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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
1.19.251.19.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.19.26

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

तं द्व‌्यष्टवर्षं

सुकुमारपाद-

करोरुबाह्वंसकपोलगात्रम् ।

चार्वायताक्षोन्नसतुल्यकर्ण-

सुभ्र्वाननं

कम्बुसुजातकण्ठम् ॥ २६ ॥

taṁ dvyaṣṭa-varṣaṁ su-kumāra-pāda-

karoru-bāhv-aṁsa-kapola-gātram

cārv-āyatākṣonnasa-tulya-karṇa-

subhrv-ānanaṁ kambu-sujāta-kaṇṭham

Translation

This son of Vyāsadeva was only sixteen years old. His legs, hands, thighs, arms, shoulders, forehead and the other parts of his body were all delicately formed. His eyes were beautifully wide, and his nose and ears were highly raised. He had a very attractive face, and his neck was well formed and beautiful like a conchshell.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Honor Spiritual Knowledge, Not Age Alone

  1. 1

    Śukadeva Gosvāmī’s description begins with his legs, following the honored system for describing a respectable personality. His bodily features were delicately formed and beautiful.

  2. 2

    He was only sixteen years old. A person deserves honor for achievements, not merely for advanced age.

  3. 3

    Experience is not measured by years alone. Through his knowledge, Śukadeva Gosvāmī was more experienced than all the sages present.

Key points from the purport
  • A respectable personality is described beginning with the legs, and this honored system is observed here with Śukadeva Gosvāmī.
  • A person is honored for his achievements and not for advanced age.
  • Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī, who is described herein as the son of Vyāsadeva, was by his knowledge more experienced than all the sages present there, although he was only sixteen years old.

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. tamhim
  2. dvi-aṣṭasixteen
  3. varṣamyears
  4. su-kumāradelicate
  5. pādalegs
  6. karahands
  7. ūruthighs
  8. bāhuarms
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I overlook someone’s spiritual knowledge because they are younger than I am?

Practice

When learning from someone today, attend to their knowledge rather than judging their worth by age.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHonor Spiritual Knowledge, Not Age AloneThis 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 1.19.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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