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

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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 15: The Pāṇḍavas Retire Timely
1.15.121.15.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.15.13

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Arjunasince 1.15.5inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

तत्रैव मे विहरतो भुजदण्डयुग्मं

गाण्डीवलक्षणमरातिवधाय देवा: ।

सेन्द्रा: श्रिता यदनुभावितमाजमीढ

तेनाहमद्य मुषित: पुरुषेण भूम्ना ॥ १३ ॥

tatraiva me viharato bhuja-daṇḍa-yugmaṁ

gāṇḍīva-lakṣaṇam arāti-vadhāya devāḥ

sendrāḥ śritā yad-anubhāvitam ājamīḍha

tenāham adya muṣitaḥ puruṣeṇa bhūmnā

Translation

When I stayed for some days as a guest in the heavenly planets, all the heavenly demigods, including King Indradeva, took shelter of my arms, which were marked with the Gāṇḍīva bow, to kill the demon named Nivātakavaca. O King, descendant of Ajamīḍha, at the present moment I am bereft of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by whose influence I was so powerful.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Our Strength Depends on the Lord

  1. 1

    Although the heavenly demigods were more intelligent and powerful, they needed Arjuna’s help. His Gāṇḍīva bow was empowered by the grace of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

  2. 2

    The Lord is all-powerful. By His grace, His pure devotee can become as powerful as He desires, without limit.

  3. 3

    When the Lord withdraws His power from someone, that person becomes powerless by His will. Arjuna remembered that his extraordinary strength depended on the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • The heavenly demigods are certainly more intelligent, powerful and beautiful, and yet they had to take help from Arjuna because of his Gāṇḍīva bow, which was empowered by the grace of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
  • The Lord is all-powerful, and by His grace His pure devotee can be as powerful as He may desire, and there is no limit to it.
  • And when the Lord withdraws His power from anyone, he is powerless by the will of the Lord.

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 15: The Pāṇḍavas Retire Timely

Arjuna grieves over Kṛṣṇa’s departure, and the Pāṇḍavas retire, fixing their minds on His lotus feet.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tatrain that heavenly planet
  2. evacertainly
  3. memyself
  4. viharataḥwhile staying as a guest
  5. bhuja-daṇḍa-yugmamboth of my arms
  6. gāṇḍīvathe bow named Gāṇḍīva
  7. lakṣaṇammark
  8. arātia demon named Nivātakavaca
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.15

    In this verse: “king”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 1.15

    In this verse: “shelter”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.15

    In this verse: “devotee”

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 would remembering the source of my abilities change the way I use them?

Practice

Choose one ability you use today and offer a brief prayer of gratitude to Kṛṣṇa for it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayOur Strength Depends on 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 1.15.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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