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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
1.13.361.13.38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.13.37

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sañjayasince 1.13.37inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

सञ्जय उवाच

नाहं वेद व्यवसितं पित्रोर्व: कुलनन्दन ।

गान्धार्या

वा महाबाहो मुषितोऽस्मि महात्मभि: ॥ ३७ ॥

sañjaya uvāca

nāhaṁ veda vyavasitaṁ

pitror vaḥ kula-nandana

gāndhāryā vā mahā-bāho

muṣito ’smi mahātmabhiḥ

Translation

Sañjaya said: My dear descendant of the Kuru dynasty, I have no information of the determination of your two uncles and Gāndhārī. O King, I have been cheated by those great souls.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Satisfying the Lord Is Life’s Perfection

  1. 1

    Sañjaya admitted that he did not know the intentions of the two uncles and Gāndhārī. Their departure had been kept confidential even from him.

  2. 2

    The purport explains their secrecy as serving a great cause, not an ordinary personal advantage. Its examples center on leaving worldly ties to satisfy the Lord.

  3. 3

    Satisfaction of Lord Kṛṣṇa is the criterion of genuine spiritual action. The highest perfection of life is to satisfy the Lord through one’s occupational duty.

Key points from the purport
  • That great souls cheat others may be astonishing to know, but it is a fact that great souls cheat others for a great cause.
  • It is said that Lord Kṛṣṇa also advised Yudhiṣṭhira to tell a lie before Droṇācārya, and it was also for a great cause.
  • The Lord wanted it, and therefore it was a great cause.

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. sañjayaḥ uvācaSañjaya said
  2. nanot
  3. ahamI
  4. vedaknow
  5. vyavasitamdetermination
  6. pitroḥof your uncles
  7. vaḥyour
  8. kula-nandanaO descendant of the Kuru dynasty
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.13

    In this verse: “king”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “duty”

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 can I make satisfaction of the Lord, rather than personal advantage, the purpose of my work?

Practice

Before one duty today, consciously resolve to perform it for the Lord’s satisfaction.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySatisfying the Lord Is Life’s PerfectionThis 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 1.13.37? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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