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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
1.17.301.17.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.17.31

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Kingsince 1.17.31inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

राजोवाच

न ते गुडाकेशयशोधराणां

बद्धाञ्जलेर्वै भयमस्ति किञ्चित् ।

न वर्तितव्यं भवता कथञ्चन

क्षेत्रे मदीये त्वमधर्मबन्धु: ॥ ३१ ॥

rājovāca

na te guḍākeśa-yaśo-dharāṇāṁ

baddhāñjaler vai bhayam asti kiñcit

na vartitavyaṁ bhavatā kathañcana

kṣetre madīye tvam adharma-bandhuḥ

Translation

The King thus said: We have inherited the fame of Arjuna; therefore since you have surrendered yourself with folded hands you need not fear for your life. But you cannot remain in my kingdom, for you are the friend of irreligion.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Mercy Does Not Mean Permitting Irreligion

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Parīkṣit assured the surrendered Kali that he need not fear for his life. Yet Kali could not remain in the kingdom as a friend of irreligion.

  2. 2

    The Pāṇḍavas were entrusted representatives of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead. Kṛṣṇa wanted ideal kings to rule, not for His personal interest.

  3. 3

    A responsible ruler cannot allow irreligion to flourish at the expense of the people’s welfare. Pardoning a surrendered offender does not mean giving corruption a place to grow.

Key points from the purport
  • The personality of Kali, who is the friend of all kinds of irreligiosities, may be excused if he surrenders, but in all circumstances he cannot be allowed to live as a citizen in any part of a welfare state.
  • He wanted an ideal king like Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira and his descendants like Mahārāja Parīkṣit to rule the world, and therefore a responsible king like Mahārāja Parīkṣit could not allow the friend of irreligiosity to flourish in his kingdom at the cost of the good fame of the Pāṇḍavas.
  • The friends of irreligiosity should be banished from the state, and that will save the state from corruption.

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. rājā uvācathe King said
  2. nanot
  3. teyour
  4. guḍākeśaArjuna
  5. yaśaḥ-dharāṇāmof us who inherited the fame
  6. baddha-añjaleḥone with folded hands
  7. vaicertainly
  8. bhayamfear
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.17

    In this verse: “king”, “kingdom”, “ruler”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “fear”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 1.17

    In this verse: “friend”

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

Can I show mercy while maintaining a firm boundary against wrongdoing?

Practice

Choose one situation where you need a boundary, and state it kindly without agreeing to support wrongdoing.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMercy Does Not Mean Permitting 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 1.17.31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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