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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
1.14.271.14.30

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 1.14.28-29

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhirasince 1.14.25inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

कच्चिद्राजाहुको जीवत्यसत्पुत्रोऽस्य चानुज: ।

हृदीक: ससुतोऽक्रूरो जयन्तगदसारणा: ॥ २८ ॥

आसते कुशलं कच्चिद्ये च शत्रुजिदादय: ।

कच्चिदास्ते सुखं रामो भगवान् सात्वतां प्रभु: ॥ २९ ॥

kaccid rājāhuko jīvaty

asat-putro ’sya cānujaḥ

hṛdīkaḥ sasuto ’krūro

jayanta-gada-sāraṇāḥ

āsate kuśalaṁ kaccid

ye ca śatrujid-ādayaḥ

kaccid āste sukhaṁ rāmo

bhagavān sātvatāṁ prabhuḥ

Translation

Are Ugrasena, whose son was the mischievous Kaṁsa, and his younger brother still living? Are Hṛdīka and his son Kṛtavarmā happy? Are Akrūra, Jayanta, Gada, Sāraṇa and Śatrujit all happy? How is Balarāma, the Personality of Godhead and the protector of devotees?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Balarāma’s Mercy Leads Us to Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Balarāma, the eldest brother of Lord Kṛṣṇa, is the Lord’s immediate expansion, or prakāśa-vigraha. He is therefore addressed as the Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    The viṣṇu-tattva expansions are qualitatively and quantitatively equal with the Supreme Lord. Ordinary living beings, belonging to jīva-śakti, are not equal with Him.

  3. 3

    Balarāma protects the Lord’s devotees and acts as their spiritual master. Only by His divine grace can one approach the Supreme Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Key points from the purport
  • The viṣṇu-tattva living beings are expansions of the Supreme Lord, and all of them are qualitatively and quantitatively equal with the Lord.
  • Śrī Rāma, or Balarāma, is the protector of the devotees of the Lord.
  • By His divine grace only one can approach the Supreme Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and thus Śrī Balarāma is the mercy incarnation of the Lord, manifested as the spiritual master, the savior of the pure devotees.

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 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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kaccitwhether
  2. rājāthe King
  3. āhukaḥanother name of Ugrasena
  4. jīvatistill living
  5. asatmischievous
  6. putraḥson
  7. asyahis
  8. caalso
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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

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 1.14

    In this verse: “protector”, “protects”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.14

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 1.14

    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

How does knowing Balarāma as the protector and spiritual master of devotees deepen my desire for His mercy?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer to Śrī Balarāma for mercy to approach and serve Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

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 1.14's connections

Live this todayBalarāma’s Mercy Leads Us to KṛṣṇaThis 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 1.14.28-29? Get an answer from the verses themselves.