1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 1 · Creation · 19 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
1.16.111.16.13-15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.16.12

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.16.10inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

भद्राश्वं केतुमालं च भारतं चोत्तरान् कुरून् ।

किम्पुरुषादीनि वर्षाणि विजित्य जगृहे बलिम् ॥ १२ ॥

bhadrāśvaṁ ketumālaṁ ca

bhārataṁ cottarān kurūn

kimpuruṣādīni varṣāṇi

vijitya jagṛhe balim

Translation

Mahārāja Parīkṣit then conquered all parts of the earthly planet — Bhadrāśva, Ketumāla, Bhārata, the northern Kuru, Kimpuruṣa, etc. — and exacted tributes from their respective rulers.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Parīkṣit Established His Rule Throughout the World

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Parīkṣit had already been declared emperor of the lands ruled by his grandfather. Still, he traveled to establish his supremacy and collect tribute from their rulers.

  2. 2

    The purport describes Jambūdvīpa as divided into nine varṣas, or regions. Bhārata-varṣa and Ketumāla are among these regions.

  3. 3

    Mahārāja Parīkṣit conquered all the world. His rule extended over the continents adjoining the seas and oceans in the east, west, north and south.

Key points from the purport
  • A description of this part of the world is available in the Mahābhārata (Sabhā 28.6).
  • Bhārata-varṣa: This part of the world is also one of the nine varṣas of the Jambūdvīpa.
  • In other words, Mahārāja Parīkṣit conquered all the world.

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. bhadrāśvamBhadrāśva
  2. ketumālamKetumāla
  3. caalso
  4. bhāratamBhārata
  5. caand
  6. uttarānthe northern countries
  7. kurūnthe kingdom of the Kuru dynasty
  8. kimpuruṣa-ādīnia country beyond the northern side of the Himālayas
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.16

    In this verse: “rulers”, “emperor”

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 does his journey show the difference between being declared emperor and establishing his rule?

Practice

Write down the five regions named in the translation, noting that their rulers paid tribute.

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.

7

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 1.16's connections

Live this todayParīkṣit Established His Rule Throughout the WorldThis 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 1.16.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories