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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
1.14.32-331.14.35-36

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.14.34

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

भगवानपि गोविन्दो ब्रह्मण्यो भक्तवत्सल: ।

कच्चित्पुरे सुधर्मायां सुखमास्ते सुहृद्‍वृत: ॥ ३४ ॥

bhagavān api govindo

brahmaṇyo bhakta-vatsalaḥ

kaccit pure sudharmāyāṁ

sukham āste suhṛd-vṛtaḥ

Translation

Is Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who gives pleasure to the cows, the senses and the brāhmaṇas, who is very affectionate towards His devotees, enjoying the pious assembly at Dvārakā Purī surrounded by friends?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Govinda Delights in His Devotees

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, full in all opulences. No one is equal to or greater than Him.

  2. 2

    He is Govinda, the pleasure of the cows and the senses. Senses purified by devotional service can render real service to Him and experience transcendental pleasure.

  3. 3

    The Lord protects cows and brahminical culture, including truthfulness, sense control, simplicity and faith in Vedic wisdom. These qualities support becoming a devotee and receiving His loving affection; false prestige does not.

Key points from the purport
  • Those who have purified their senses by the devotional service of the Lord can render unto Him real service and thereby derive transcendental pleasure out of such purified senses.
  • The Lord is the protector of cows and the brahminical culture.
  • The Lord stays only where pious men assemble and takes pleasure in their glorifying the Supreme Truth.

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. bhagavānthe Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa
  2. apialso
  3. govindaḥone who enlivens the cows and the senses
  4. brahmaṇyaḥdevoted to the devotees or the brāhmaṇas
  5. bhakta-vatsalaḥaffectionate to the devotees
  6. kaccitwhether
  7. purein Dvārakā Purī
  8. sudharmāyāmpious assembly
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”, “devotional service”, “devotee”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 1.14

    In this verse: “friends”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

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

    In this verse: “protects”

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 quality mentioned here could I cultivate to support my devotional service?

Practice

Choose truthfulness, simplicity or sense control, and consciously practice it in one situation today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayGovinda Delights in His DevoteesThis 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 1.14.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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