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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
1.13.461.13.48

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.13.47

Sthāna· The universe in order
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 1.13.41inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

अहस्तानि सहस्तानामपदानि चतुष्पदाम् ।

फल्गूनि तत्र महतां जीवो जीवस्य जीवनम् ॥ ४७ ॥

ahastāni sahastānām

apadāni catuṣ-padām

phalgūni tatra mahatāṁ

jīvo jīvasya jīvanam

Translation

Those who are devoid of hands are prey for those who have hands; those devoid of legs are prey for the four-legged. The weak are the subsistence of the strong, and the general rule holds that one living being is food for another.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Spiritual Life Begins With Responsible Eating

  1. 1

    One living being is food for another under the supreme will. No material planning can make anyone completely safe from a stronger living being.

  2. 2

    Human life is meant for self-realization and obedience to scripture. Food prepared from vegetables, fruits, leaves, grains and milk can be offered to the Lord and then accepted as prasāda.

  3. 3

    Exploitation of the weak can be checked by awakening spiritual consciousness. Teaching peaceful coexistence while slaughtering weaker animals does not follow spiritual regulative principles.

Key points from the purport
  • The living being is the source of subsistence for other, stronger living beings.
  • No one should be very anxious for his subsistence in any circumstances because there are living beings everywhere, and no living being starves for want of food at any place.
  • Exploitation of the weaker living being by the stronger is the natural law of existence; there is always an attempt to devour the weak in different kingdoms of living beings.

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· 3

The purport of SB 1.13.47 quotesBG 9.26

This is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.26).

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.24.65

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.13.47), this killing process is natural.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 9.13.10

The weak are the subsistence of the strong, and the general rule holds that one living being is food for another.”

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. ahastānithose who are devoid of hands
  2. sa-hastānāmof those who are endowed with hands
  3. apadānithose who are devoid of legs
  4. catuḥ-padāmof those who have four legs
  5. phalgūnithose who are weak
  6. tatrathere
  7. mahatāmof the powerful
  8. jīvaḥthe living being
  9. jīvasyaof the living being
  10. jīvanamsubsistence
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Sthāna · Planetary systems

    How is the universe arranged, and what is our right place in it? · Subject 3 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “principles”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

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

    In this verse: “safe”

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 my food choices support self-realization and greater care for other living beings?

Practice

Offer a piece of fruit to the Lord with devotion before accepting it as prasāda.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

Quoted in 20 lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 20 lectures

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todaySpiritual Life Begins With Responsible EatingThis 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 1.13.47? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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