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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
1.13.11.13.3-4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.13.2

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.13.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

यावत: कृतवान् प्रश्नान् क्षत्ता कौषारवाग्रत: ।

जातैकभक्तिर्गोविन्दे तेभ्यश्चोपरराम ह ॥ २ ॥

yāvataḥ kṛtavān praśnān

kṣattā kauṣāravāgrataḥ

jātaika-bhaktir govinde

tebhyaś copararāma ha

Translation

After asking various questions and becoming established in the transcendental loving service of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Vidura retired from putting questions to Maitreya Muni.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Loving Service to Kṛṣṇa Is Life’s Goal

  1. 1

    The highest goal of life is transcendental loving service to Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As Govinda, He satisfies His devotees in all respects.

  2. 2

    Neither fruitive activities nor dry philosophical speculation can give lasting satisfaction. By nature, the living being is the eternal servant of the Supreme Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

  3. 3

    A sincere seeker should approach a bona fide spiritual master and inquire intelligently. Vidura’s inquiries reached their fulfillment when he became established in loving devotional service to Govinda.

Key points from the purport
  • Vidura retired from putting questions before Maitreya Muni when he was convinced by Maitreya Ṛṣi that the summum bonum of life is to be finally situated in the transcendental loving service of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is Govinda, or one who satisfies His devotees in all respects.
  • One who is not seriously inclined to put questions before a spiritual master need not accommodate a show-bottle spiritual master, nor should a person who may be a spiritual master for others pose to be so if he is unable to engage his disciple ultimately in the transcendental loving service of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
  • Vidura was successful in approaching such a spiritual master like Maitreya, and he got the ultimate goal of life: bhakti unto Govinda.

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 1.13.2 quotesBG 15.15

The Bhagavad-gītā (15.15) confirms this statement. Like Vidura, an inquisitive conditioned soul must approach a bona fide spiritual master like Maitreya and by intelligent inquiries must try to know everything about karma (fruitive activities), jñāna (philosophical research for the Supreme Truth) and yoga (the linking process of spiritual realization).

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

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. yāvataḥall that
  2. kṛtavāndid he put
  3. praśnānquestions
  4. kṣattāa name of Vidura
  5. kauṣāravaa name of Maitreya
  6. agrataḥin the presence of
  7. jātahaving grown up
  8. ekaone
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.13

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 1.13

    In this verse: “inquire”, “philosophical”

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

Are my spiritual questions helping me move toward loving service to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes today to consider how one activity can become loving service to Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLoving Service to Kṛṣṇa Is Life’s GoalThis 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 1.13.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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