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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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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
1.18.261.18.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.18.27

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.18.18inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

विप्रकीर्णजटाच्छन्नं रौरवेणाजिनेन च ।

विशुष्यत्तालुरुदकं तथाभूतमयाचत ॥ २७ ॥

viprakīrṇa-jaṭācchannaṁ

rauraveṇājinena ca

viśuṣyat-tālur udakaṁ

tathā-bhūtam ayācata

Translation

The sage, in meditation, was covered by the skin of a stag, and long, compressed hair was scattered all over him. The King, whose palate was dry from thirst, asked him for water.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

An Awkward Meeting Prepares for Revelation

  1. 1

    The meditating sage wore a stag skin, and his long, compressed hair was scattered over him. The King’s palate was dry from thirst, and he asked for water.

  2. 2

    The purport calls this meeting providential. Such a great devotee and king asking water from a sage absorbed in trance was an unusual occurrence.

  3. 3

    Mahārāja Parīkṣit was placed in this awkward position so that Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam could gradually be revealed.

Key points from the purport
  • The King, being thirsty, asked the sage for water.
  • Otherwise there was no chance of such a unique happening.
  • Mahārāja Parīkṣit was thus placed in an awkward position so that gradually Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam could be revealed.

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. viprakīrṇaall scattered
  2. jaṭa-ācchannamcovered with compressed, long hair
  3. rauraveṇaby the skin of a stag
  4. ajinenaby the skin
  5. caalso
  6. viśuṣyatdried up
  7. tāluḥpalate
  8. udakamwater
  9. tathā-bhūtamin that state
  10. ayācataasked for
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.18

    In this verse: “king”, “king’s”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

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 this providential meeting affect the way I value the opportunity to study Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam?

Practice

Reread this verse and pause to appreciate the circumstances that prepared for Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam’s revelation.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAn Awkward Meeting Prepares for RevelationThis 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 1.18.27? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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