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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 18: Mahārāja Parīkṣit Cursed by a Brāhmaṇa Boy
1.18.111.18.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.18.12

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

कर्मण्यस्मिन्ननाश्वासे धूमधूम्रात्मनां भवान् ।

आपाययति गोविन्दपादपद्मासवं मधु ॥ १२ ॥

karmaṇy asminn anāśvāse

dhūma-dhūmrātmanāṁ bhavān

āpāyayati govinda-

pāda-padmāsavaṁ madhu

Translation

We have just begun the performance of this fruitive activity, a sacrificial fire, without certainty of its result due to the many imperfections in our action. Our bodies have become black from the smoke, but we are factually pleased by the nectar of the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead, Govinda, which you are distributing.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Gives a Certain Result

  1. 1

    The sages’ fire sacrifice was full of smoke and doubts because of flaws in its performance. In the Age of Kali, expert brāhmaṇas able to perform such sacrifices successfully are scarce.

  2. 2

    The prescribed fruitful sacrifice in this age is congregational chanting of the Lord’s holy name. By hearing the Lord’s activities from Sūta Gosvāmī, the sages experienced real satisfaction.

  3. 3

    Fruitive activity and philosophical speculation may leave people laboring in vain. In devotional service, the result is sure and certain, and there is no loss of energy.

Key points from the purport
  • The sacrificial fire kindled by the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya was certainly full of smoke and doubts because of so many flaws.
  • Sūta Gosvāmī was narrating the transcendental activities of the Lord before the congregation of sages, and they were factually perceiving the result of hearing these transcendental activities.
  • The sages of Naimiṣāraṇya were practically sufferers from the smoke of a sacrificial fire and were doubtful about the result, but by hearing from a realized person like Sūta Gosvāmī, they were fully satisfied.

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

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 24.215

This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.18.12) was spoken to Sūta Gosvāmī at the meeting of great sages at Naimiṣāraṇya.

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. karmaṇiperformance of
  2. asminin this
  3. anāśvāsewithout certainty
  4. dhūmasmoke
  5. dhūmra-ātmanāmtinged body and mind
  6. bhavānyour good self
  7. āpāyayativery much pleasing
  8. govindathe Personality of Godhead
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: “chanting”, “hearing”, “holy name”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.18

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “philosophical”

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

Where am I seeking uncertain results when I could give time to hearing and devotional service?

Practice

Join another person today in chanting the Lord’s holy name for a few minutes.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Gives a Certain ResultThis 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.

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