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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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

1.19.15 1.19.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.19.16

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

पुनश्च भूयाद्भगवत्यनन्ते

रति: प्रसङ्गश्च तदाश्रयेषु ।

महत्सु यां यामुपयामि सृष्टिं

मैत्र्यस्तु सर्वत्र नमो द्विजेभ्य: ॥ १६ ॥

punaś ca bhūyād bhagavaty anante

ratiḥ prasaṅgaś ca tad-āśrayeṣu

mahatsu yāṁ yām upayāmi sṛṣṭiṁ

maitry astu sarvatra namo dvijebhyaḥ

Translation

Again, offering obeisances unto all you brāhmaṇas, I pray that if I should again take my birth in the material world I will have complete attachment to the unlimited Lord Kṛṣṇa, association with His devotees and friendly relations with all living beings.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Love Kṛṣṇa and Befriend All Beings

1
The most important function of a devotee is complete attachment to Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the father of all living beings.
2
A devotee desires the association of other devotees but has no enmity toward nondevotees. Spiritual association matters more than worldly greatness.
3
Seeing all beings in relation to the supreme father, a devotee treats them as brothers. Mahārāja Parīkṣit prayed for this devotional life wherever he might take birth.

Key points from the purport

That a devotee of the Lord is the only perfect living being is explained herein by Mahārāja Parīkṣit.
And the most important function of a devotee is to have complete attachment for Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the father of all living beings.
As a good son of the father behaves in a friendly way with all his other brothers, so also the devotee of the Lord, being a good son of the supreme father, Lord Kṛṣṇa, sees all other living beings in relation with the supreme father.

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

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

punaḥagain
caand
bhūyātlet it be
bhagavatiunto Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa
anantewho has unlimited potency
ratiḥattracting
prasaṅgaḥassociation
caalso

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
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.19
In this verse: “devotees”, “devotional”, “devotee”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 1.19
In this verse: “attachment”, “material”
Sakhya · Sacred friendship
The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 1.19
In this verse: “friendly”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can you seek devotional association while remaining friendly toward everyone?

Practice

Offer a short prayer for attachment to Kṛṣṇa, association with His devotees and friendship toward all living beings.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLove Kṛṣṇa and Befriend All BeingsThis 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 1.19.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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