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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
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 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
1.12.221.12.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.12.23

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The learned brāhmaṇassince 1.12.19inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

पितामहसम: साम्ये प्रसादे गिरिशोपम: ।

आश्रय: सर्वभूतानां यथा देवो रमाश्रय: ॥ २३ ॥

pitāmaha-samaḥ sāmye

prasāde giriśopamaḥ

āśrayaḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ

yathā devo ramāśrayaḥ

Translation

This child will be like his grandfather Yudhiṣṭhira or Brahmā in equanimity of mind. He will be munificent like the lord of the Kailāsa Hill, Śiva. And he will be the resort of everyone, like the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa, who is even the shelter of the goddess of fortune.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seek the Shelter of the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    Those responsible for others’ welfare must maintain mental equanimity, even under criticism. Both Brahmā and Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira exemplify this steadiness.

  2. 2

    Lord Śiva is easily pleased and remarkably generous in giving gifts. The purport also shows that gifts given without considering their aftereffects can cause trouble.

  3. 3

    Lord Viṣṇu maintains all living beings and shelters the goddess of fortune. We should seek His protection rather than seek fortune independently of Him.

Key points from the purport
  • Of course, Rāvaṇa was never helped by Lord Śiva when he fought with Rāma, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the Lord of Lord Śiva.
  • Thus the lord had to take shelter of Viṣṇu to save himself from trouble, and the Lord Viṣṇu, by His illusory potency, asked Vṛkāsura to make an experiment with his own head.
  • Lord Viṣṇu is the maintainer of all living beings.

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

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

Further reading

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pitāmahathe grandfather, or Brahmā
  2. samaḥequally good
  3. sāmyein the matter
  4. prasādein charity or in munificence
  5. giriśaLord Śiva
  6. upamaḥcomparison of equilibrium
  7. āśrayaḥresort
  8. sarvaall
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 1.12

    In this verse: “shelter”, “shelters”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 1.12

    In this verse: “child”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 1.12

    In this verse: “protection”

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

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I seeking the Lord’s protection, or expecting material prosperity alone to protect me?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer for the protection of Lord Viṣṇu rather than for material gain.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

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 todaySeek the Shelter of the Supreme LordThis 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 1.12.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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