1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 1 · Creation · 19 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
1.18.461.18.48

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.18.47

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

अपापेषु स्वभृत्येषु बालेनापक्‍वबुद्धिना ।

पापं कृतं तद्भगवान् सर्वात्मा क्षन्तुमर्हति ॥ ४७ ॥

apāpeṣu sva-bhṛtyeṣu

bālenāpakva-buddhinā

pāpaṁ kṛtaṁ tad bhagavān

sarvātmā kṣantum arhati

Translation

Then the ṛṣi prayed to the all-pervading Personality of Godhead to pardon his immature boy, who had no intelligence and who committed the great sin of cursing a person who was completely free from all sins, who was subordinate and who deserved to be protected.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Avoid Pride and Seek the Lord's Mercy

  1. 1

    Everyone is responsible for their own pious or sinful actions. Offending a devotee of the Lord brings reactions that are very difficult to overcome.

  2. 2

    The brāhmaṇas were meant to protect Mahārāja Parīkṣit, not curse him. Śṛṅgi misused his position out of vanity in being a brāhmaṇa’s son.

  3. 3

    Śamīka Ṛṣi prayed to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who alone could save his immature boy. The purport explains that the father’s prayer was accepted and warns against misusing the advantages of a pious birth.

Key points from the purport
  • Ṛṣi Śamīka could foresee that his son had committed a great sin by cursing Mahārāja Parīkṣit, who deserved to be protected by the brāhmaṇas, for he was a pious ruler and completely free from all sins because of his being a first-class devotee of the Lord.
  • Therefore, by cursing a king the foolish Śṛṅgi had committed not only a sin but also the greatest offense.
  • Therefore the ṛṣi could foresee that only the Supreme Personality of Godhead could save his boy from his sinful act.

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. apāpeṣuunto one who is completely free from all sins
  2. sva-bhṛtyeṣuunto one who is subordinate and deserves to be protected
  3. bālenaby a child
  4. apakvawho is immature
  5. buddhināby intelligence
  6. pāpamsinful act
  7. kṛtamhas been done
  8. tat bhagavāntherefore the Personality of Godhead
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

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

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

    In this verse: “protected”, “protect”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 1.18

    In this verse: “sins”, “sinful”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 1.18

    In this verse: “free from”

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 using my advantages to protect others, or allowing them to make me proud?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer asking the Supreme Lord to help you avoid pride and offenses against His devotees.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAvoid Pride and Seek the Lord's MercyThis 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 1.18.47? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories