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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
1.17.311.17.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.17.32

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Kingsince 1.17.31inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

त्वां वर्तमानं नरदेवदेहे-

ष्वनुप्रवृत्तोऽयमधर्मपूग: ।

लोभोऽनृतं चौर्यमनार्यमंहो

ज्येष्ठा च माया कलहश्च दम्भ: ॥ ३२ ॥

tvāṁ vartamānaṁ nara-deva-deheṣv

anupravṛtto ’yam adharma-pūgaḥ

lobho ’nṛtaṁ cauryam anāryam aṁho

jyeṣṭhā ca māyā kalahaś ca dambhaḥ

Translation

If the personality of Kali, irreligion, is allowed to act as a man-god or an executive head, certainly irreligious principles like greed, falsehood, robbery, incivility, treachery, misfortune, cheating, quarrel and vanity will abound.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Religious Principles Matter More Than Labels

  1. 1

    Austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truthfulness may be followed by a person of any faith. Changing religious labels is not a substitute for following these principles.

  2. 2

    Religious rules may differ according to time and place. Merely sticking to formulas without attaining the real principles is not good.

  3. 3

    A state may be impartial toward different faiths, but it cannot be indifferent to religious principles. When leaders neglect them, greed, falsehood and cheating flourish.

Key points from the purport
  • The Bhāgavatam religion urges following the principles of religion.
  • The principles of religion are not the dogmas or regulative principles of a certain faith.
  • But in the Age of Kali, the executive heads of state will be indifferent to such religious principles, and therefore under their patronage the opponents of religious principles, such as greed, falsehood, cheating and pilfery, will naturally follow, and so there will be no meaning to propaganda crying to stop corruption in the state.

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. tvāmyou
  2. vartamānamwhile present
  3. nara-devaa man-god, or a king
  4. deheṣuin the body
  5. anupravṛttaḥtaking place everywhere
  6. ayamall these
  7. adharmairreligious principles
  8. pūgaḥin the masses
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “principles”, “religious”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 1.17

    In this verse: “indifferent”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 1.17

    In this verse: “mercy”

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 giving more attention to religious labels than to truthful and merciful conduct?

Practice

Choose one conversation today in which to practice truthfulness without harshness.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReligious Principles Matter More Than LabelsThis 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 1.17.32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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