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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
1.19.71.19.9-10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.19.8

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.19.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

तत्रोपजग्मुर्भुवनं पुनाना

महानुभावा मुनय: सशिष्या: ।

प्रायेण

तीर्थाभिगमापदेशै:

स्वयं हि तीर्थानि पुनन्ति सन्त: ॥ ८ ॥

tatropajagmur bhuvanaṁ punānā

mahānubhāvā munayaḥ sa-śiṣyāḥ

prāyeṇa tīrthābhigamāpadeśaiḥ

svayaṁ hi tīrthāni punanti santaḥ

Translation

At that time all the great minds and thinkers, accompanied by their disciples, and sages who could verily sanctify a place of pilgrimage just by their presence, arrived there on the plea of making a pilgrim’s journey.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Value the Opportunity to Hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

  1. 1

    Great sages arrived with their disciples when Mahārāja Parīkṣit sat on the Ganges’ bank. They understood the importance of the occasion and came on the plea of pilgrimage.

  2. 2

    Ordinary pilgrims seek purification at holy places, but these sages could sanctify those places by their presence. They did not come merely to purify themselves by bathing.

  3. 3

    The sages actually came to meet Mahārāja Parīkṣit because they foresaw that Śukadeva Gosvāmī would speak Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. They all wanted to take advantage of this great opportunity.

Key points from the purport
  • When Mahārāja Parīkṣit sat down on the bank of the Ganges, the news spread in all directions of the universe, and the great-minded sages, who could follow the importance of the occasion, all arrived there on the plea of pilgrimage.
  • Actually they came to meet Mahārāja Parīkṣit and not to take a bath of pilgrimage because all of them were competent enough to sanctify the places of pilgrimage.
  • Therefore the sages who came to meet Mahārāja Parīkṣit were not very much interested in getting themselves purified like common men, but on the plea of taking a bath in that place they came to meet Mahārāja Parīkṣit because they could foresee that Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam would be spoken by Śukadeva Gosvāmī.

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. tatrathere
  2. upajagmuḥarrived
  3. bhuvanamthe universe
  4. punānāḥthose who can sanctify
  5. mahā-anubhāvāḥgreat minds
  6. munayaḥthinkers
  7. sa-śiṣyāḥalong with their disciples
  8. prāyeṇaalmost
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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 1.19

    In this verse: “purification”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How readily do I make time for an opportunity to hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam?

Practice

Reserve a few uninterrupted minutes today to read or hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam attentively.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayValue the Opportunity to Hear Śrīmad-BhāgavatamThis 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 1.19.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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