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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
1.18.21.18.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.18.3

Nirodha· Winding up
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.18.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

उत्सृज्य सर्वत: सङ्गं विज्ञाताजितसंस्थिति: ।

वैयासकेर्जहौ शिष्यो गङ्गायां स्वं कलेवरम् ॥ ३ ॥

utsṛjya sarvataḥ saṅgaṁ

vijñātājita-saṁsthitiḥ

vaiyāsaker jahau śiṣyo

gaṅgāyāṁ svaṁ kalevaram

Translation

Furthermore, after leaving all his associates, the King surrendered himself as a disciple to the son of Vyāsa [Śukadeva Gosvāmī], and thus he was able to understand the actual position of the Personality of Godhead, and at last gave up his material body on the bank of the Ganges.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Humble Discipleship Reveals the Unconquerable Lord

  1. 1

    Śrī Kṛṣṇa is Ajita, unconquerable even by knowledge. Yet His actual position can be understood by the grace of a bona fide spiritual master.

  2. 2

    Mahārāja Parīkṣit surrendered as a humble disciple to Śukadeva Gosvāmī. Through his mercy, the King understood the Lord, His eternal abode and His transcendental paraphernalia.

  3. 3

    Understanding the Lord’s superior, eternal energy makes it possible to leave material attachment behind. Confident of his ultimate destination, the King could give up even his body without difficulty.

Key points from the purport
  • But by the grace of a spiritual master like Śukadeva Gosvāmī, unto whom the King gave himself up as a most humble disciple, one is able to understand the actual position of the Lord, His eternal abode, and His transcendental paraphernalia in that dhāma, or abode.
  • From Bhagavad-gītā we understand the quality of the Lord’s energy that is superior to the material quality of energy, and by the grace of a bona fide spiritual master like Śukadeva Gosvāmī, it is quite possible to know everything of the superior energy of the Lord by which the Lord manifests His eternal name, quality, pastimes, paraphernalia and variegatedness.
  • By the grace of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Mahārāja Parīkṣit was able to receive the mercy of such a personality as Śukadeva Gosvāmī, and thus he was able to know the actual position of the unconquerable 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

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. utsṛjyaafter leaving aside
  2. sarvataḥall around
  3. saṅgamassociation
  4. vijñātabeing understood
  5. ajitaone who is never conquered (the Personality of Godhead)
  6. saṁsthitiḥactual position
  7. vaiyāsakeḥunto the son of Vyāsa
  8. jahaugave up
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understand”, “knowledge”, “understanding”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

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

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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”, “attachment”

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 can you approach spiritual instruction with greater humility?

Practice

Read this purport again with a humble desire to understand the Lord rather than rely on speculation.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHumble Discipleship Reveals the Unconquerable LordThis 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 1.18.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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