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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
1.18.341.18.36

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.18.35

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

कृष्णे गते भगवति शास्तर्युत्पथगामिनाम् ।

तद्भ‍िन्नसेतूनद्याहं शास्मि पश्यत मे बलम् ॥ ३५ ॥

kṛṣṇe gate bhagavati

śāstary utpatha-gāminām

tad bhinna-setūn adyāhaṁ

śāsmi paśyata me balam

Translation

After the departure of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead and supreme ruler of everyone, these upstarts have flourished, our protector being gone. Therefore I myself shall take up this matter and punish them. Just witness my power.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Never Claim the Supreme Lord’s Place

  1. 1

    Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the supreme ruler of everyone. The boy nevertheless declared that he would take punishment into his own hands and display his power.

  2. 2

    Puffed up by a little brahminical power, Śṛṅgi gave Kali an opportunity to establish authority. He wanted to show his strength through destruction and take the place of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

  3. 3

    The purport warns against false incarnations who accept people’s spiritual obedience to maintain false prestige. A little power does not make someone the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • The personality of Kali-yuga, therefore, was seeking the opportunity to establish authority, and by the grace of the Lord he found a hole in the puffed-up, inexperienced son of a brāhmaṇa.
  • He wanted to take the place of Lord Kṛṣṇa after His departure.
  • In other words, the personality of Kali got the opportunity to reign through this son of a brāhmaṇa, Śṛṅgi.

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. kṛṣṇeLord Kṛṣṇa
  2. gatehaving departed from this world
  3. bhagavatithe Personality of Godhead
  4. śāstarithe supreme ruler
  5. utpatha-gāmināmof those who are upstarts
  6. tat bhinnabeing separated
  7. setūnthe protector
  8. adyatoday
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: “ruler”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 1.18

    In this verse: “protector”

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 use my abilities responsibly, or to make others admire and obey me?

Practice

Before exercising authority today, remind yourself that Śrī Kṛṣṇa—not you—is the supreme ruler.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayNever Claim the Supreme Lord’s PlaceThis 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 1.18.35? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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