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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
1.13.451.13.47

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.13.46

Nirodha· Winding up
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 1.13.41inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

कालकर्मगुणाधीनो देहोऽयं पाञ्चभौतिक: ।

कथमन्यांस्तु गोपायेत्सर्पग्रस्तो यथा परम् ॥ ४६ ॥

kāla-karma-guṇādhīno

deho ’yaṁ pāñca-bhautikaḥ

katham anyāṁs tu gopāyet

sarpa-grasto yathā param

Translation

This gross material body made of five elements is already under the control of eternal time [kāla], action [karma] and the modes of material nature [guṇa]. How then can it, being already in the jaws of the serpent, protect others?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Bhakti-yoga Frees Us From Material Control

  1. 1

    The material body is controlled by kāla, karma and guṇa—eternal time, action and the modes of material nature. Being bound itself, it cannot provide lasting protection to others.

  2. 2

    Goodness allows a person to see things as they are and help to a certain extent. Yet time eventually frustrates even temporarily beneficial material projects.

  3. 3

    Bhakti-yoga is the remedy for escaping the control of material nature. Engaging people in spreading bhakti-yoga is described as the highest perfection of philanthropic work.

Key points from the purport
  • A conditioned living being is under the full control of material nature, represented by eternal time and activities under the dictation of different modes of nature.
  • Above the modes of nature is eternal time, which is called kāla because it changes the shape of everything in the material world.
  • The highest perfectional project of philanthropic activities is to engage everyone in the act of preaching bhakti-yoga all over the world because that alone can save the people from the control of māyā, or the material nature represented by kāla, karma and guṇa, as described above.

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 1.13.46 quotesBG 14.26

The best remedy for getting out of the clutches of the cobralike kāla or its integrity, the modes of nature, is bhakti-yoga, as it is recommended in the Bhagavad-gītā (14.26).

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. kālaeternal time
  2. karmaaction
  3. guṇamodes of nature
  4. adhīnaḥunder the control of
  5. dehaḥmaterial body and mind
  6. ayamthis
  7. pāñca-bhautikaḥmade of the five elements
  8. kathamhow
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 1.13

    In this verse: “protect”, “protection”

  • 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: “bhakti-yoga”

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 your desire to help others include the lasting benefit of devotional service?

Practice

Share this verse’s teaching about bhakti-yoga with one person who is open to hearing it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBhakti-yoga Frees Us From Material ControlThis 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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