Departure and welcome coexist; Parīkṣit embodies continuity of grace.

Chapters 10–12 of Canto 1: Kṛṣṇa returns to Dvārakā; Parīkṣit is born. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Chapter 12: Birth of Emperor Parīkṣit

Parīkṣit’s protection in the womb is recalled, and learned brāhmaṇas predict his qualities at birth.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.12

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

brāhmaṇāḥthe good brāhmaṇas
ūcuḥsaid
pārthaO son of Pṛthā (Kuntī)
prajāthose who are born
avitāmaintainer
sākṣātdirectly
ikṣvākuḥ ivaexactly like King Ikṣvāku
mānavaḥson of Manu

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

Manvantara · The change of Manus
What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10
Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership
Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.12
In this verse: “king”, “kings”
Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct
Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 1.12
In this verse: “principles”
Vātsalya · Parental affection
Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 1.12
In this verse: “child”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can my care for other living beings reflect respect for their relationship with the Lord?

Practice

Keep one promise today, remembering the example of Lord Rāma’s truthfulness.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 1.12's connections

Live this todayProtect Life and Remain TrueThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

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