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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
1.18.331.18.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.18.34

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

ब्राह्मणै: क्षत्रबन्धुर्हि गृहपालो निरूपित: ।

स कथं तद्गृहे द्वा:स्थ: सभाण्डं भोक्तुमर्हति ॥ ३४ ॥

brāhmaṇaiḥ kṣatra-bandhur hi

gṛha-pālo nirūpitaḥ

sa kathaṁ tad-gṛhe dvāḥ-sthaḥ

sabhāṇḍaṁ bhoktum arhati

Translation

The descendants of the kingly orders are definitely designated as watchdogs, and they must keep themselves at the door. On what grounds can dogs enter the house and claim to dine with the master on the same plate?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

False Prestige Undermines Hospitality

  1. 1

    The boy knew that the King had asked his father for water and received no response. Yet he felt no sorrow that the King had not been properly received.

  2. 2

    Śṛṅgi compared the King to a watchdog and argued that he had no right to enter Śamīka Ṛṣi’s house and ask for water. The purport presents this as the boy’s uncultured justification of his father’s inhospitality.

  3. 3

    This mentality of false prestige causes the downfall of the proper social order. The boy defended neglect rather than recognizing it.

Key points from the purport
  • The inexperienced brāhmaṇa boy certainly knew that the King asked for water from his father and the father did not respond.
  • He compared the King to a watchdog, and so it was wrong for the King to enter the home of a brāhmaṇa and ask for water from the same pot.
  • According to the boy’s opinion, the King was on the wrong side and not his father, and thus he justified his silent father.

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. brāhmaṇaiḥby the brahminical order
  2. kṣatra-bandhuḥthe sons of the kṣatriyas
  3. hicertainly
  4. gṛha-pālaḥthe watchdog
  5. nirūpitaḥdesignated
  6. saḥhe
  7. kathamon what grounds
  8. tat-gṛhein the home of him (the master)
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: “kingly”, “king”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 1.18

    In this verse: “father”

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

Does pride ever make me excuse a lack of kindness or hospitality?

Practice

Offer water or a welcoming word to someone today without considering their status.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFalse Prestige Undermines HospitalityThis 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 1.18.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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