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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 1.16.26-30

Who is speaking and story frame

सत्यं शौचं दया क्षान्तिस्त्याग: सन्तोष आर्जवम् ।

शमो दमस्तप: साम्यं तितिक्षोपरति: श्रुतम् ॥ २६ ॥

ज्ञानं विरक्तिरैश्वर्यं शौर्यं तेजो बलं स्मृति: ।

स्वातन्त्र्यं कौशलं कान्तिर्धैर्यं मार्दवमेव च ॥ २७ ॥

प्रागल्भ्यं प्रश्रय: शीलं सह ओजो बलं भग: ।

गाम्भीर्यं स्थैर्यमास्तिक्यं कीर्तिर्मानोऽनहङ्‍कृति: ॥ २८ ॥

एते चान्ये च भगवन्नित्या यत्र महागुणा: ।

प्रार्थ्या महत्त्वमिच्छद्भ‍िर्न वियन्ति स्म कर्हिचित् ॥ २९ ॥

तेनाहं गुणपात्रेण श्रीनिवासेन साम्प्रतम् ।

शोचामि रहितं लोकं पाप्मना कलिनेक्षितम् ॥ ३० ॥

satyaṁ śaucaṁ dayā kṣāntis

tyāgaḥ santoṣa ārjavam

śamo damas tapaḥ sāmyaṁ

titikṣoparatiḥ śrutam

jñānaṁ viraktir aiśvaryaṁ

śauryaṁ tejo balaṁ smṛtiḥ

svātantryaṁ kauśalaṁ kāntir

dhairyaṁ mārdavam eva ca

prāgalbhyaṁ praśrayaḥ śīlaṁ

saha ojo balaṁ bhagaḥ

gāmbhīryaṁ sthairyam āstikyaṁ

kīrtir māno ’nahaṅkṛtiḥ

ete cānye ca bhagavan

nityā yatra mahā-guṇāḥ

prārthyā mahattvam icchadbhir

na viyanti sma karhicit

tenāhaṁ guṇa-pātreṇa

śrī-nivāsena sāmpratam

śocāmi rahitaṁ lokaṁ

pāpmanā kalinekṣitam

Translation

In Him reside (1) truthfulness, (2) cleanliness, (3) intolerance of another’s unhappiness, (4) the power to control anger, (5) self-satisfaction, (6) straightforwardness, (7) steadiness of mind, (8) control of the sense organs, (9) responsibility, (10) equality, (11) tolerance, (12) equanimity, (13) faithfulness, (14) knowledge, (15) absence of sense enjoyment, (16) leadership, (17) chivalry, (18) influence, (19) the power to make everything possible, (20) the discharge of proper duty, (21) complete independence, (22) dexterity, (23) fullness of all beauty, (24) serenity, (25) kindheartedness, (26) ingenuity, (27) gentility, (28) magnanimity, (29) determination, (30) perfection in all knowledge, (31) proper execution, (32) possession of all objects of enjoyment, (33) joyfulness, (34) immovability, (35) fidelity, (36) fame, (37) worship, (38) pridelessness, (39) being (as the Personality of Godhead), (40) eternity, and many other transcendental qualities which are eternally present and never to be separated from Him. That Personality of Godhead, the reservoir of all goodness and beauty, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, has now closed His transcendental pastimes on the face of the earth. In His absence the Age of Kali has spread its influence everywhere, so I am sorry to see this condition of existence.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa’s Qualities and Protection Are Unlimited

  1. 1

    Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose transcendental qualities cannot be fully counted. His goodness and beauty are eternal and never separate from Him.

  2. 2

    The Lord is equally kind to everyone, yet He gives particular attention to those engaged in His loving service. He protects surrendered souls and guides pure devotees on the path back to Godhead.

  3. 3

    The Lord never fails to keep His promise of protection. The devotee’s duty is to remain steady in the service entrusted by the Lord or the spiritual master, knowing that devotional service is itself the benefit.

Key points from the purport
  • Unsurrendered souls are not devotees of the Lord, and thus there is no particular protection for everyone in general.
  • The responsibility of the Lord is also unique.
  • Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī Prabhu has scrutinizingly analyzed other transcendental qualities of the Lord and affirms that Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the Absolute Supreme Personality of Godhead (Parabrahman).

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 1.16.26-30 quotesBG 9.10

The creative material energy is working under His direction, as confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.10).

Quoted in the purport ofSB 11.13.40

In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.16.26-30) mother Bhūmi, the predominating deity of the earth, gives a list of some of the Lord’s transcendental qualities, and even more are found in The Nectar of Devotion.

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

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. satyamtruthfulness
  2. śaucamcleanliness
  3. dayāintolerance of others’ unhappiness
  4. kṣāntiḥself-control even if there is cause of anger
  5. tyāgaḥmagnanimity
  6. santoṣaḥself-satisfaction
  7. ārjavamstraightforwardness
  8. śamaḥfixing of the mind
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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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.16

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

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 1.16

    In this verse: “separated”, “absence”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “duty”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How might remembering the Lord’s unfailing protection help me become steadier in devotional service?

Practice

Read one quality from the translation and spend a minute reflecting on how it encourages your trust in Kṛṣṇa.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

2 lectures given on it · quoted in 2 more lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 2 other lectures

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

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Connected stories

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

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Qualities and Protection Are UnlimitedThis 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 1.16.26-30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.