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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
1.18.491.19.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.18.50

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

प्रायश: साधवो लोके परैर्द्वन्द्वेषु योजिता: ।

न व्यथन्ति न हृष्यन्ति यत आत्माऽगुणाश्रय: ॥ ५० ॥

prāyaśaḥ sādhavo loke

parair dvandveṣu yojitāḥ

na vyathanti na hṛṣyanti

yata ātmā ’guṇāśrayaḥ

Translation

Generally the transcendentalists, even though engaged by others in the dualities of the material world, are not distressed. Nor do they take pleasure [in worldly things], for they are transcendentally engaged.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Stay Steady Through Transcendental Engagement

  1. 1

    Material distress and happiness arise from the three modes of material nature. Transcendentalists are beyond these modes, so they are generally neither distressed by worldly troubles nor delighted by worldly pleasures.

  2. 2

    Philosophers seek to merge into the Absolute, mystics seek to perceive the all-pervading Supersoul, and devotees engage in loving service to the Personality of Godhead. Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān are different phases of the same Transcendence.

  3. 3

    The King was a devotee, and the sage was a mystic. Both remained unattached to the accidental incident, in which the child was an instrument of the Lord’s will.

Key points from the purport
  • The transcendentalists are the empiric philosophers, the mystics and the devotees of the Lord.
  • Since Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān are different phases of the same Transcendence, all these transcendentalists are beyond the three modes of material nature.
  • Material distresses and happinesses are products of the three modes, and therefore the causes of such material distress and happiness have nothing to do with the transcendentalists.

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. prāyaśaḥgenerally
  2. sādhavaḥsaints
  3. lokein this world
  4. paraiḥby others
  5. dvandveṣuin duality
  6. yojitāḥbeing engaged
  7. nanever
  8. vyathantidistressed
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 1.18

    In this verse: “distressed”, “distress”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.18

    In this verse: “devotees”

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

How might loving service to the Personality of Godhead help me remain steady amid worldly happiness and distress?

Practice

Set aside a few quiet minutes today for loving service to the Personality of Godhead, without making your present happiness or distress the focus.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayStay Steady Through Transcendental EngagementThis 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 1.18.50? Get an answer from the verses themselves.