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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
1.15.391.15.41

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.15.40

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

विसृज्य तत्र तत् सर्वं दुकूलवलयादिकम् ।

निर्ममो निरहङ्कार: सञ्छिन्नाशेषबन्धन: ॥ ४० ॥

visṛjya tatra tat sarvaṁ

dukūla-valayādikam

nirmamo nirahaṅkāraḥ

sañchinnāśeṣa-bandhanaḥ

Translation

Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira at once relinquished all his garments, belt and ornaments of the royal order and became completely disinterested and unattached to everything.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Purification Means Letting Go of Material Designations

  1. 1

    Purification from material contamination is necessary for becoming an associate of the Lord and going back to Godhead.

  2. 2

    Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira gave up his royal garments and opulence to become spiritually pure. He became unattached to his kingdom and family.

  3. 3

    Attachment to designations of family, society, country, occupation, wealth and position keeps one materially impure. These attachments must be relinquished to become eligible to return to Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, therefore, to become spiritually pure, at once gave up his royal opulence, relinquishing his royal dress and garments.
  • He became disinterested in his kingdom and family and thus became free from all material contamination, or material designation.
  • Foolish people adore such men who die in national consciousness, but here is an example of Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, a royal king who prepared himself to leave this world without such national consciousness.

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. visṛjyarelinquishing
  2. tatraall those
  3. tatthat
  4. sarvameverything
  5. dukūlabelt
  6. valaya-ādikamand bangles
  7. nirmamaḥuninterested
  8. nirahaṅkāraḥunattached
  9. sañchinnaperfectly cut off
  10. aśeṣa-bandhanaḥunlimited attachment
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “attachment”, “wealth”, “material”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 1.15

    In this verse: “purification”, “contamination”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 1.15

    In this verse: “gave up”

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

Which position or designation most strongly shapes my sense of who I am?

Practice

Notice one attachment to wealth or position today, and reflect on how it differs from the goal of returning to Godhead.

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 todayPurification Means Letting Go of Material DesignationsThis 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 1.15.40? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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