1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 1 · Creation · 19 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
1.17.71.17.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.17.8

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.17.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

न जातु कौरवेन्द्राणां दोर्दण्डपरिरम्भिते ।

भूतलेऽनुपतन्त्यस्मिन् विना ते प्राणिनां शुच: ॥ ८ ॥

na jātu kauravendrāṇāṁ

dordaṇḍa-parirambhite

bhū-tale ’nupatanty asmin

vinā te prāṇināṁ śucaḥ

Translation

Now for the first time in a kingdom well protected by the arms of the kings of the Kuru dynasty, I see you grieving with tears in your eyes. Up till now no one on earth has ever shed tears because of royal negligence.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Protection Belongs to Humans and Animals

  1. 1

    Protecting the lives of both human beings and animals is the first and foremost duty of government. The purport says there should be no discrimination in this protection.

  2. 2

    Mahārāja Parīkṣit lamented the tears in the bull's eyes. Such suffering through royal negligence was unprecedented in his well-protected kingdom.

  3. 3

    In God's kingdom, humans and animals are equally protected as far as life is concerned. Organized animal killing is therefore horrible to a purehearted soul.

Key points from the purport
  • The protection of the lives of both the human beings and the animals is the first and foremost duty of a government.
  • Mahārāja Parīkṣit was lamenting for the tears in the eyes of the bull, and he was astonished to see such an unprecedented thing in his good kingdom.
  • Men and animals were equally protected as far as life was concerned.

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. nanot
  2. jātuat any time
  3. kaurava-indrāṇāmof the kings in the Kuru dynasty
  4. dordaṇḍastrength of arms
  5. parirambhiteprotected by
  6. bhū-taleon the surface of the earth
  7. anupatantigrieving
  8. asminup till now
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: “kingdom”, “government”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

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

    In this verse: “protected”, “protecting”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “duty”

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

Does my concern for safety extend to animals as well as people?

Practice

Take one small step to make your surroundings safer for an animal, such as removing dangerous litter.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayProtection Belongs to Humans and AnimalsThis 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 1.17.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories