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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
1.18.481.18.50

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.18.49

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

इति पुत्रकृताघेन सोऽनुतप्तो महामुनि: ।

स्वयं विप्रकृतो राज्ञा नैवाघं तदचिन्तयत् ॥ ४९ ॥

iti putra-kṛtāghena

so ’nutapto mahā-muniḥ

svayaṁ viprakṛto rājñā

naivāghaṁ tad acintayat

Translation

The sage thus regretted the sin committed by his own son. He did not take the insult paid by the King very seriously.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Meet Difficulty Without Resentment

  1. 1

    The sage regretted his son’s sin but did not take the King’s insult very seriously. Śṛṅgi’s curse was a serious offense, whereas Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s act was not a very serious offense.

  2. 2

    The foolish child deserved pardon from the Supreme Lord, although he could not escape the sinful reaction. Pardon does not mean freedom from the consequences of an offense.

  3. 3

    Mahārāja Parīkṣit did not resent the curse but took full advantage of the difficult situation. By the Lord’s will and Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī’s grace, he achieved the highest perfection of life.

Key points from the purport
  • Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s garlanding the sage with a dead snake was not at all a very serious offense, but Śṛṅgi’s cursing the King was a serious offense.
  • The serious offense was committed by a foolish child only; therefore he deserved to be pardoned by the Supreme Lord, although it was not possible to get free from the sinful reaction.
  • Actually it was the desire of the Lord, and Mahārāja Parīkṣit, Ṛṣi Śamīka and his son Śṛṅgi were all instrumental in fulfilling the desire of the Lord.

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. itithus
  2. putrason
  3. kṛtadone by
  4. aghenaby the sin
  5. saḥhe (the muni)
  6. anutaptaḥregretting
  7. mahā-muniḥthe sage
  8. svayampersonally
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.18

    In this verse: “king”, “king’s”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 1.18

    In this verse: “offense”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 1.18

    In this verse: “grace”

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

When I feel insulted, can I give less attention to resentment and more attention to my relationship with the Supreme Lord?

Practice

Recall one recent insult and pause before responding; ask how you could use the difficulty to turn toward the Supreme Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMeet Difficulty Without ResentmentThis 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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