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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
1.17.271.17.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.17.28

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

इति धर्मं महीं चैव सान्‍त्वयित्वा महारथ: ।

निशातमाददे खड्गं कलयेऽधर्महेतवे ॥ २८ ॥

iti dharmaṁ mahīṁ caiva

sāntvayitvā mahā-rathaḥ

niśātam ādade khaḍgaṁ

kalaye ’dharma-hetave

Translation

Mahārāja Parīkṣit, who could fight one thousand enemies single-handedly, thus pacified the personality of religion and the earth. Then he took up his sharp sword to kill the personality of Kali, who is the cause of all irreligion.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Do Not Remain Indifferent to Irreligion

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Parīkṣit first pacified the personality of religion and the earth. He then took up his sword against Kali, the cause of irreligion.

  2. 2

    The Age of Kali brings sinful activities, but leaders, learned people and devotees should not become indifferent. Expected difficulty is no reason to neglect protection.

  3. 3

    The purport calls for administrators to take concrete action against corruption and intoxication, rather than merely pass resolutions. Mahārāja Parīkṣit is presented as an executive head ready to act.

Key points from the purport
  • As described above, the personality of Kali is he who deliberately commits all kinds of sinful acts which are forbidden in the revealed scriptures.
  • It is the duty of the executive heads of state and others to take all necessary actions against the activities of Kali or the persons influenced by the Age of Kali; and Mahārāja Parīkṣit is the ideal executive head of the state, for at once he was ready to kill the personality of Kali with his sharp sword.
  • That is the way of stopping the activities of Kali, as exhibited herein by Mahārāja Parīkṣit, the mahā-ratha.

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. itithus
  2. dharmamthe personality of religion
  3. mahīmthe earth
  4. caalso
  5. evaas
  6. sāntvayitvāafter pacifying
  7. mahā-rathaḥthe general who could fight alone with thousands of enemies
  8. niśātamsharp
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: “religion”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.17

    In this verse: “administrators”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 1.17

    In this verse: “sinful”

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 using the difficulties of the times as an excuse to become indifferent?

Practice

Identify one corrupt practice you encounter and resolve not to participate in it today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDo Not Remain Indifferent to IrreligionThis 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 1.17.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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