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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 14: The Disappearance of Lord Kṛṣṇa
1.14.221.14.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.14.23

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhirasince 1.14.6inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

तं पादयोर्निपतितमयथापूर्वमातुरम् ।

अधोवदनमब्बिन्दून् सृजन्तं नयनाब्जयो: ॥ २३ ॥

taṁ pādayor nipatitam

ayathā-pūrvam āturam

adho-vadanam ab-bindūn

sṛjantaṁ nayanābjayoḥ

Translation

When he bowed at his feet, the King saw that his dejection was unprecedented. His head was down, and tears glided from his lotus eyes.

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.

Deep Sorrow Appears Before Words

  1. 1

    Arjuna bows at the King’s feet.

  2. 2

    The King sees that Arjuna’s dejection is unprecedented.

  3. 3

    Arjuna’s head is lowered, and tears flow from his lotus eyes.

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 14: The Disappearance of Lord Kṛṣṇa

Yudhiṣṭhira observes disturbing omens and questions Arjuna about Kṛṣṇa and their relatives.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamhim (Arjuna)
  2. pādayoḥat the feet
  3. nipatitambowing down
  4. ayathā-pūrvamunprecedented
  5. āturamdejected
  6. adhaḥ-vadanamdownward face
  7. ap-bindūndrops of water
  8. sṛjantamcreating
  9. nayana-abjayoḥfrom the lotuslike eyes
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.14

    In this verse: “king”, “king’s”

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 attentive am I to sorrow that someone has not yet expressed in words?

Practice

Give someone your quiet attention today, noticing how they seem before asking them to speak.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDeep Sorrow Appears Before WordsThis 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 1.14.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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