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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
1.18.391.18.41

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.18.40

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The brāhmaṇa’s son, Śṛṅgisince 1.18.33inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

विसृज्य तं च पप्रच्छ वत्स कस्माद्धि रोदिषि ।

केन वा तेऽपकृतमित्युक्त: स

न्यवेदयत् ॥ ४० ॥

visṛjya taṁ ca papraccha

vatsa kasmād dhi rodiṣi

kena vā te ’pakṛtam

ity uktaḥ sa nyavedayat

Translation

He threw the dead snake aside and asked his son why he was crying, whether anyone had done him harm. On hearing this, the son explained to him what had happened.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Do Not Magnify a Small Offense

  1. 1

    The father did not take the dead snake seriously; he simply threw it aside.

  2. 2

    He asked his son why he was crying and whether anyone had harmed him. The son then explained what had happened.

  3. 3

    The purport explains that Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s act was not seriously wrong. The foolish son, influenced by Kali, took it very seriously and cursed the King, ending a chapter of happy history.

Key points from the purport
  • The father did not take the dead snake on his neck very seriously.
  • Actually there was nothing seriously wrong in Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s act, but the foolish son took it very seriously, and being influenced by Kali he cursed the King and thus ended a chapter of happy history.

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. visṛjyathrowing aside
  2. tamthat
  3. caalso
  4. papracchaasked
  5. vatsamy dear son
  6. kasmātwhat for
  7. hicertainly
  8. rodiṣicrying
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “hearing”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 1.18

    In this verse: “crying”

  • 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

Am I making a small offense seem greater than it is?

Practice

Let one minor annoyance pass today without an angry reply.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDo Not Magnify a Small OffenseThis 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 1.18.40? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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