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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
1.16.241.16.26-30

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.16.25

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.16.10inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

dharaṇy uvāca

bhavān hi veda tat sarvaṁ

yan māṁ dharmānupṛcchasi

caturbhir vartase yena

pādair loka-sukhāvahaiḥ

Translation

The earthly deity [in the form of a cow] thus replied to the personality of religious principles [in the form of a bull]: O Dharma, whatever you have inquired from me shall be known to you. I shall try to reply to all those questions. Once you too were maintained by your four legs, and you increased happiness all over the universe by the mercy of the Lord.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Maintain Religious Principles Despite Difficulties

  1. 1

    The Lord Himself lays down religious principles, and Dharmarāja, or Yamarāja, executes His laws. By the Lord’s mercy, these principles increase happiness throughout the universe.

  2. 2

    Religious principles operate fully in Satya-yuga and diminish through the succeeding ages. In Kali-yuga, they are reduced to one fourth and gradually decline further.

  3. 3

    Individual and collective happiness depends on maintaining religious principles. Holding to them despite difficulties brings happiness in life and ultimately a return to Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • The principles of religion are laid down by the Lord Himself, and the executor of such laws is Dharmarāja, or Yamarāja.
  • Happiness in the world depends proportionately on the maintenance of the religious principles, individually or collectively.
  • Thus one can be happy during the span of life and ultimately return to Godhead.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dharaṇī uvācamother earth replied
  2. bhavānyour good self
  3. hicertainly
  4. vedaknow
  5. tat sarvamall that you have inquired from me
  6. yatthat
  7. māmfrom me
  8. dharmaO personality of religious principles
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 1.16

    In this verse: “mercy”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 1.16

    In this verse: “inquired”

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 difficulty most tests my willingness to maintain religious principles?

Practice

Identify one religious commitment you already follow, and make a concrete plan to keep it today despite one likely obstacle.

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 todayMaintain Religious Principles Despite DifficultiesThis 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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