1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 1 · Creation · 19 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
1.14.21.14.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.14.3

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.14.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

कालस्य च गतिं रौद्रां विपर्यस्तर्तुधर्मिण: ।

पापीयसीं नृणां वार्तां क्रोधलोभानृतात्मनाम् ॥ ३ ॥

kālasya ca gatiṁ raudrāṁ

viparyastartu-dharmiṇaḥ

pāpīyasīṁ nṛṇāṁ vārtāṁ

krodha-lobhānṛtātmanām

Translation

He saw that the direction of eternal time had changed, and this was very fearful. There were disruptions in the seasonal regularities. The people in general had become very greedy, angry and deceitful. And he saw that they were adopting foul means of livelihood.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Restore Our Loving Relation With the Lord

  1. 1

    When civilization loses its loving relation with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, seasonal disruptions, greed, anger, fraud and improper livelihoods become widespread.

  2. 2

    Without a higher objective, a person may regard this short earthly life as everything and become greedy for wealth and power. Improper livelihood includes departing from one’s prescribed duty.

  3. 3

    Ignorance causes these disturbances in society. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam distributes light like a powerful sun to remove that ignorance.

Key points from the purport
  • When civilization is disconnected from the loving relation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, symptoms like changes of seasonal regulations, foul means of livelihood, greed, anger and fraudulence become rampant.
  • Such a man can earn his livelihood by any means, black or white.
  • Foul means of livelihood implies deviation from one’s occupational duty.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kālasyaof eternal time
  2. caalso
  3. gatimdirection
  4. raudrāmfearful
  5. viparyastareversed
  6. ṛtuseasonal
  7. dharmiṇaḥregularities
  8. pāpīyasīmsinful
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 1.14

    In this verse: “fearful”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 1.14

    In this verse: “wealth”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 1.14

    In this verse: “duty”

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

Where might greed for wealth or power be distracting me from a higher objective?

Practice

Read this purport again and write down one teaching that challenges a material ambition.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRestore Our Loving Relation With the LordThis 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 1.14.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories