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
1.18.81.18.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.18.9

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.18.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

उपवर्णितमेतद्व: पुण्यं पारीक्षितं मया ।

वासुदेवकथोपेतमाख्यानं

यदपृच्छत ॥ ९ ॥

upavarṇitam etad vaḥ

puṇyaṁ pārīkṣitaṁ mayā

vāsudeva-kathopetam

ākhyānaṁ yad apṛcchata

Translation

O sages, as you did ask me, now I have described almost everything regarding the narrations about Lord Kṛṣṇa in connection with the history of the pious Mahārāja Parīkṣit.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s History Includes His Devotees

  1. 1

    Sūta Gosvāmī described the history of pious Mahārāja Parīkṣit in connection with narrations about Lord Kṛṣṇa, as the sages requested.

  2. 2

    Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the history of the Lord’s activities. Those activities take place in relation with His devotees.

  3. 3

    The history of the devotees is therefore not different from the history of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s activities. A devotee regards both as transcendental.

Key points from the purport
  • And the activities of the Lord are performed in relation with the devotees of the Lord.
  • Therefore, the history of the devotees is not different from the history of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s activities.
  • A devotee of the Lord regards both the activities of the Lord and those of His pure devotees on an equal level, for they are all transcendental.

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. upavarṇitamalmost everything described
  2. etatall these
  3. vaḥunto you
  4. puṇyampious
  5. pārīkṣitamabout Mahārāja Parīkṣit
  6. mayāby me
  7. vāsudevaof Lord Kṛṣṇa
  8. kathānarrations
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “narrations”

  • 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 does this teaching change the way you hear about the Lord’s pure devotees?

Practice

Reread the translation, noticing its connection between Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s history and Lord Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s History Includes His DevoteesThis 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 1.18.9? 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