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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
1.17.81.17.10-11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.17.9

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

मा सौरभेयात्र शुचो व्येतु ते वृषलाद् भयम् ।

मा रोदीरम्ब भद्रं ते खलानां मयि शास्तरि ॥ ९ ॥

mā saurabheyātra śuco

vyetu te vṛṣalād bhayam

mā rodīr amba bhadraṁ te

khalānāṁ mayi śāstari

Translation

O son of Surabhi, you need lament no longer now. There is no need to fear this low-class śūdra. And, O mother cow, as long as I am living as the ruler and subduer of all envious men, there is no cause for you to cry. Everything will be good for you.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Protecting Cows Pleases the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Parīkṣit reassured the bull and addressed the cow as mother. He promised that under his rule they need not fear envious men.

  2. 2

    The surabhi cows live in the spiritual planets and are especially reared by Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself. The purport connects the cows of this world with those of the spiritual kingdom.

  3. 3

    Society should recognize the importance of cows and bulls and give them full protection. Protecting cows and brahminical culture pleases the Supreme Lord, who bestows real peace.

Key points from the purport
  • Protection of bulls and cows and all other animals can be possible only when there is a state ruled by an executive head like Mahārāja Parīkṣit.
  • The human society should recognize the importance of the cow and the bull and thus give all protection to these important animals, following in the footsteps of Mahārāja Parīkṣit.
  • For protecting the cows and brahminical culture, the Lord, who is very kind to the cow and the brāhmaṇas (go-brāhmaṇa-hitāya), will be pleased with us and will bestow upon us real peace.

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. mādo not
  2. saurabheyaO son of Surabhi
  3. atrain my kingdom
  4. śucaḥlamentation
  5. vyetulet there be
  6. teyour
  7. vṛṣalātby the śūdra
  8. bhayamcause of fear
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: “ruler”, “kingdom”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “fear”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 1.17

    In this verse: “mother”

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

How can I care for cows with the intention of pleasing Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Choose one small act of support for cow protection today, remembering that its purpose is to please the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayProtecting Cows Pleases the Supreme LordThis 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 1.17.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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