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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
1.19.51.19.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.19.6

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.19.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

या वै लसच्छ्रीतुलसीविमिश्र-

कृष्णाङ्‌घ्रिरेण्वभ्यधिकाम्बुनेत्री ।

पुनाति लोकानुभयत्र सेशान्

कस्तां न सेवेत मरिष्यमाण: ॥ ६ ॥

yā vai lasac-chrī-tulasī-vimiśra-

kṛṣṇāṅghri-reṇv-abhyadhikāmbu-netrī

punāti lokān ubhayatra seśān

kas tāṁ na seveta mariṣyamāṇaḥ

Translation

The river [by which the King sat to fast] carries the most auspicious water, which is mixed with the dust of the lotus feet of the Lord and tulasī leaves. Therefore that water sanctifies the three worlds inside and outside and even sanctifies Lord Śiva and other demigods. Consequently everyone who is destined to die must take shelter of this river.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa’s Lotus Feet Sanctify the Rivers

  1. 1

    The river carries water mixed with the dust of the Lord’s lotus feet and tulasī leaves. This water sanctifies the three worlds, inside and outside, even purifying Lord Śiva and other demigods.

  2. 2

    Although the Ganges is generally named, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī identifies the King’s place of shelter as the Yamunā. The purport supports this through its proximity to Hastināpura and its direct connection with Lord Kṛṣṇa.

  3. 3

    The Yamunā was sanctified by contact with Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet during His transcendental pastimes. On hearing of his approaching death, Mahārāja Parīkṣit immediately took shelter on its sacred bank.

Key points from the purport
  • It is especially mentioned herein that Mahārāja Parīkṣit took shelter of that particular river which is beautifully flowing, carrying the dust of the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, mixed with tulasī leaves.
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet are always besmeared with the tulasī leaves, and thus as soon as His lotus feet contact the water of the Ganges and the Yamunā, the rivers become at once sanctified.
  • The Lord, however, contacted the river Yamunā more than the Ganges.

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. yāthe river which
  2. vaialways
  3. lasatfloating with
  4. śrī-tulasītulasī leaves
  5. vimiśramixed
  6. kṛṣṇa-aṅghrithe lotus feet of the Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa
  7. reṇudust
  8. abhyadhikaauspicious
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.19

    In this verse: “king”, “king’s”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

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

    In this verse: “shelter”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 1.19

    In this verse: “hearing”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the river’s connection with Kṛṣṇa deepen my understanding of its sanctity?

Practice

Reread the translation slowly, reflecting on how contact with the Lord’s lotus feet sanctifies the river.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 1.19's connections

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Lotus Feet Sanctify the RiversThis 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 1.19.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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