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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
1.16.351.17.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.16.36

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.16.10inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

तयोरेवं कथयतो: पृथिवीधर्मयोस्तदा ।

परीक्षिन्नाम राजर्षि: प्राप्त: प्राचीं सरस्वतीम् ॥ ३६ ॥

tayor evaṁ kathayatoḥ

pṛthivī-dharmayos tadā

parīkṣin nāma rājarṣiḥ

prāptaḥ prācīṁ sarasvatīm

Translation

While the earth and the personality of religion were thus engaged in conversation, the saintly King Parīkṣit reached the shore of the Sarasvatī River, which flowed towards the east.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Saintly King Parīkṣit Arrives

  1. 1

    The earth and the personality of religion were engaged in conversation when King Parīkṣit arrived.

  2. 2

    Parīkṣit is described as a saintly king. The verse presents saintliness alongside his royal position.

  3. 3

    He reached the shore of the Sarasvatī River, which flowed toward the east. His arrival brings him to the setting of their conversation.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the First Canto, Sixteenth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “How Parīkṣit Received the Age of Kali.”

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. tayoḥbetween them
  2. evamthus
  3. kathayatoḥengaged in conversation
  4. pṛthivīearth
  5. dharmayoḥand the personality of religion
  6. tadāat that time
  7. parīkṣitKing Parīkṣit
  8. nāmaof the name
3

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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “religion”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.16

    In this verse: “king”

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 does the description “saintly king” invite me to value in someone who carries responsibility?

Practice

Pause before one responsibility today and consider how to approach it with a saintly rather than merely status-conscious attitude.

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 todaySaintly King Parīkṣit ArrivesThis 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 1.16.36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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