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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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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
1.19.61.19.8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.19.7

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.19.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

इति व्यवच्छिद्य स पाण्डवेय:

प्रायोपवेशं प्रति विष्णुपद्याम् ।

दधौ मुकुन्दाङ्‌घ्रिमनन्यभावो

मुनिव्रतो मुक्तसमस्तसङ्ग: ॥ ७ ॥

iti vyavacchidya sa pāṇḍaveyaḥ

prāyopaveśaṁ prati viṣṇu-padyām

dadhau mukundāṅghrim ananya-bhāvo

muni-vrato mukta-samasta-saṅgaḥ

Translation

Thus the King, the worthy descendant of the Pāṇḍavas, decided once and for all and sat on the Ganges’ bank to fast until death and give himself up to the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who alone is able to award liberation. So, freeing himself from all kinds of associations and attachments, he accepted the vows of a sage.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Remember Kṛṣṇa and Avoid Further Sin

  1. 1

    Lord Kṛṣṇa is Mukunda, the giver of liberation, and the fountainhead of viṣṇu-tattva. Taking shelter of His lotus feet can deliver one from all sins.

  2. 2

    Mahārāja Parīkṣit freed himself from material association and meditated upon Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet. Freedom from material association means ceasing further sins, while meditation upon the Lord frees one from previous sins’ effects.

  3. 3

    One should not willingly commit sin and should constantly remember the Lord without deviation. The Lord helps the surrendered devotee progress and saves the devotee from accidentally committed sins.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa is the fountainhead of the principle of viṣṇu-tattva, and therefore shelter of His lotus feet can deliver one from all sins, including an offense committed by a king unto a brāhmaṇa.
  • Mahārāja Parīkṣit, therefore, decided to meditate upon the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is Mukunda, or the giver of liberations of all description.
  • Mahārāja Parīkṣit freed himself from all sorts of material association and meditated upon the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, and that is the way of liberation.

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. itithus
  2. vyavacchidyahaving decided
  3. saḥthe King
  4. pāṇḍaveyaḥworthy descendant of the Pāṇḍavas
  5. prāya-upaveśamfor fasting until death
  6. pratitoward
  7. viṣṇu-padyāmon the bank of the Ganges (emanating from the lotus feet of Lord Viṣṇu)
  8. dadhaugave himself up
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “attachments”, “material”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 1.19

    In this verse: “death”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

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

    In this verse: “surrendered”, “shelter”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I join remembrance of Kṛṣṇa with a sincere effort to avoid wrongdoing?

Practice

Before one choice today that might lead to wrongdoing, pause and remember Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet.

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.

The purport quotesSB 11.5.42

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

Live this todayRemember Kṛṣṇa and Avoid Further SinThis 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 1.19.7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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