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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
1.15.351.15.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.15.36

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

यदा मुकुन्दो भगवानिमां महीं

जहौ स्वतन्वा श्रवणीयसत्कथ: ।

तदाहरेवाप्रतिबुद्धचेतसा-

मभद्रहेतु: कलिरन्ववर्तत ॥ ३६ ॥

yadā mukundo bhagavān imāṁ mahīṁ

jahau sva-tanvā śravaṇīya-sat-kathaḥ

tadāhar evāpratibuddha-cetasām

abhadra-hetuḥ kalir anvavartata

Translation

When the Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, left this earthly planet in His selfsame form, from that very day Kali, who had already partially appeared, became fully manifest to create inauspicious conditions for those who are endowed with a poor fund of knowledge.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seek the Lord’s Care Amid Kali’s Influence

  1. 1

    Lord Kṛṣṇa left the earth in His selfsame transcendental form. His departure was like the sun passing out of our sight.

  2. 2

    Kali had already partially appeared but could not exert his influence in the Lord’s presence. From the day of the Lord’s departure, Kali became fully manifest.

  3. 3

    Kali’s influence acts upon those who are not fully developed in God consciousness. One can neutralize its effects by remaining fully under the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s care.

Key points from the purport
  • The influence of Kali can be enforced only upon those who are not fully developed in God consciousness.
  • The Lord, however, left this earthly planet in His own transcendental body, and as soon as He left, the symptoms of the Kali-yuga, as were envisioned by Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira prior to Arjuna’s arrival from Dvārakā, began to manifest, and Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira rightly conjectured on the departure of the Lord from the earth.
  • As we have already explained, the Lord left our sight just as when the sun sets it is out of our sight.

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. yadāwhen
  2. mukundaḥLord Kṛṣṇa
  3. bhagavānthe Personality of Godhead
  4. imāmthis
  5. mahīmearth
  6. jahauleft
  7. sva-tanvāwith His selfsame body
  8. śravaṇīya-sat-kathaḥhearing about Him is worthwhile
3

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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 1.15

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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

What would it mean for you to rely more fully on the Lord’s care?

Practice

Take a quiet minute today to remember Lord Kṛṣṇa and ask for His care in developing God consciousness.

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 todaySeek the Lord’s Care Amid Kali’s InfluenceThis 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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