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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
1.15.431.15.45

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.15.44

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

उदीचीं प्रविवेशाशां गतपूर्वां महात्मभि: ।

हृदि ब्रह्म परं ध्यायन्नावर्तेत यतो गत: ॥ ४४ ॥

udīcīṁ praviveśāśāṁ

gata-pūrvāṁ mahātmabhiḥ

hṛdi brahma paraṁ dhyāyan

nāvarteta yato gataḥ

Translation

He then started towards the north, treading the path accepted by his forefathers and great men, to devote himself completely to the thought of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And he lived in that way wherever he went.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Follow Devotees in Constant Remembrance of Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira followed his forefathers and great devotees, leaving home to devote himself completely to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    The system of varṇāśrama-dharma trains a person to leave household attachments at a certain stage for self-realization. Its purpose is full engagement in devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

  3. 3

    The words brahma param indicate Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Wherever Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira went, he constantly remembered Kṛṣṇa within his heart.

Key points from the purport
  • The training and education was so imparted, and thus a respectable person like Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira had to leave all family connection for self-realization and going back to Godhead.
  • A sincere soul of the Lord like Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira must abide by this instruction of the Lord for his own interest.
  • Thus Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, while leaving home for the north, constantly remembered Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa within himself, following in the footsteps of his forefathers as well as the great devotees of all times.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 2

The purport of SB 1.15.44 quotesBG 18.62

The Lord instructs in the Bhagavad-gītā (18.62) that one must become a devotee of the Lord at least at the last stage of one’s life.

The purport of SB 1.15.44 quotesBG 10.13

This is corroborated in the Bhagavad-gītā (10.13) by Arjuna with reference to great authorities like Asita, Devala, Nārada and Vyāsa.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. udīcīmthe northern side
  2. praviveśa-āśāmthose who wanted to enter there
  3. gata-pūrvāmthe path accepted by his forefathers
  4. mahā-ātmabhiḥby the broad-minded
  5. hṛdiwithin the heart
  6. brahmathe Supreme
  7. paramGodhead
  8. dhyāyanconstantly thinking of
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: “attachments”, “household”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.15

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 1.15

    In this verse: “varṇāśrama-dharma”

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 I make remembrance of Kṛṣṇa more central as my life progresses?

Practice

Set aside a quiet minute today to remember Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa without attending to household concerns.

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 todayFollow Devotees in Constant Remembrance of KṛṣṇaThis 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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