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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 13: Dhṛtarāṣṭra Quits Home
1.13.131.13.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.13.14

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhirasince 1.13.8inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

कञ्चित्कालमथावात्सीत्सत्कृतो देववत्सुखम् ।

भ्रातुर्ज्येष्ठस्य श्रेयस्कृत्सर्वेषां सुखमावहन् ॥ १४ ॥

kañcit kālam athāvātsīt

sat-kṛto devavat sukham

bhrātur jyeṣṭhasya śreyas-kṛt

sarveṣāṁ sukham āvahan

Translation

Thus Mahātmā Vidura, being treated just like a godly person by his kinsmen, remained there for a certain period just to rectify the mentality of his eldest brother and in this way bring happiness to all the others.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Attentive Hearing Awakens Spiritual Understanding

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira received Vidura with the honor due a saintly person. Vidura accepted the hospitality out of mercy, not to enjoy material comforts.

  2. 2

    Vidura stayed to enlighten Dhṛtarāṣṭra, who remained deeply attached to material life. It is the duty of enlightened souls to help deliver those who are fallen.

  3. 3

    The whole family took pleasure in patiently hearing Vidura’s spiritual instructions. A realized soul’s message acts on the dormant heart, and continuous hearing leads toward perfect self-realization.

Key points from the purport
  • Saintly persons like Vidura must be treated as well as a denizen from heaven.
  • Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira therefore received Vidura in the manner of reception offered to the demigods.
  • He accepted out of his own mercy what was offered to him by Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, but the purpose of living in the palace was to deliver his elder brother, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, who was too much materially attached.

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

Bereavement → Renunciation. The worldly support system recedes and attachment is exposed.

Chapters 13–15 of Canto 1: Dhṛtarāṣṭra departs; Kṛṣṇa disappears; Pāṇḍavas retire. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 13: Dhṛtarāṣṭra Quits Home

Vidura warns of inevitable death; Dhṛtarāṣṭra leaves home, and Yudhiṣṭhira finds his elders absent.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kañcitfor a few days
  2. kālamtime
  3. athathus
  4. avātsītresided
  5. sat-kṛtaḥbeing well treated
  6. deva-vatjust like a godly personality
  7. sukhamamenities
  8. bhrātuḥof the brother
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 1.13

    In this verse: “attached”, “material”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 1.13

    In this verse: “duty”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 1.13

    In this verse: “hearing”

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

Do I listen to spiritual instruction with the patience and attention needed for it to affect my heart?

Practice

Spend five uninterrupted minutes reading Vidura’s spiritual instructions attentively.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayAttentive Hearing Awakens Spiritual UnderstandingThis 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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