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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
1.17.351.17.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.17.36

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.17.35inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

कलिरुवाच

यत्र क्‍व वाथ वत्स्यामि सार्वभौम तवाज्ञया ।

लक्षये तत्र तत्रापि त्वामात्तेषुशरासनम् ॥ ३६ ॥

kalir uvāca

yatra kva vātha vatsyāmi

sārva-bhauma tavājñayā

lakṣaye tatra tatrāpi

tvām ātteṣu-śarāsanam

Translation

O Your Majesty, though I may live anywhere and everywhere under your order, I shall but see you with bow and arrows wherever I look.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Mischief Cannot Escape Responsible Rule

  1. 1

    Kali understood that Mahārāja Parīkṣit ruled all lands. Wherever Kali went, he would encounter the same firm opposition.

  2. 2

    Kali was intent on mischief, while the King was intent on subduing mischief-makers. Moving elsewhere would not remove Kali’s accountability.

  3. 3

    Kali stood before the King as a surrendered soul. It was now for the King to decide what was required.

Key points from the purport
  • The personality of Kali could see that Mahārāja Parīkṣit was the emperor of all lands all over the world, and thus anywhere he might live he would have to meet with the same mood of the King.
  • The personality of Kali was meant for mischief, and Mahārāja Parīkṣit was meant for subduing all kinds of mischief-mongers, especially the personality of Kali.
  • It was better, therefore, for the personality of Kali to have been killed by the King then and there instead of being killed elsewhere.

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. kaliḥ uvācathe personality of Kali said
  2. yatraanywhere
  3. kvaand everywhere
  4. vāeither
  5. athathereof
  6. vatsyāmiI shall reside
  7. sārva-bhaumaO lord (or emperor) of the earth
  8. tavayour
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: “king”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 1.17

    In this verse: “surrendered”

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 trying to escape accountability by changing my surroundings rather than my conduct?

Practice

Identify one responsibility you have been avoiding and take a small step to fulfill it today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

Quoted in 1 lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 lecture

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayMischief Cannot Escape Responsible RuleThis 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 1.17.36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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