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 18: Mahārāja Parīkṣit Cursed by a Brāhmaṇa Boy
1.18.101.18.12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.18.11

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The good sagessince 1.18.11inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

ऋषय ऊचु:

सूत जीव समा: सौम्य शाश्वतीर्विशदं यश: ।

यस्त्वं शंससि कृष्णस्य मर्त्यानाममृतं हि न: ॥ ११ ॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ

sūta jīva samāḥ saumya

śāśvatīr viśadaṁ yaśaḥ

yas tvaṁ śaṁsasi kṛṣṇasya

martyānām amṛtaṁ hi naḥ

Translation

The good sages said: O grave Sūta Gosvāmī! May you live many years and have eternal fame, for you are speaking very nicely about the activities of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead. This is just like nectar for mortal beings like us.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hearing About Kṛṣṇa Leads Back to Godhead

  1. 1

    Lord Kṛṣṇa’s birth and activities are transcendental, governed by His spiritual energy. His body is not material or changeable like an ordinary living being’s body.

  2. 2

    One who understands this from the Lord or authorized sources is not reborn after leaving the present body. Such a soul enters the Lord’s spiritual realm and engages in His loving service.

  3. 3

    The more we hear His activities from Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the more we understand His transcendental nature. This hearing brings definite progress on the path back to Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • When we hear about the transcendental qualities and activities of the Personality of Godhead, we may always remember what has been spoken by the Lord Himself in the Bhagavad-gītā (4.9).
  • His acts, even when He acts in human society, are all transcendental, for they are all accentuated by the spiritual energy of the Lord, which is distinguished from His material energy.
  • Therefore, the more we hear about the transcendental activities of the Lord, as they are stated in the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the more we can know about His transcendental nature and thus make definite progress on the path back to Godhead.

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 1.18.11 quotesBG 4.9

When we hear about the transcendental qualities and activities of the Personality of Godhead, we may always remember what has been spoken by the Lord Himself in the Bhagavad-gītā (4.9).

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

Remorse and urgency → Surrender and inquiry. Seven days to live become the impetus for complete spiritual hearing.

Chapters 18–19 of Canto 1: Parīkṣit is cursed and welcomes Śukadeva. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 18: Mahārāja Parīkṣit Cursed by a Brāhmaṇa Boy

A sage’s son curses Parīkṣit, but his father condemns the punishment of the saintly king.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.18
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ṛṣayaḥ ūcuḥthe good sages said
  2. sūtaO Sūta Gosvāmī
  3. jīvawe wish you life for
  4. samāḥmany years
  5. saumyagrave
  6. śāśvatīḥeternal
  7. viśadamparticularly
  8. yaśaḥin fame
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 1.18

    In this verse: “hearing”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 1.18

    In this verse: “understands”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 1.18

    In this verse: “material”

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 might remembering that Kṛṣṇa’s activities are transcendental change the way I hear about Him?

Practice

Spend five minutes reading about Kṛṣṇa’s activities in Bhagavad-gītā or Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, remembering that they are not ordinary human actions.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHearing About Kṛṣṇa Leads Back to GodheadThis 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 1.18.11? 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