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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.
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Canto 1 · Chapter 13: Dhṛtarāṣṭra Quits Home
1.13.511.13.53

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.13.52

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

स्रोतोभि: सप्तभिर्या वै स्वर्धुनी सप्तधा व्यधात् ।

सप्तानां प्रीतये नाना सप्तस्रोत: प्रचक्षते ॥ ५२ ॥

srotobhiḥ saptabhir yā vai

svardhunī saptadhā vyadhāt

saptānāṁ prītaye nānā

sapta-srotaḥ pracakṣate

Translation

The place is called Saptasrota [“divided by seven”] because there the waters of the sacred Ganges were divided into seven branches. This was done for the satisfaction of the seven great ṛṣis.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Sacred Waters for the Sages' Satisfaction

  1. 1

    The place is called Saptasrota, meaning “divided by seven.” Its name describes the division of the sacred Ganges there.

  2. 2

    At Saptasrota, the waters of the Ganges divided into seven branches.

  3. 3

    This division took place for the satisfaction of the seven great ṛṣis.

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. srotobhiḥby currents
  2. saptabhiḥby seven (divisions)
  3. yāthe river
  4. vaicertainly
  5. svardhunīthe sacred Ganges
  6. saptadhāseven branches
  7. vyadhātcreated
  8. saptānāmof the seven
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

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 this description invite me to appreciate about the sacred Ganges and the great ṛṣis?

Practice

Read the translation slowly once, noting the meaning of Saptasrota and whom its seven streams satisfied.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySacred Waters for the Sages' SatisfactionThis 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 1.13.52? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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