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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
1.15.331.15.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.15.34

Nirodha· Winding up
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.15.28inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

ययाहरद् भुवो भारं तां तनुं विजहावज: ।

कण्टकं कण्टकेनेव द्वयं चापीशितु: समम् ॥ ३४ ॥

yayāharad bhuvo bhāraṁ

tāṁ tanuṁ vijahāv ajaḥ

kaṇṭakaṁ kaṇṭakeneva

dvayaṁ cāpīśituḥ samam

Translation

The supreme unborn, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, caused the members of the Yadu dynasty to relinquish their bodies, and thus He relieved the burden of the world. This action was like picking out a thorn with a thorn, though both are the same to the controller.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Choose Willing Service to the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    The Lord and His eternal associates appeared to relieve the burden of the world. Confidential demigods also appeared in the Yadu family to assist His mission.

  2. 2

    After the mission was fulfilled, those demigods relinquished their bodies by the Lord’s will. The example of removing one thorn with another explains their role in removing disturbing elements.

  3. 3

    All living beings are parts and parcels of the Supreme Lord and remain under His control. The demigods willingly obey and serve Him, whereas the asuras do not; His actions ultimately do good to both.

Key points from the purport
  • To give them relief from this mental agony, Sūta Gosvāmī assured them that the Lord caused the members of the Yadu dynasty to relinquish their bodies by which they had to take away the burden of the world.
  • The Lord and His eternal associates appeared on earth to help the administrative demigods in eradicating the burden of the world.
  • For the Supreme Lord, both the asuras and the demigods are equal, but the demigods are obedient to the Lord, whereas the asuras are not.

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. yayāthat by which
  2. aharattook away
  3. bhuvaḥof the world
  4. bhāramburden
  5. tāmthat
  6. tanumbody
  7. vijahaurelinquished
  8. ajaḥthe unborn
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

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 can you approach service to the Lord more willingly?

Practice

Choose one small act of devotional service today and do it with deliberate willingness rather than reluctance.

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 todayChoose Willing Service to the Supreme 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.

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