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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
1.17.361.17.38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.17.37

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.17.35inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

तन्मे धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठ स्थानं निर्देष्टुमर्हसि ।

यत्रैव नियतो वत्स्य आतिष्ठंस्तेऽनुशासनम् ॥ ३७ ॥

tan me dharma-bhṛtāṁ śreṣṭha

sthānaṁ nirdeṣṭum arhasi

yatraiva niyato vatsya

ātiṣṭhaṁs te ’nuśāsanam

Translation

Therefore, O chief amongst the protectors of religion, please fix some place for me where I can live permanently under the protection of your government.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Surrender Brings the Lord’s Protection

  1. 1

    Kali called Mahārāja Parīkṣit the chief protector of religion because the King spared one who had surrendered.

  2. 2

    Giving protection to a surrendered person, even an enemy, is a principle of religion.

  3. 3

    How much greater is the protection of the Personality of Godhead for one who surrenders as a devoted servant. The Lord protects that soul from sins and their reactions.

Key points from the purport
  • The personality of Kali addressed Mahārāja Parīkṣit as the chief amongst the protectors of religiosity because the King refrained from killing a person who surrendered unto him.
  • A surrendered soul should be given all protection, even though he may be an enemy.
  • And we can just imagine what sort of protection is given by the Personality of Godhead to the person who surrenders unto Him, not as an enemy but as a devoted servitor.

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

The purport of SB 1.17.37 quotesBG 18.66

The Lord protects the surrendered soul from all sins and all resultant reactions of sinful acts.

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. tattherefore
  2. meme
  3. dharma-bhṛtāmof all the protectors of religion
  4. śreṣṭhaO chief
  5. sthānamplace
  6. nirdeṣṭumfix
  7. arhasimay you do so
  8. yatrawhere
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: “government”, “king”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 1.17

    In this verse: “protectors”, “protector”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “religion”

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

What would it mean for me to approach the Lord as a devoted servant seeking His protection?

Practice

Offer a short prayer asking the Lord for shelter and the willingness to serve Him.

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 todaySurrender Brings the Lord’s ProtectionThis 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 1.17.37? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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