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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
1.17.11.17.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.17.2

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.17.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

वृषं मृणालधवलं मेहन्तमिव बिभ्यतम् ।

वेपमानं पदैकेन सीदन्तं शूद्रताडितम् ॥ २ ॥

vṛṣaṁ mṛṇāla-dhavalaṁ

mehantam iva bibhyatam

vepamānaṁ padaikena

sīdantaṁ śūdra-tāḍitam

Translation

The bull was as white as a white lotus flower. He was terrified of the śūdra who was beating him, and he was so afraid that he was standing on one leg, trembling and urinating.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Religious Principles Need Care and Respect

  1. 1

    The bull's spotless whiteness is compared to the purity of religious principles. His trembling condition shows how those principles are attacked in the Age of Kali.

  2. 2

    Descent from brāhmaṇa or kṣatriya forefathers does not replace education and culture in Vedic wisdom. Without that culture, people may defy religion and frighten religious persons.

  3. 3

    The bull standing on one leg indicates that religious principles are gradually diminishing. Disrespect for sādhu, śāstra and guru places even their remaining practice in difficulty.

Key points from the purport
  • The next symptom of the Age of Kali is that principles of religion, which are all spotlessly white, like the white lotus flower, will be attacked by the uncultured śūdra population of the age.
  • The bull standing on one leg indicates that the principles of religion are gradually diminishing.
  • Even the fragmental existence of religious principles will be embarrassed by so many obstacles as if in the trembling condition of falling down at any time.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vṛṣamthe bull
  2. mṛṇāla-dhavalamas white as a white lotus
  3. mehantamurinating
  4. ivaas if
  5. bibhyatambeing too afraid
  6. vepamānamtrembling
  7. padā ekenastanding on only one leg
  8. sīdantamterrified
  9. śūdra-tāḍitambeing beaten by a śūdra.
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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 1.17

    In this verse: “religious”, “principles”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “afraid”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 1.17

    In this verse: “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

How can I show greater respect for spiritual teachers and scripture?

Practice

Set aside five quiet minutes today to read this purport attentively.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReligious Principles Need Care and RespectThis 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 1.17.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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