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

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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
1.16.26-301.16.32-33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.16.31

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

आत्मानं चानुशोचामि भवन्तं चामरोत्तमम् ।

देवान् पितृनृषीन् साधून् सर्वान् वर्णांस्तथाश्रमान् ॥ ३१ ॥

ātmānaṁ cānuśocāmi

bhavantaṁ cāmarottamam

devān pitṝn ṛṣīn sādhūn

sarvān varṇāṁs tathāśramān

Translation

I am thinking about myself and also, O best amongst the demigods, about you, as well as about all the demigods, sages, denizens of Pitṛloka, devotees of the Lord and all men obedient to the system of varṇa and āśrama in human society.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Spiritual Qualification Matters More Than Birth

  1. 1

    Human perfection involves cooperation among human beings, demigods, sages, devotees and the orders of varṇa and āśrama. The goal is to reestablish our eternal relationship with Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

  2. 2

    The God-made system of varṇāśrama-dharma is meant to raise consciousness toward God. When its purpose is lost, peaceful and progressive life is disturbed.

  3. 3

    A claim of birth alone does not establish someone as a brāhmaṇa. Real qualifications include control of mind and senses, tolerance, simplicity, cleanliness, knowledge, truthfulness, devotion and faith in Vedic wisdom.

Key points from the purport
  • To effect the perfection of human life there is cooperation between men and demigods, sages, denizens of the Pitṛloka, devotees of the Lord and the scientific system of varṇa and āśrama orders of life.
  • The distinction between human life and animal life therefore begins with the scientific system of varṇa and āśrama, guided by the experience of the sages in relation with the demigods, gradually rising to the summit of reestablishing our eternal relation with the Supreme Absolute Truth, the Personality of Godhead, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
  • In the Age of Kali, the first attack of the venomous snake strikes against the God-made varṇāśrama-dharma, and thus a person properly qualified as a brāhmaṇa is called a śūdra, and a śūdra by qualification is passing as a brāhmaṇa, all on a false birthright claim.

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. ātmānammyself
  2. caalso
  3. anuśocāmilamenting
  4. bhavantamyourself
  5. caas well as
  6. amara-uttamamthe best amongst the demigods
  7. devānabout the demigods
  8. pitṝnabout the denizens of the Pitṛloka planet
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: “varṇa”, “āśrama”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”, “devotion”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “wisdom”

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

Am I giving more importance to outward status or to genuine spiritual qualities?

Practice

Choose one listed qualification, such as truthfulness or tolerance, and consciously practice it in one interaction today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySpiritual Qualification Matters More Than BirthThis 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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