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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
1.18.211.18.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.18.22

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.18.18inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

यत्रानुरक्ता: सहसैव धीरा

व्यपोह्य देहादिषु सङ्गमूढम् ।

व्रजन्ति तत्पारमहंस्यमन्त्यं

यस्मिन्नहिंसोपशम: स्वधर्म: ॥ २२ ॥

yatrānuraktāḥ sahasaiva dhīrā

vyapohya dehādiṣu saṅgam ūḍham

vrajanti tat pārama-haṁsyam antyaṁ

yasminn ahiṁsopaśamaḥ sva-dharmaḥ

Translation

Self-controlled persons who are attached to the Supreme Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa can all of a sudden give up the world of material attachment, including the gross body and subtle mind, and go away to attain the highest perfection of the renounced order of life, by which nonviolence and renunciation are consequential.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Self-Control Through Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Self-control means not indulging in sense enjoyment beyond what is necessary. It is achieved by properly engaging the senses in the Lord’s service, not by forcibly stopping them.

  2. 2

    This purified engagement of the senses is bhakti-yoga. Those fully attached to serving the Lord can give up bodily and worldly attachments and naturally develop good qualities.

  3. 3

    Real nonviolence means freedom from envy and love for every living being in relation to the Lord. Real renunciation means complete dependence on His mercy.

Key points from the purport
  • Self-control is actually achieved not by artificially stopping the senses from material enjoyment, but by becoming factually attached to the Supreme Lord by engaging one’s unalloyed senses in the transcendental service of the Lord.
  • So those who are attached to the means of bhakti-yoga are factually self-controlled and can all of a sudden give up their homely or bodily attachment for the service of the Lord.
  • Actually everyone is dependent on the mercy of the Supreme Lord, but when one forgets his relation with the Lord, he becomes dependent on the conditions of material nature.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yatraunto whom
  2. anuraktāḥfirmly attached
  3. sahasāall of a sudden
  4. evacertainly
  5. dhīrāḥself-controlled
  6. vyapohyaleaving aside
  7. dehathe gross body and subtle mind
  8. ādiṣurelating to
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 1.18

    In this verse: “renounced”, “give up”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “attached”, “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “bhakti-yoga”

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

Which of my senses could I engage more deliberately in the Lord’s service?

Practice

Use your voice today to offer a short prayer of service to the Supreme Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySelf-Control Through 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 1.18.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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