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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
1.19.141.19.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.19.15

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The fortunate Kingsince 1.19.13inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

तं मोपयातं प्रतियन्तु विप्रा

गङ्गा च देवी धृतचित्तमीशे ।

द्विजोपसृष्ट: कुहकस्तक्षको वा

दशत्वलं गायत विष्णुगाथा: ॥ १५ ॥

taṁ mopayātaṁ pratiyantu viprā

gaṅgā ca devī dhṛta-cittam īśe

dvijopasṛṣṭaḥ kuhakas takṣako vā

daśatv alaṁ gāyata viṣṇu-gāthāḥ

Translation

O brāhmaṇas, just accept me as a completely surrendered soul, and let mother Ganges, the representative of the Lord, also accept me in that way, for I have already taken the lotus feet of the Lord into my heart. Let the snake-bird — or whatever magical thing the brāhmaṇa created — bite me at once. I only desire that you all continue singing the deeds of Lord Viṣṇu.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Surrender Frees the Heart From Fear

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Parīkṣit asked to be accepted as a completely surrendered soul, having taken the Lord’s lotus feet into his heart.

  2. 2

    Complete surrender to the Supreme Lord’s lotus feet removes fear of death. The King’s surrender and the presence of great devotees assured his return to Godhead.

  3. 3

    Rather than asking to escape death, he desired that the devotees continue singing the deeds of Lord Viṣṇu.

Key points from the purport
  • As soon as one is given up completely unto the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord, he is not at all afraid of death.
  • The atmosphere created by the presence of great devotees of the Lord on the bank of the Ganges and Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s complete acceptance of the Lord’s lotus feet were sufficient guarantee to the King for going back to Godhead.
  • He thus became absolutely free from all fear of death.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 23.21

This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.19.15) spoken by Mahārāja Parīkṣit while he was sitting on the bank of the Ganges expecting to be bitten by a snake-bird summoned by the curse of a brāhmaṇa boy named Śṛṅgi, who was the son of a great sage named Śamīka.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamfor that reason
  2. māme
  3. upayātamtaken shelter of
  4. pratiyantujust accept me
  5. viprāḥO brāhmaṇas
  6. gaṅgāmother Ganges
  7. caalso
  8. devīdirect representative of the Lord
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “fear”, “death”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 1.19

    In this verse: “surrendered”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 1.19

    In this verse: “mother”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What can you learn from the King’s desire to hear about the Lord amid uncertainty?

Practice

Spend five minutes hearing or reading a narration of Lord Viṣṇu’s deeds.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySurrender Frees the Heart From FearThis 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 1.19.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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