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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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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
1.13.301.13.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.13.31

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Vidurasince 1.13.18inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

अजातशत्रु: कृतमैत्रो हुताग्नि-

र्विप्रान्नत्वा

तिलगोभूमिरुक्‍मै: ।

गृहं प्रविष्टो गुरुवन्दनाय

न चापश्यत्पितरौ

सौबलीं च ॥ ३१ ॥

ajāta-śatruḥ kṛta-maitro hutāgnir

viprān natvā tila-go-bhūmi-rukmaiḥ

gṛhaṁ praviṣṭo guru-vandanāya

na cāpaśyat pitarau saubalīṁ ca

Translation

Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, whose enemy was never born, performed his daily morning duties by praying, offering fire sacrifice to the sun-god, and offering obeisances, grains, cows, land and gold to the brāhmaṇas. He then entered the palace to pay respects to the elderly. However, he could not find his uncles or aunt, the daughter of King Subala.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Put Sacred Teachings Into Daily Practice

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira personally practiced the daily pious duties of a householder. His morning included prayers, sacrifice, charity to brāhmaṇas and respect for elders.

  2. 2

    Book knowledge alone does not make a person good without practicing the instructions of the śāstras. Children learn from what their parents actually do.

  3. 3

    Association with sādhus can cleanse a materialistic person’s life. Like Dhṛtarāṣṭra, one can receive helpful instruction from a devotee such as Vidura.

Key points from the purport
  • Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira was the most pious king because he personally practiced daily the pious duties for the householders.
  • The householders are required to rise early in the morning, and after bathing they should offer respects to the Deities at home by prayers, by offering fuel in the sacred fire, by giving the brāhmaṇas in charity land, cows, grains, gold, etc., and at last offering to the elderly members due respects and obeisances.
  • Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, however, could not find in the palace his two uncles, namely Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Vidura, along with Gāndhārī, the daughter of King Subala.

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. ajātanever born
  2. śatruḥenemy
  3. kṛtahaving performed
  4. maitraḥworshiping the demigods
  5. huta-agniḥand offering fuel in the fire
  6. viprānthe brāhmaṇas
  7. natvāoffering obeisances
  8. tila-go-bhūmi-rukmaiḥalong with grains, cows, land and gold
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “householder”, “materialistic”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “duties”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.13

    In this verse: “king”

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

What does my daily routine teach others about the value I place on spiritual practice?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes today for prayer and offer respectful greetings to an elder.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPut Sacred Teachings Into Daily PracticeThis 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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