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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.13.29

Who is speaking and story frame

एवं राजा विदुरेणानुजेन

प्रज्ञाचक्षुर्बोधित आजमीढ: ।

छित्त्वा स्वेषु स्‍नेहपाशान्द्रढिम्नो

निश्चक्राम भ्रातृसन्दर्शिताध्वा ॥ २९ ॥

evaṁ rājā vidureṇānujena

prajñā-cakṣur bodhita ājamīḍhaḥ

chittvā sveṣu sneha-pāśān draḍhimno

niścakrāma bhrātṛ-sandarśitādhvā

Translation

Thus Mahārāja Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the scion of the family of Ajamīḍha, firmly convinced by introspective knowledge [prajñā], broke at once the strong network of familial affection by his resolute determination. Thus he immediately left home to set out on the path of liberation, as directed by his younger brother Vidura.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotee Association Awakens Resolute Spiritual Life

  1. 1

    Even a moment’s association with a pure devotee can bring all perfection. Vidura’s instructions awakened Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s determination to leave home for liberation.

  2. 2

    Hearing from sādhus can cut the bonds of illusory affection. Despite his material failures, Dhṛtarāṣṭra achieved success in self-realization through a pure devotee’s guidance.

  3. 3

    Material attractions come and go like clouds, while the Absolute Truth remains eternally. Intelligent people turn toward that eternal reality and the service of the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the great preacher of the principles of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, has stressed the importance of association with sādhus, pure devotees of the Lord.
  • Mahārāja Dhṛtarāṣṭra was tightly bound in a network of material affinities related to politics, economy and family attachment, and he did everything in his power to achieve so-called success in his planned projects, but he was frustrated from the beginning to the end so far as his material activities were concerned.
  • The scriptures enjoin, therefore, that one should associate with sādhus only, rejecting all other kinds of association, and by doing so one will have ample opportunity to hear the sādhus, who can cut to pieces the bonds of illusory affection in the material world.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evamthus
  2. rājāKing Dhṛtarāṣṭra
  3. vidureṇa anujenaby his younger brother Vidura
  4. prajñāintrospective knowledge
  5. cakṣuḥeyes
  6. bodhitaḥbeing understood
  7. ājamīḍhaḥDhṛtarāṣṭra, scion of the family of Ajamīḍha
  8. chittvāby breaking
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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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “absolute truth”

  • 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: “devotee”

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

Whose spiritual guidance helps me look beyond temporary attractions?

Practice

Spend five minutes attentively reading a pure devotee’s instructions, and choose one instruction to follow.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotee Association Awakens Resolute Spiritual LifeThis 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 1.13.29? Get an answer from the verses themselves.