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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
1.17.231.17.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.17.24

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Kingsince 1.17.22inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

तप: शौचं दया सत्यमिति पादा: कृते कृता: ।

अधर्मांशैस्त्रयो भग्ना: स्मयसङ्गमदैस्तव ॥ २४ ॥

tapaḥ śaucaṁ dayā satyam

iti pādāḥ kṛte kṛtāḥ

adharmāṁśais trayo bhagnāḥ

smaya-saṅga-madais tava

Translation

In the age of Satya [truthfulness] your four legs were established by the four principles of austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truthfulness. But it appears that three of your legs are broken due to rampant irreligion in the form of pride, lust for women, and intoxication.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Four Principles Support Surrender to the Lord

  1. 1

    Austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truthfulness are the four supports of religion. They develop the character needed to surrender to the Lord.

  2. 2

    Material energy is very difficult to overcome, but one who completely surrenders to the Lord can overcome it. Pride, undue attachment to women and intoxication weaken the principles that support surrender.

  3. 3

    Laws and police vigilance alone cannot cure society’s corruption. Teaching Bhāgavatam principles and God consciousness makes people austere, clean, merciful and truthful.

Key points from the purport
  • But gradually, as the basic principles of brahminical culture, namely austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truthfulness, became curtailed by proportionate development of pride, attachment for women and intoxication, the path of salvation or the path of transcendental bliss retreated far, far away from human society.
  • Man cannot check all these evils simply by statutory acts and police vigilance, but he can cure the disease of the mind by the proper medicine, namely advocating the principles of brahminical culture or the principles of austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truthfulness.
  • We must always remember that false pride, or too high an estimation of one’s own values of life, undue attachment to women or association with them, and intoxication will divert human civilization from the path of peace, however much the people clamor for peace in the world.

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

Quoted in the purport ofSB 11.17.11

The bull of religion is described in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.17.24): tapaḥ śaucaṁ dayā satyam iti pādāḥ kṛte kṛtāḥ.

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. tapaḥausterity
  2. śaucamcleanliness
  3. dayāmercy
  4. satyamtruthfulness
  5. itithus
  6. pādāḥlegs
  7. kṛtein the age of Satya
  8. kṛtāḥestablished
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 1.17

    In this verse: “lust”, “attachment”, “material”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 1.17

    In this verse: “principles”, “religion”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 1.17

    In this verse: “mercy”, “merciful”

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

Which of these four principles most needs strengthening in my daily life?

Practice

Choose one of the four principles and perform one concrete act today, such as cleaning your space or helping someone who is suffering.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFour Principles Support Surrender to the LordThis 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 1.17.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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