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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 17: Punishment and Reward of Kali
1.17.151.17.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.17.16

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

राज्ञो हि परमो धर्म: स्वधर्मस्थानुपालनम् ।

शासतोऽन्यान् यथाशास्त्रमनापद्युत्पथानिह ॥ १६ ॥

rājño hi paramo dharmaḥ

sva-dharma-sthānupālanam

śāsato ’nyān yathā-śāstram

anāpady utpathān iha

Translation

The supreme duty of the ruling king is to give all protection to law-abiding persons and to chastise those who stray from the ordinances of the scriptures in ordinary times, when there is no emergency.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Emergency Exceptions Are Not Everyday Rules

  1. 1

    Āpad-dharma means occupational duty during extraordinary emergencies. An allowance made for survival does not justify regular animal slaughter or eating flesh merely for taste.

  2. 2

    A person faithful to prescribed duties is called sva-dharma-stha. One should not abandon such duties simply because they are not always flawless.

  3. 3

    In ordinary times, rulers must protect those who follow their prescribed duties. They must address violations according to the scriptures.

Key points from the purport
  • In the scriptures there is mention of āpad-dharma, or occupational duty at times of extraordinary happenings.
  • No one should try to live on flesh in ordinary times simply for the sake of the palate.
  • In the Bhagavad-gītā (18.48) it is advised that one should not give up his occupational prescribed duties, even if they are not always flawless.

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· 1

The purport of SB 1.17.16 quotesBG 18.48

In the Bhagavad-gītā (18.48) it is advised that one should not give up his occupational prescribed duties, even if they are not always flawless.

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 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. rājñaḥof the king or the executive head
  2. hicertainly
  3. paramaḥsupreme
  4. dharmaḥoccupational duty
  5. sva-dharma-sthaone who is faithful to his prescribed duty
  6. anupālanamgiving protection always
  7. śāsataḥwhile ruling
  8. anyānothers
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 1.17

    In this verse: “duty”, “duties”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.17

    In this verse: “king”, “rulers”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 1.17

    In this verse: “protection”, “protect”

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 sometimes treat convenience or desire as though it were an emergency?

Practice

Choose one duty you are tempted to avoid and carry it out today without using an ordinary difficulty as an excuse.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayEmergency Exceptions Are Not Everyday RulesThis 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 1.17.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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