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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
1.18.71.18.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.18.8

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.18.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

किं नु बालेषु शूरेण कलिना धीरभीरुणा ।

अप्रमत्त: प्रमत्तेषु यो वृको नृषु वर्तते ॥ ८ ॥

kiṁ nu bāleṣu śūreṇa

kalinā dhīra-bhīruṇā

apramattaḥ pramatteṣu

yo vṛko nṛṣu vartate

Translation

Mahārāja Parīkṣit considered that less intelligent men might find the personality of Kali to be very powerful, but that those who are self-controlled would have nothing to fear. The King was powerful like a tiger and took care for the foolish, careless persons.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Protects Against Kali

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Parīkṣit understood that self-controlled people had nothing to fear from Kali. Like a powerful tiger, he protected those who were careless.

  2. 2

    The purport connects true intelligence with becoming a devotee of the Lord. Without devotion, people fall prey to Kali’s actions.

  3. 3

    A saner society requires the approach adopted by Mahārāja Parīkṣit: making devotional service to the Lord available to ordinary people.

Key points from the purport
  • Those who are not devotees of the Lord are careless and unintelligent.
  • Unless one is thoroughly intelligent, one cannot be a devotee of the Lord.
  • Those who are not devotees of the Lord fall prey to the actions 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. kimwhat
  2. numay be
  3. bāleṣuamong the less intelligent persons
  4. śūreṇaby the powerful
  5. kalināby the personality of Kali
  6. dhīraself-controlled
  7. bhīruṇāby one who is afraid of
  8. apramattaḥone who is careful
3

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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 1.18

    In this verse: “fear”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.18

    In this verse: “king”

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 help make devotional service more accessible to someone?

Practice

Share this verse’s teaching about devotional service with one willing person.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Protects Against KaliThis 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 1.18.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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