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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
1.13.521.13.54

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.13.53

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

स्‍नात्वानुसवनं तस्मिन्हुत्वा चाग्नीन्यथाविधि ।

अब्भक्ष उपशान्तात्मा स आस्ते विगतैषण: ॥ ५३ ॥

snātvānusavanaṁ tasmin

hutvā cāgnīn yathā-vidhi

ab-bhakṣa upaśāntātmā

sa āste vigataiṣaṇaḥ

Translation

On the banks at Saptasrota, Dhṛtarāṣṭra is now engaged in beginning aṣṭāṅga-yoga by bathing three times daily, in the morning, noon and evening, by performing the Agni-hotra sacrifice with fire and by drinking only water. This helps one control the mind and the senses and frees one completely from thoughts of familial affection.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Turn the Mind From Matter to Spirit

  1. 1

    Yoga is a systematic way to control the senses and mind and turn them from matter toward Paramātmā. Its purpose is spiritual realization, not magical displays or merely bodily healing.

  2. 2

    By Vidura's grace, Dhṛtarāṣṭra recognized his illusory absorption in family affairs and left home for spiritual realization. At Saptasrota he undertook bathing, sacrifice and fasting as part of his discipline.

  3. 3

    Control of the tongue and observance of regulative principles are necessary for yoga. Dhṛtarāṣṭra sat calmly in a spiritual atmosphere, deeply absorbed in Lord Hari, the Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • The yoga system is a mechanical way to control the senses and the mind and divert them from matter to spirit.
  • Such mechanical ways of rising to the spiritual platform prescribe some regulative principles of taking bath daily three times, fasting as far as possible, sitting and concentrating the mind on spiritual matters and thus gradually becoming free from viṣaya, or material objectives.
  • We may note with profit how Dhṛtarāṣṭra began his yoga system by drinking water only and sitting calmly in a place with a spiritual atmosphere, deeply absorbed in the thoughts of the Lord Hari, the Personality of Godhead.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. snātvāby taking bath
  2. anusavanamregularly three times (morning, noon and evening)
  3. tasminin that Ganges divided into seven
  4. hutvāby performing the Agni-hotra sacrifice
  5. caalso
  6. agnīnin the fire
  7. yathā-vidhijust according to the tenets of the scripture
  8. ap-bhakṣaḥfasting by drinking only water
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “principles”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 1.13

    In this verse: “grace”

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

Which material concern most often keeps my mind from thoughts of the Lord?

Practice

Sit quietly for a few minutes today, set aside thoughts of possessions and family affairs, and concentrate on Lord Hari.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTurn the Mind From Matter to SpiritThis 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 1.13.53? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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