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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
1.13.251.13.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.13.26

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Vidurasince 1.13.18inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

गतस्वार्थमिमं देहं विरक्तो मुक्तबन्धन: ।

अविज्ञातगतिर्जह्यात् स वै धीर उदाहृत: ॥ २६ ॥

gata-svārtham imaṁ dehaṁ

virakto mukta-bandhanaḥ

avijñāta-gatir jahyāt

sa vai dhīra udāhṛtaḥ

Translation

He is called undisturbed who goes to an unknown, remote place and, freed from all obligations, quits his material body when it has become useless.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Makes Renunciation Steady

  1. 1

    The human body is especially meant for cultivating knowledge of devotional service to the Lord. Neglecting that purpose leaves life full of anxiety and misery.

  2. 2

    A dhīra remains undisturbed even when there is sufficient provocation. Undue affection for family can obstruct self-realization and make renunciation difficult.

  3. 3

    Renunciation born of frustration becomes steady through association with genuine saints and self-realized souls. Pure devotees awaken the spirit of loving service and sincere surrender to the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura, a great devotee and ācārya of the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava sect, has sung, “My Lord, I have simply wasted my life.
  • In other words, the human body is especially meant for cultivating knowledge of devotional service to the Lord, without which life becomes full of anxieties and miserable conditions.
  • Therefore, one who has spoiled his life without such cultural activities is advised to leave home without knowledge of friends and relatives and, being thus freed from all obligations of family, society, country, etc., give up the body at some unknown destination so that others may not know where and how he has met his death.

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

Quoted in the purport ofCC Ādi 7.34

There are two kinds of sannyāsīs, who are called dhīras and narottamas, as stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.13.26-27).

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. gata-sva-arthamwithout being properly utilized
  2. imamthis
  3. dehammaterial body
  4. viraktaḥindifferently
  5. muktabeing freed
  6. bandhanaḥfrom all obligations
  7. avijñāta-gatiḥunknown destination
  8. jahyātone should give up this body
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

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

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 1.13

    In this verse: “surrender”

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

How could association with pure devotees strengthen your desire to serve the Lord?

Practice

Spend five minutes today hearing or reading a pure devotee’s instruction on loving devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Makes Renunciation SteadyThis 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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