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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
1.13.491.13.51

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.13.50

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 1.13.41inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

निष्पादितं देवकृत्यमवशेषं प्रतीक्षते ।

तावद् यूयमवेक्षध्वं भवेद् यावदिहेश्वर: ॥ ५० ॥

niṣpāditaṁ deva-kṛtyam

avaśeṣaṁ pratīkṣate

tāvad yūyam avekṣadhvaṁ

bhaved yāvad iheśvaraḥ

Translation

The Lord has already performed His duties to help the demigods, and He is awaiting the rest. You Pāṇḍavas may wait as long as the Lord is here on earth.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Comes to Relieve His Devotees

  1. 1

    The Lord descends from Kṛṣṇaloka when the demigods and devotees are greatly troubled by the asuras. He may come personally or send His devotees to improve the fallen condition of society.

  2. 2

    Conditioned living beings seek to lord it over material resources and become imitation gods. Competition among these would-be lords creates suffering for those devoted to the Lord.

  3. 3

    Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa had already removed almost all the asuras and was awaiting the departure of His own dynasty. Nārada indirectly advised the Pāṇḍavas to wait while the Lord remained on earth.

Key points from the purport
  • The Lord descends from His abode (Kṛṣṇaloka), the topmost planet in the spiritual sky, in order to help the demigod administrators of this material world when they are greatly vexed by the asuras, who are envious not only of the Lord but also of His devotees.
  • When there are too many asuras in the world, then it becomes a hell for those who are devotees of the Lord.
  • Nārada, like Vidura, did not disclose the imminent annihilation of the Yadu dynasty, but indirectly gave a hint to the King and his brothers to wait till the incident happened and the Lord departed.

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. niṣpāditamperformed
  2. deva-kṛtyamwhat was to be done on behalf of the demigods
  3. avaśeṣamthe rest
  4. pratīkṣatebeing awaited
  5. tāvatup to that time
  6. yūyamall of you Pāṇḍavas
  7. avekṣadhvamobserve and wait
  8. bhavetmay
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “duties”

  • 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: “devotees”

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

Am I trying to dominate what is around me, or seeking to serve the Lord?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer asking to serve the Lord rather than compete to be the controller.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 1.13's connections

Live this todayThe Lord Comes to Relieve His DevoteesThis 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 1.13.50? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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