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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

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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
1.18.191.18.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.18.20

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.18.18inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

एतावतालं ननु सूचितेन

गुणैरसाम्यानतिशायनस्य ।

हित्वेतरान् प्रार्थयतो विभूति-

र्यस्याङ्‌घ्रिरेणुं जुषतेऽनभीप्सो: ॥ २० ॥

etāvatālaṁ nanu sūcitena

guṇair asāmyānatiśāyanasya

hitvetarān prārthayato vibhūtir

yasyāṅghri-reṇuṁ juṣate ’nabhīpsoḥ

Translation

It is now ascertained that He [the Personality of Godhead] is unlimited and there is none equal to Him. Consequently no one can speak of Him adequately. Great demigods cannot obtain the favor of the goddess of fortune even by prayers, but this very goddess renders service unto the Lord, although He is unwilling to have such service.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Supreme Lord Is Completely Independent

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead has no equal, and no one excels Him. His unlimited potencies carry out everything naturally and perfectly.

  2. 2

    The Lord is full in Himself and needs nothing from anyone. Even the goddess of fortune, whose favor others seek, is eternally engaged in His service.

  3. 3

    Having nothing to do does not mean that the Lord is impersonal. Simply by His willing, everything is accomplished; therefore He is called Yogeśvara, the Lord of all mystic powers.

Key points from the purport
  • The Personality of Godhead, or the Parameśvara Parabrahman, according to the śrutis, has nothing to do.
  • Thus the Supreme Personality of Godhead is full in Himself, and He has nothing to accept from anyone else, including the great demigods like Brahmā.
  • But still she renders service unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, although He has nothing to accept from her.

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

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. etāvatāso far
  2. alamunnecessary
  3. nanuif at all
  4. sūcitenaby description
  5. guṇaiḥby attributes
  6. asāmyaimmeasurable
  7. anati-śāyanasyaof one who is unexcelled
  8. hitvāleaving aside
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 1.18

    In this verse: “favor”

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 does knowing that the Lord needs nothing deepen my understanding of service to Him?

Practice

Take one minute to reflect on the goddess of fortune’s service to the Lord, who is already complete in Himself.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 1.18's connections

Live this todayThe Supreme Lord Is Completely IndependentThis 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 1.18.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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