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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 17: Punishment and Reward of Kali
1.17.141.17.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.17.15

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.17.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

अनाग:स्विह भूतेषु य आगस्कृन्निरङ्कुश: ।

आहर्तास्मि भुजं साक्षादमर्त्यस्यापि साङ्गदम् ॥ १५ ॥

anāgaḥsv iha bhūteṣu

ya āgas-kṛn niraṅkuśaḥ

āhartāsmi bhujaṁ sākṣād

amartyasyāpi sāṅgadam

Translation

An upstart living being who commits offenses by torturing those who are offenseless shall be directly uprooted by me, even though he be a denizen of heaven with armor and decorations.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Power Does Not Excuse Cruelty

  1. 1

    The inhabitants of heavenly planets are called deathless because their lives are very long. Actually, no one within the material universe is deathless.

  2. 2

    Mahārāja Parīkṣit declared that even a powerful inhabitant of heaven would face punishment for torturing the innocent.

  3. 3

    A ruler must be determined to punish even the strongest offenders. Violations of God’s codes must not be excused because of someone’s position.

Key points from the purport
  • The denizens of the heavenly kingdom are called amara, or deathless, due to their possessing a long span of life, far greater than that of the human beings.
  • For a human being, who has only a maximum one-hundred-year duration of life, a span of life spreading over millions of years is certainly considered to be deathless.
  • Therefore, in all higher planets, since the span of life is far greater than that of the human being, the denizens are called deathless by imagination, although actually no one within the material universe is deathless.

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 17: Punishment and Reward of Kali

Parīkṣit protects a cow and bull from abuse and restricts Kali to five places.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.17
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. anāgaḥsu ihato the offenseless
  2. bhūteṣuliving beings
  3. yaḥthe person
  4. āgaḥ-kṛtcommits offense
  5. niraṅkuśaḥupstart
  6. āhartā asmiI shall bring forth
  7. bhujamarms
  8. sākṣātdirectly
  9. amartyasya apieven one who is a demigod
  10. sa-aṅgadamwith decorations and armor
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

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 1.17

    In this verse: “offenses”, “offenders”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 1.17

    In this verse: “deathless”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.17

    In this verse: “ruler”

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 tempted to excuse harmful behavior when the offender is powerful or admired?

Practice

Notice one instance where status influences your judgment, and assess the conduct without favoring the person’s position.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPower Does Not Excuse CrueltyThis 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 1.17.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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