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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

1.18.45 1.18.47

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.18.46

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:The brāhmaṇa’s son, Śṛṅgisince 1.18.33inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

धर्मपालो नरपति: स तु सम्राड् बृहच्छ्रवा: ।

साक्षान्महाभागवतो राजर्षिर्हयमेधयाट् ।

क्षुत्तृट्‍श्रमयुतो दीनो नैवास्मच्छापमर्हति ॥ ४६ ॥

dharma-pālo nara-patiḥ

sa tu samrāḍ bṛhac-chravāḥ

sākṣān mahā-bhāgavato

rājarṣir haya-medhayāṭ

kṣut-tṛṭ-śrama-yuto dīno

naivāsmac chāpam arhati

Translation

The Emperor Parīkṣit is a pious king. He is highly celebrated and is a first-class devotee of the Personality of Godhead. He is a saint amongst royalty, and he has performed many horse sacrifices. When such a king is tired and fatigued, being stricken with hunger and thirst, he does not at all deserve to be cursed.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Consider Character and Circumstances Before Judging

1
Mahārāja Parīkṣit was celebrated for ruling according to religious principles. He possessed the prescribed qualities of a kṣatriya.
2
He was also a great devotee of the Lord and a self-realized soul. Cursing him when he was tired, hungry and thirsty was most unjust.
3
The childish action of one brāhmaṇa boy changed the whole world situation. Śamīka Ṛṣi accepted responsibility for the deterioration of its good order.

Key points from the purport

After explaining the general codes relating to the royal position and asserting that the king can do no wrong and therefore is never to be condemned, the sage Śamīka wanted to say something about Emperor Parīkṣit specifically.
Śamīka Ṛṣi thus admitted from all sides that Mahārāja Parīkṣit was cursed most unjustly.
Thus Ṛṣi Śamīka, a brāhmaṇa, took responsibility for all deterioration of the good orders of the world.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 1.18.46 quotesBG 18.43

All the qualities of a kṣatriya mentioned in the Bhagavad-gītā (18.43) were present in the person of the Emperor.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

dharma-pālaḥthe protector of religion
nara-patiḥthe King
saḥhe
tubut
samrāṭEmperor
bṛhathighly
śravāḥcelebrated
sākṣātdirectly

Key ideas in this verse

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

Manvantara · The change of Manus
What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10
Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership
Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.18
In this verse: “king”, “emperor”
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.18
In this verse: “devotee”
Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct
Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 1.18
In this verse: “religious”, “principles”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I consider a person’s good character and present difficulties before judging one action?

Practice

Before criticizing someone today, pause to consider whether fatigue, hunger or thirst may be affecting them.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayConsider Character and Circumstances Before JudgingThis 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.

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