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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
1.17.201.17.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.17.21

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.17.21inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

सूत उवाच

एवं धर्मे प्रवदति स सम्राड् द्विजसत्तमा: ।

समाहितेन मनसा विखेद: पर्यचष्ट तम् ॥ २१ ॥

sūta uvāca

evaṁ dharme pravadati

sa samrāḍ dvija-sattamāḥ

samāhitena manasā

vikhedaḥ paryacaṣṭa tam

Translation

Sūta Gosvāmī said: O best among the brāhmaṇas, the Emperor Parīkṣit, thus hearing the personality of religion speak, was fully satisfied, and without mistake or regret he gave his reply.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Understand Carefully Before You Reply

  1. 1

    The personality of religion spoke with deep philosophy and knowledge. Hearing him, Mahārāja Parīkṣit understood that the suffering bull was not ordinary.

  2. 2

    Such philosophical truths require thorough knowledge of the Supreme Lord’s law.

  3. 3

    The King possessed equal wisdom and was satisfied by what he heard. He replied to the point, without doubts or mistakes.

Key points from the purport
  • The statement of the bull, the personality of religion, was full of philosophy and knowledge, and the King was satisfied, since he could understand that the suffering bull was not an ordinary one.
  • Unless one is perfectly conversant with the law of the Supreme Lord, one cannot speak such things touching philosophical truths.
  • The Emperor, being also on an equal level of sagacity, replied to the point, without doubts or mistakes.

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. sūtaḥ uvācaSūta Gosvāmī said
  2. evamso
  3. dharmethe personality of religion
  4. pravadatithus having spoken
  5. saḥhe
  6. samrāṭthe Emperor
  7. dvija-sattamāḥO best among the brāhmaṇas
  8. samāhitenawith proper attention
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.17

    In this verse: “emperor”, “king”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 1.17

    In this verse: “hearing”, “heard”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “wisdom”, “philosophy”

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 listen to understand before forming my reply?

Practice

In one conversation today, listen fully and briefly restate the other person’s point before responding.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUnderstand Carefully Before You ReplyThis 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 1.17.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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