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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
1.18.441.18.46

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.18.45

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

तदार्यधर्म: प्रविलीयते नृणां

वर्णाश्रमाचारयुतस्त्रयीमय: ।

ततोऽर्थकामाभिनिवेशितात्मनां

शुनां कपीनामिव वर्णसङ्कर: ॥ ४५ ॥

tadārya-dharmaḥ pravilīyate nṛṇāṁ

varṇāśramācāra-yutas trayīmayaḥ

tato ’rtha-kāmābhiniveśitātmanāṁ

śunāṁ kapīnām iva varṇa-saṅkaraḥ

Translation

At that time the people in general will fall systematically from the path of a progressive civilization in respect to the qualitative engagements of the castes and the orders of society and the Vedic injunctions. Thus they will be more attracted to economic development for sense gratification, and as a result there will be an unwanted population on the level of dogs and monkeys.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

True Progress Leads Back to Godhead

  1. 1

    The destination of Vedic civilization is to go back home, back to Godhead, where there is no birth, death, old age or disease.

  2. 2

    The qualitative social divisions and orders of life are planned by the Lord and His representatives, the great ṛṣis. They provide guidance in both material and spiritual matters.

  3. 3

    A civilization absorbed in economic development and sense gratification loses its spiritual direction. The Vedas guide people away from material darkness toward the light of the spiritual kingdom.

Key points from the purport
  • It is foretold herein that in the absence of a monarchical regime, the general mass of people will be an unwanted population like dogs and monkeys.
  • As the monkeys are too sexually inclined and dogs are shameless in sexual intercourse, the general mass of population born of illegitimate connection will systematically go astray from the Vedic way of good manners and qualitative engagements in the castes and orders of life.
  • The Vedic way of life does not allow any man to be like the monkeys and dogs.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tadāat that time
  2. āryaprogressive civilization
  3. dharmaḥengagement
  4. pravilīyateis systematically vanquished
  5. nṛṇāmof humankind
  6. varṇacaste
  7. āśramaorders of society
  8. ācāra-yutaḥcomposed in a good manner
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 1.18

    In this verse: “sense gratification”, “material”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “death”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.18

    In this verse: “kingdom”

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

Is my idea of progress directed toward Godhead or mainly toward greater enjoyment?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today to study Vedic guidance rather than pursue another material purchase or pleasure.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTrue Progress Leads Back to GodheadThis 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 1.18.45? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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