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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
1.19.221.19.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.19.23

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Kingsince 1.19.23inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

समागता: सर्वत एव सर्वे

वेदा यथा मूर्तिधरास्त्रिपृष्ठे ।

नेहाथ नामुत्र च कश्चनार्थ

ऋते परानुग्रहमात्मशीलम् ॥ २३ ॥

samāgatāḥ sarvata eva sarve

vedā yathā mūrti-dharās tri-pṛṣṭhe

nehātha nāmutra ca kaścanārtha

ṛte parānugraham ātma-śīlam

Translation

The King said: O great sages, you have all very kindly assembled here, having come from all parts of the universe. You are all as good as supreme knowledge personified, who resides in the planet above the three worlds [Satyaloka]. Consequently you are naturally inclined to do good to others, and but for this you have no interest, either in this life or in the next.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Spiritual Knowledge Inspires Selfless Goodwill

  1. 1

    Wealth, strength, fame, beauty, knowledge and renunciation originally belong to the Absolute Personality of Godhead. Living beings possess these attributes partially, but material energy covers them.

  2. 2

    Those fully aware of Vedic wisdom are described as the Vedas personified. Such devotees are practically desireless, with no personal gain to seek in either the material or spiritual worlds.

  3. 3

    By the Lord’s order, these devotees come to help fallen souls deluded by material energy. Doing good to others is their natural inclination, not a means of securing personal benefit.

Key points from the purport
  • The living beings, who are part-and-parcel entities of the Supreme Being, have all these attributes partially, up to the full strength of seventy-eight percent.
  • In the material world these attributes (up to seventy-eight percent of the Lord’s attributes) are covered by the material energy, as the sun is covered by a cloud.
  • Then why do they come to the mundane world?

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. samāgatāḥassembled
  2. sarvataḥfrom all directions
  3. evacertainly
  4. sarveall of you
  5. vedāḥsupreme knowledge
  6. yathāas
  7. mūrti-dharāḥpersonified
  8. tri-pṛṣṭheon the planet of Brahmā (which is situated above the three planetary systems, namely the upper, intermediate and lower worlds)
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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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 1.19

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “wisdom”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 1.19

    In this verse: “wealth”, “material”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 1.19

    In this verse: “kindly”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When I help someone spiritually, am I seeking their good or recognition for myself?

Practice

Offer one small act of spiritual help today without asking for praise or anything in return.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySpiritual Knowledge Inspires Selfless GoodwillThis 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 1.19.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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