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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 15: The Pāṇḍavas Retire Timely
1.15.22-231.15.25-26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.15.24

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Arjunasince 1.15.5inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

प्रायेणैतद् भगवत ईश्वरस्य विचेष्टितम् ।

मिथो निघ्नन्ति भूतानि भावयन्ति च यन्मिथ: ॥ २४ ॥

prāyeṇaitad bhagavata

īśvarasya viceṣṭitam

mitho nighnanti bhūtāni

bhāvayanti ca yan mithaḥ

Translation

Factually this is all due to the supreme will of the Lord, the Personality of Godhead. Sometimes people kill one another, and at other times they protect one another.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Act for the Lord’s Pleasure

  1. 1

    Behind the laws of nature is the supreme direction of the Personality of Godhead. Both peace and upheaval occur under His supreme will.

  2. 2

    Disobedience to the Lord’s established rules brings conflict between people and nations. The surest path to peace is to bring all activities into harmony with His rules.

  3. 3

    Whatever we do, eat, sacrifice or give in charity should satisfy the Lord. The art of perfect action is to distinguish what pleases Him from what displeases Him, rather than follow personal whims.

Key points from the purport
  • Whenever, therefore, there is peace in the world, it must be known that it is due to the good will of the Lord.
  • And whenever there is upheaval in the world, it is also due to the supreme will of the Lord.
  • Whenever, therefore, there is disobedience of the established rules enacted by the Lord, there is war between men and nations.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. prāyeṇa etatit is almost by
  2. bhagavataḥof the Personality of Godhead
  3. īśvarasyaof the Lord
  4. viceṣṭitamby the will of
  5. mithaḥone another
  6. nighnantido kill
  7. bhūtānithe living beings
  8. bhāvayantias also protect
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 1.15

    In this verse: “protect”

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 might one choice today change if the Lord’s pleasure became your standard?

Practice

Before one action today, pause and ask whether it is meant to satisfy the Lord or merely follow a personal whim.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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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 todayAct for the Lord’s PleasureThis 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 1.15.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.