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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
1.18.291.18.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.18.30

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.18.18inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

स तु ब्रह्मऋषेरंसे गतासुमुरगं रुषा ।

विनिर्गच्छन्धनुष्कोट्या निधाय

पुरमागत: ॥ ३० ॥

sa tu brahma-ṛṣer aṁse

gatāsum uragaṁ ruṣā

vinirgacchan dhanuṣ-koṭyā

nidhāya puram āgataḥ

Translation

While leaving, the King, being so insulted, picked up a lifeless snake with his bow and angrily placed it on the shoulder of the sage. Then he returned to his palace.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Retaliation Was Uncharacteristic of the King

  1. 1

    Feeling insulted, the King picked up a lifeless snake with his bow and placed it on the sage’s shoulder before returning to his palace.

  2. 2

    He treated the sage tit for tat, although he was never accustomed to such silly actions.

  3. 3

    Such retaliation might not be unusual in ordinary dealings, but it was unprecedented in Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s dealings with a brāhmaṇa sage. The purport states that it happened by the Lord’s will.

Key points from the purport
  • The King thus treated the sage tit for tat, although he was never accustomed to such silly actions.
  • By the will of the Lord, the King, while going away, found a dead snake in front of him, and he thought that the sage, who had coldly received him, thus might be coldly rewarded by being offered a garland of a dead snake.
  • In the ordinary course of dealing, this was not very unnatural, but in the case of Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s dealing with a brāhmaṇa sage, this was certainly unprecedented.

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. saḥthe King
  2. tuhowever
  3. brahma-ṛṣeḥof the brāhmaṇa sage
  4. aṁseon the shoulder
  5. gata-asumlifeless
  6. uragamsnake
  7. ruṣāin anger
  8. vinirgacchanwhile leaving
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.18

    In this verse: “king”

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

When I feel neglected, do I want to repay neglect with an insult?

Practice

If you feel slighted today, refrain from making one retaliatory remark.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRetaliation Was Uncharacteristic of the KingThis 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 1.18.30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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