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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
1.18.61.18.8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.18.7

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.18.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

नानुद्वेष्टि कलिं सम्राट् सारङ्ग इव सारभुक् ।

कुशलान्याशु सिद्ध्यन्ति नेतराणि कृतानि यत् ॥ ७ ॥

nānudveṣṭi kaliṁ samrāṭ

sāraṅga iva sāra-bhuk

kuśalāny āśu siddhyanti

netarāṇi kṛtāni yat

Translation

Mahārāja Parīkṣit was a realist, like the bees who only accept the essence [of a flower]. He knew perfectly well that in this Age of Kali, auspicious things produce good effects immediately, whereas inauspicious acts must be actually performed [to render effects]. So he was never envious of the personality of Kali.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Accept the Special Mercy of This Age

  1. 1

    In the Age of Kali, the Lord grants special facilities: sinful acts bring consequences when actually performed, while thinking of pious acts brings good results.

  2. 2

    Mahārāja Parīkṣit accepted the essence like a bee and was not unnecessarily envious of Kali. He protected his subjects while keeping Kali within allotted places.

  3. 3

    Chanting the Lord’s holy name can bring salvation, and discussing Lord Kṛṣṇa’s activities removes the age’s disadvantages. The King therefore organized the propagation of chanting.

Key points from the purport
  • So by the will of the Lord, a living being does not become a victim of a sinful act until the act is actually performed.
  • Mahārāja Parīkṣit, being the most learned and experienced king by the grace of the Lord, was not unnecessarily envious of the personality of Kali because he did not intend to give him any chance to perform any sinful act.
  • Thus Mahārāja Parīkṣit made an organized effort to propagate the chanting of the Lord’s holy name, and thus he saved the citizens from the clutches of Kali.

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. nanever
  2. anudveṣṭienvious
  3. kalimunto the personality of Kali
  4. samrāṭthe Emperor
  5. sāram-garealist, like the bees
  6. ivalike
  7. sāra-bhukone who accepts the substance
  8. kuśalāniauspicious objects
3

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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 1.18

    In this verse: “chanting”, “holy name”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.18

    In this verse: “king”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

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

    In this verse: “protected”

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 can you make better use of this age’s opportunity to chant the Lord’s holy name?

Practice

Spend two minutes today chanting the Lord’s holy name.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAccept the Special Mercy of This AgeThis 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 1.18.7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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