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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 16: How Parīkṣit Received the Age of Kali
1.16.101.16.12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.16.11

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.16.10inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

स्वलङ्‍कृतं श्यामतुरङ्गयोजितं

रथं मृगेन्द्रध्वजमाश्रित: पुरात् ।

वृतो रथाश्वद्विपपत्तियुक्तया

स्वसेनया दिग्विजयाय निर्गत: ॥ ११ ॥

svalaṅkṛtaṁ śyāma-turaṅga-yojitaṁ

rathaṁ mṛgendra-dhvajam āśritaḥ purāt

vṛto rathāśva-dvipapatti-yuktayā

sva-senayā digvijayāya nirgataḥ

Translation

Mahārāja Parīkṣit sat on a chariot drawn by black horses. His flag was marked with the sign of a lion. Being so decorated and surrounded by charioteers, cavalry, elephants and infantry soldiers, he left the capital to conquer in all directions.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Beauty Has a Place Even in Defense

  1. 1

    Black horses drew Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s chariot, distinguishing it from Arjuna’s chariot, which had white horses.

  2. 2

    Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s flag bore a lion, while his grandfather’s bore Hanumānjī.

  3. 3

    The royal procession included decorated chariots, cavalry, elephants and infantry. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes it as a sign of a civilization that valued beauty even on the fighting front.

Key points from the purport
  • Mahārāja Parīkṣit is distinguished from his grandfather Arjuna, for black horses pulled his chariot instead of white horses.
  • He marked his flag with the mark of a lion, and his grandfather marked his with the mark of Hanumānjī.
  • A royal procession like that of Mahārāja Parīkṣit surrounded by well-decorated chariots, cavalry, elephants, infantry and band not only is pleasing to the eyes, but also is a sign of a civilization that is aesthetic even on the fighting front.

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

Moral alarm → Resolve. The king's duty is tested in a deteriorating age.

Chapters 16–17 of Canto 1: Parīkṣit confronts Kali. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 16: How Parīkṣit Received the Age of Kali

Parīkṣit rules as a devotee while the personality of religion and mother earth discuss their distress.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. su-alaṅkṛtamvery well decorated
  2. śyāmablack
  3. turaṅgahorses
  4. yojitamtackled
  5. rathamchariot
  6. mṛga-indralion
  7. dhvajamflagged
  8. āśritaḥunder the protection
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 1.16

    In this verse: “infantry”

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 does this description help me notice about the place of beauty in civilization?

Practice

Reread the description and name one detail that makes the procession pleasing to the eyes.

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 todayBeauty Has a Place Even in DefenseThis 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 1.16.11? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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