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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
1.14.421.14.44

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.14.43

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhirasince 1.14.25inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

अपि स्वित्पर्यभुङ्‍क्‍थास्त्वं सम्भोज्यान् वृद्धबालकान् ।

जुगुप्सितं कर्म किञ्चित्कृतवान्न यदक्षमम् ॥ ४३ ॥

api svit parya-bhuṅkthās tvaṁ

sambhojyān vṛddha-bālakān

jugupsitaṁ karma kiñcit

kṛtavān na yad akṣamam

Translation

Have you not taken care of old men and boys who deserve to dine with you? Have you left them and taken your meals alone? Have you committed some unpardonable mistake which is considered to be abominable?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Feed Others Before Taking Your Own Meal

  1. 1

    A householder’s duty is to feed the children, the old members of the family, the brāhmaṇas and the invalids before eating.

  2. 2

    An ideal householder also invites any unknown hungry person to dine. Before taking his own meal, he calls out three times on the road.

  3. 3

    Neglecting this prescribed duty, especially toward old people and children, is described as unpardonable. Their need for food must not be overlooked.

Key points from the purport
  • It is the duty of a householder to feed first of all the children, the old members of the family, the brāhmaṇas and the invalids.
  • Besides that, an ideal householder is required to call for any unknown hungry man to come and dine before he himself goes to take his meals.
  • The neglect of this prescribed duty of a householder, especially in the matter of the old men and children, is unpardonable.

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. api svitif it were so that
  2. paryaby leaving aside
  3. bhuṅkthāḥhave dined
  4. tvamyourself
  5. sambhojyāndeserving to dine together
  6. vṛddhathe old men
  7. bālakānboys
  8. jugupsitamabominable
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “householder’s”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “duty”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 1.14

    In this verse: “children”

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

Whose need for a meal might I overlook when I am ready to eat?

Practice

Before eating today, check whether a child or an elderly person in your household needs food, and serve them first.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayFeed Others Before Taking Your Own MealThis 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 1.14.43? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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