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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.
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Canto 1 · Chapter 15: The Pāṇḍavas Retire Timely
1.15.361.15.38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.15.37

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

युधिष्ठिरस्तत्परिसर्पणं बुध:

पुरे च राष्ट्रे च गृहे तथात्मनि ।

विभाव्य लोभानृतजिह्महिंसना-

द्यधर्मचक्रं गमनाय पर्यधात् ॥ ३७ ॥

yudhiṣṭhiras tat parisarpaṇaṁ budhaḥ

pure ca rāṣṭre ca gṛhe tathātmani

vibhāvya lobhānṛta-jihma-hiṁsanādy-

adharma-cakraṁ gamanāya paryadhāt

Translation

Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira was intelligent enough to understand the influence of the Age of Kali, characterized by increasing avarice, falsehood, cheating and violence throughout the capital, state, home and among individuals. So he wisely prepared himself to leave home, and he dressed accordingly.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Make Time for Spiritual Realization

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira recognized Kali’s influence in increasing greed, falsehood, cheating and violence. These qualities were spreading through public and private life.

  2. 2

    As a great devotee under the Lord’s protection, he had no need to fear Kali. He retired because he preferred the Lord’s company and wished to prepare to return to Godhead.

  3. 3

    His voluntary retirement set an example: responsibilities should pass to a capable younger generation. One should make time for spiritual realization rather than remain absorbed in household affairs until death.

Key points from the purport
  • The symptoms of the Kali-yuga, as mentioned above, namely avarice, falsehood, diplomacy, cheating, nepotism, violence and all such things, are already in vogue, and no one can imagine what is going to happen gradually with further increase of the influence of Kali till the day of annihilation.
  • Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira was a great devotee of the Lord, and there was no necessity of his being afraid of the Age of Kali, but he preferred to retire from active household life and prepare himself to go back home, back to Godhead.
  • One should not rot in the dark well of household life till one is dragged out by the will of Yamarāja.

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. yudhiṣṭhiraḥMahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira
  2. tatthat
  3. parisarpaṇamexpansion
  4. budhaḥthoroughly experienced
  5. purein the capital
  6. caas also
  7. rāṣṭrein the state
  8. caand
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 1.15

    In this verse: “fear”, “death”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understand”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 1.15

    In this verse: “household”

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

Are you making room for spiritual realization now, or continually postponing it?

Practice

Reserve a short period today for spiritual realization instead of filling it with another household or work task.

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 todayMake Time for Spiritual RealizationThis 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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