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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
1.18.31.18.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.18.4

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

नोत्तमश्लोकवार्तानां जुषतां तत्कथामृतम् ।

स्यात्सम्भ्रमोऽन्तकालेऽपि स्मरतां तत्पदाम्बुजम् ॥ ४ ॥

nottamaśloka-vārtānāṁ

juṣatāṁ tat-kathāmṛtam

syāt sambhramo ’nta-kāle ’pi

smaratāṁ tat-padāmbujam

Translation

This was so because those who have dedicated their lives to the transcendental topics of the Personality of Godhead, of whom the Vedic hymns sing, and who are constantly engaged in remembering the lotus feet of the Lord, do not run the risk of having misconceptions even at the last moment of their lives.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hear Submissively and Remember the Lord

  1. 1

    The highest perfection of life is remembering the Lord’s transcendental nature at life’s last moment. Those devoted to His topics and lotus feet are not overcome by misconception then.

  2. 2

    One learns the Lord’s actual nature from a liberated soul like Śukadeva Gosvāmī or someone in that disciplic succession. Hearing from a mental speculator does not give this benefit.

  3. 3

    Hearing with service and submission makes spiritual understanding clear. By the grace of the Lord and bona fide spiritual masters, remembrance can continue even at death.

Key points from the purport
  • The highest perfection of life is attained by remembering the transcendental nature of the Lord at the last moment of one’s life.
  • This perfection of life is made possible by one who has learned the actual transcendental nature of the Lord from the Vedic hymns sung by a liberated soul like Śukadeva Gosvāmī or someone in that line of disciplic succession.
  • By scientific adaptation, one is able to remember the Lord even at the end of life, when the power of remembrance is slackened due to derangement of bodily membranes.

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. nanever
  2. uttama-ślokathe Personality of Godhead, of whom the Vedic hymns sing
  3. vārtānāmof those who live on them
  4. juṣatāmof those who are engaged in
  5. tatHis
  6. kathā-amṛtamtranscendental topics about Him
  7. syātit so happens
  8. sambhramaḥmisconception
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 1.18

    In this verse: “hearing”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 1.18

    In this verse: “death”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understanding”

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

What would it mean for you to hear with service and submission?

Practice

Set aside two undistracted minutes to read this teaching and remember the Lord’s lotus feet.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHear Submissively and Remember the 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 1.18.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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