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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
1.13.551.13.57

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.13.56

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

ध्वस्तमायागुणोदर्को निरुद्धकरणाशय: ।

निवर्तिताखिलाहार आस्ते स्थाणुरिवाचल: ।

तस्यान्तरायो मैवाभू: सन्न्यस्ताखिलकर्मण: ॥ ५६ ॥

dhvasta-māyā-guṇodarko

niruddha-karaṇāśayaḥ

nivartitākhilāhāra

āste sthāṇur ivācalaḥ

tasyāntarāyo maivābhūḥ

sannyastākhila-karmaṇaḥ

Translation

He will have to suspend all the actions of the senses, even from the outside, and will have to be impervious to interactions of the senses, which are influenced by the modes of material nature. After renouncing all material duties, he must become immovably established, beyond all sources of hindrances on the path.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Is Beyond Material Reactions

  1. 1

    The material modes of nature draw us toward repeated desires for material enjoyment. With every sense searching for its food, the conditioned soul struggles to remain steady.

  2. 2

    Dhṛtarāṣṭra had become free from material attraction through the yogic process. Nārada advised Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira not to disturb him by trying to bring him home.

  3. 3

    Spiritual action is called devotional service, or bhakti. It is nirguṇa, without material reaction, because it brings direct contact with the Absolute.

Key points from the purport
  • The material modes of nature (the guṇas) have their different modes of activities, but above the material modes of nature is a spiritual mode, which is absolute.
  • The spiritual mode and its effect are identical; therefore the spiritual quality is distinguished from its material counterpart by the word nirguṇa.
  • After complete suspension of the material modes of nature, one is admitted to the spiritual sphere, and action dictated by the spiritual modes is called devotional service, or bhakti.

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. dhvastabeing destroyed
  2. māyā-guṇathe modes of material nature
  3. udarkaḥaftereffects
  4. niruddhabeing suspended
  5. karaṇa-āśayaḥthe senses and the mind
  6. nivartitastopped
  7. akhilaall
  8. āhāraḥfood for the senses
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

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 1.13

    In this verse: “renouncing”, “free from”

  • 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: “duties”

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 does the constant search for sense enjoyment disturb my steadiness in devotional service?

Practice

Set aside one distracting sense pleasure today and use that time for devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Is Beyond Material ReactionsThis 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 1.13.56? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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