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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
1.16.21.16.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.16.3

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.16.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

आजहाराश्वमेधांस्त्रीन् गङ्गायां भूरिदक्षिणान् ।

शारद्वतं गुरुं कृत्वा देवा यत्राक्षिगोचरा: ॥ ३ ॥

ājahārāśva-medhāṁs trīn

gaṅgāyāṁ bhūri-dakṣiṇān

śāradvataṁ guruṁ kṛtvā

devā yatrākṣi-gocarāḥ

Translation

Mahārāja Parīkṣit, after having selected Kṛpācārya for guidance as his spiritual master, performed three horse sacrifices on the banks of the Ganges. These were executed with sufficient rewards for the attendants. And at these sacrifices, even the common man could see demigods.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Spiritual Progress Requires Genuine Guidance

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Parīkṣit accepted Kṛpācārya as his spiritual master and performed three horse sacrifices. By their grace, the demigods became visible even to ordinary people.

  2. 2

    The King's generous charity returned the citizens' taxes for their benefit. The purport compares this giving to clouds freely distributing rain.

  3. 3

    Even Mahārāja Parīkṣit needed a spiritual master. One seeking self-realization must approach and take shelter of a bona fide spiritual master for real success.

Key points from the purport
  • Herein also we find that during the time of the horse sacrifice ceremony of Mahārāja Parīkṣit, the demigods from other planets were visible even to the common man, due to the sacrificial ceremony.
  • Although celestial beings are not visible to the naked eyes of the inhabitants of this earth, it was due to the influence of Mahārāja Parīkṣit that the demigods also agreed to be visible.
  • Even for a king like Mahārāja Parīkṣit there was need of a spiritual master for guidance.

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. ājahāraperformed
  2. aśva-medhānhorse sacrifices
  3. trīnthree
  4. gaṅgāyāmthe bank of the Ganges
  5. bhūrisufficiently
  6. dakṣiṇānrewards
  7. śāradvatamunto Kṛpācārya
  8. gurumspiritual master
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: “king's”, “citizens'”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 1.16

    In this verse: “grace”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 1.16

    In this verse: “shelter”

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 I recognize my need for genuine guidance in spiritual life?

Practice

Write down one question about spiritual progress that you would like to bring to a bona fide spiritual master.

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 · quoted in 1 more lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 other lecture

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

Live this todaySpiritual Progress Requires Genuine GuidanceThis 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 1.16.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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