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

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Canto 1 · Creation · 19 chapters

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

1.18.16 1.18.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.18.17

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

तन्न: परं पुण्यमसंवृतार्थ-

माख्यानमत्यद्भुतयोगनिष्ठम् ।

आख्याह्यनन्ताचरितोपपन्नं

पारीक्षितं भागवताभिरामम् ॥ १७ ॥

tan naḥ paraṁ puṇyam asaṁvṛtārtham

ākhyānam atyadbhuta-yoga-niṣṭham

ākhyāhy anantācaritopapannaṁ

pārīkṣitaṁ bhāgavatābhirāmam

Translation

Thus please narrate to us the narrations of the Unlimited, for they are purifying and supreme. They were spoken to Mahārāja Parīkṣit, and they are very dear to the pure devotees, being full of bhakti-yoga.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Teaches Devotional Service

1
The narrations spoken to Mahārāja Parīkṣit and especially dear to pure devotees are Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. They are purifying and supreme.
2
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam mainly describes the activities of the Supreme Unlimited. It is therefore the science of bhakti-yoga, or devotional service to the Lord.
3
Although Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is enriched with all knowledge and religion, it is especially enriched with devotional service. This makes it supreme.

Key points from the purport

What was spoken to Mahārāja Parīkṣit and what is very dear to the pure devotees is Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is mainly full of the narrations of the activities of the Supreme Unlimited, and therefore it is the science of bhakti-yoga, or the devotional service of the Lord.
Thus it is para, or supreme, because although it is enriched with all knowledge and religion, it is specifically enriched with the devotional service of the Lord.

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

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

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

tattherefore
naḥunto us
paramsupreme
puṇyampurifying
asaṁvṛta-arthamas it is
ākhyānamnarration
ativery
adbhutawonderful

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
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.18
In this verse: “devotees”, “bhakti-yoga”, “devotional service”
Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting
Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 1.18
In this verse: “narrations”
Śuddhi · Inner transformation
The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 1.18
In this verse: “purifying”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When I study Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, do I look for its central teaching of devotional service?

Practice

Read a short passage of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam today and note one teaching about devotional service.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam Teaches Devotional ServiceThis 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 1.18.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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