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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
1.16.201.16.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.16.21

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

अरक्ष्यमाणा: स्त्रिय उर्वि बालान्

शोचस्यथो पुरुषादैरिवार्तान् ।

वाचं देवीं ब्रह्मकुले कुकर्म-

ण्यब्रह्मण्ये राजकुले कुलाग्रयान् ॥ २१ ॥

arakṣyamāṇāḥ striya urvi bālān

śocasy atho puruṣādair ivārtān

vācaṁ devīṁ brahma-kule kukarmaṇy

abrahmaṇye rāja-kule kulāgryān

Translation

Are you feeling compunction for the unhappy women and children who are left forlorn by unscrupulous persons? Or are you unhappy because the goddess of learning is being handled by brāhmaṇas addicted to acts against the principles of religion? Or are you sorry to see that the brāhmaṇas have taken shelter of administrative families that do not respect brahminical culture?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Learning Must Be Joined With Good Character

  1. 1

    The purport describes neglect of women, children, brāhmaṇas, and cows as a symptom of Kali. Irresponsible relationships leave women and children uncared for.

  2. 2

    Education and bad character go ill together. High educational achievement does not by itself mean that someone follows moral and religious principles.

  3. 3

    Brāhmaṇas are restricted from accepting service under administrators who reject the moral codes of the śāstras. Trading religious principles for an exalted position harms society’s welfare.

Key points from the purport
  • In the Age of Kali, the women and the children, along with brāhmaṇas and cows, will be grossly neglected and left unprotected.
  • In this age illicit connection with women will render many women and children uncared for.
  • The brāhmaṇas are traditionally intelligent men, and thus they will be able to pick up modern education to the topmost rank, but as far as moral and religious principles are concerned, they shall be the most fallen.

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. arakṣyamāṇāḥunprotected
  2. striyaḥwomen
  3. urvion the earth
  4. bālānchildren
  5. śocasiyou are feeling compassion
  6. athoas such
  7. puruṣa-ādaiḥby cannibals (Rākṣasas)
  8. ivalike that
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 1.16

    In this verse: “religion”, “principles”, “religious”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.16

    In this verse: “administrative”, “administrators”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “children”

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

Do my choices show the good character that my learning should support?

Practice

Offer one practical act of care today to a child or woman in your family who needs support.

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.

2 lectures given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayLearning Must Be Joined With Good CharacterThis 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 1.16.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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