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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 19: The Appearance of Śukadeva Gosvāmī
1.19.131.19.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.19.14

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The fortunate Kingsince 1.19.13inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

तस्यैव मेऽघस्य परावरेशो

व्यासक्तचित्तस्य गृहेष्वभीक्ष्णम् ।

निर्वेदमूलो द्विजशापरूपो

यत्र प्रसक्तो भयमाशु धत्ते ॥ १४ ॥

tasyaiva me ’ghasya parāvareśo

vyāsakta-cittasya gṛheṣv abhīkṣṇam

nirveda-mūlo dvija-śāpa-rūpo

yatra prasakto bhayam āśu dhatte

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, the controller of both the transcendental and mundane worlds, has graciously overtaken me in the form of a brāhmaṇa’s curse. Due to my being too much attached to family life, the Lord, in order to save me, has appeared before me in such a way that only out of fear I will detach myself from the world.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Recognizing the Lord’s Favor in Detachment

  1. 1

    Despite his devotional upbringing, Mahārāja Parīkṣit found the attraction of worldly family life very strong. He understood the curse as the Lord’s plan to detach him.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that the Lord takes such direct action for a special devotee.

  3. 3

    The Lord resides with His devotees. The King therefore welcomed the great saints as a sign of the Supreme Lord’s presence and favor.

Key points from the purport
  • Mahārāja Parīkṣit, although born in a family of great devotees, the Pāṇḍavas, and although securely trained in transcendental attachment for the association of the Lord, still found the allurement of mundane family life so strong that he had to be detached by a plan of the Lord.
  • The Lord resides with His devotees, and therefore the presence of the great saints indicated the presence of the Lord.
  • The King therefore welcomed the presence of the great ṛṣis as a mark of favor of the Supreme 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 19: The Appearance of Śukadeva Gosvāmī

Parīkṣit accepts impending death, sits beside the Ganges, and asks Śukadeva Gosvāmī about perfection.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.19
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasyahis
  2. evacertainly
  3. memine
  4. aghasyaof the sinful
  5. parātranscendental
  6. avaramundane
  7. īśaḥcontroller, the Supreme Lord
  8. vyāsaktaoverly attached
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.19

    In this verse: “devotional”, “devotee”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 1.19

    In this verse: “detach”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 1.19

    In this verse: “fear”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How might the association of devotees help you loosen a worldly attachment?

Practice

Set aside one distracting worldly activity today to spend a few minutes in the company of devotees.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRecognizing the Lord’s Favor in DetachmentThis 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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