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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
1.19.301.19.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.19.31

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
A turning point forMahārāja Parīkṣit· Renunciation and inquiry

प्रशान्तमासीनमकुण्ठमेधसं

मुनिं नृपो भागवतोऽभ्युपेत्य ।

प्रणम्य मूर्ध्नावहित: कृताञ्जलि-

र्नत्वा गिरा सूनृतयान्वपृच्छत् ॥ ३१ ॥

praśāntam āsīnam akuṇṭha-medhasaṁ

muniṁ nṛpo bhāgavato ’bhyupetya

praṇamya mūrdhnāvahitaḥ kṛtāñjalir

natvā girā sūnṛtayānvapṛcchat

Translation

The sage Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī sat perfectly pacified, intelligent and ready to answer any question without hesitation. The great devotee, Mahārāja Parīkṣit, approached him, offered his respects by bowing before him, and politely inquired with sweet words and folded hands.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Approach a Spiritual Master With Humility

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Parīkṣit approached Śukadeva Gosvāmī with bowed head, folded hands and sweet words. This humble approach follows the scriptural instruction for learning transcendental science.

  2. 2

    With only seven days remaining, the King wanted to learn how to enter the kingdom of God. A spiritual master should be approached with serious questions about life’s problems.

  3. 3

    Śukadeva Gosvāmī was peaceful and answered without hesitation. Through his recitation of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and the King’s inquiries, both master and disciple attained perfection.

Key points from the purport
  • And the qualification of the spiritual master is perfectly manifested in the person of Śukadeva Gosvāmī.
  • Both the spiritual master and the disciple, namely Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī and Mahārāja Parīkṣit, attained perfection through the medium of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
  • Before Mahārāja Parīkṣit he recited Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and answered the questions of Mahārāja Parīkṣit unhesitatingly, and thus both the master and the disciple got salvation.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. praśāntamperfectly pacified
  2. āsīnamsitting
  3. akuṇṭhawithout hesitation
  4. medhasamone who has sufficient intelligence
  5. munimunto the great sage
  6. nṛpaḥthe King (Mahārāja Parīkṣit)
  7. bhāgavataḥthe great devotee
  8. abhyupetyaapproaching him
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: “inquired”, “inquiries”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.19

    In this verse: “king”, “kingdom”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What serious question about life would I bring humbly to a spiritual master?

Practice

Write down one sincere spiritual question, using respectful and clear words.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayApproach a Spiritual Master With HumilityThis 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 1.19.31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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