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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
1.18.321.18.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.18.33

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The brāhmaṇa’s son, Śṛṅgisince 1.18.33inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

अहो अधर्म: पालानां पीव्‍नां बलिभुजामिव ।

स्वामिन्यघं यद् दासानां द्वारपानां शुनामिव ॥ ३३ ॥

aho adharmaḥ pālānāṁ

pīvnāṁ bali-bhujām iva

svāminy aghaṁ yad dāsānāṁ

dvāra-pānāṁ śunām iva

Translation

[The brāhmaṇa’s son, Śṛṅgi, said:] O just look at the sins of the rulers who, like crows and watchdogs at the door, perpetrate sins against their masters, contrary to the principles governing servants.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Qualification Matters More Than Birthright

  1. 1

    The brāhmaṇas are compared to the head and brain of society, and the kṣatriyas to its protective arms. The social orders are established according to qualities and work.

  2. 2

    A qualified father gives his son a good opportunity for training, but birth alone does not make someone qualified. The son must actually develop the necessary qualifications.

  3. 3

    Śṛṅgi possessed brahminical power but lacked culture and experience. His proud comparison of the King to crows and watchdogs showed the decline that begins when birthright is valued without culture.

Key points from the purport
  • The son must take advantage of the father’s qualification and thus become a brāhmaṇa or medical practitioner, and not otherwise.
  • Without being qualified, one cannot become a brāhmaṇa or medical practitioner, and that is the verdict of all scriptures and social orders.
  • By the influence of Kali, the son of a brāhmaṇa became puffed up with brahminical power and thus wrongly compared Mahārāja Parīkṣit to crows and watchdogs.

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. ahojust look at
  2. adharmaḥirreligion
  3. pālānāmof the rulers
  4. pīvnāmof one who is brought up
  5. bali-bhujāmlike the crows
  6. ivalike
  7. svāminiunto the master
  8. aghamsin
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: “rulers”, “governing”, “king”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 1.18

    In this verse: “principles”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 1.18

    In this verse: “sins”

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

Do I rely on my background or position instead of developing good qualities?

Practice

Show respect today to someone whose work protects or supports others.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayQualification Matters More Than BirthrightThis 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.

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