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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 4: The Appearance of Śrī Nārada
1.4.141.4.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.4.15

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.4.14inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

स कदाचित्सरस्वत्या उपस्पृश्य जलं शुचि: ।

विविक्त एक आसीन उदिते रविमण्डले ॥ १५ ॥

sa kadācit sarasvatyā

upaspṛśya jalaṁ śuciḥ

vivikta eka āsīna

udite ravi-maṇḍale

Translation

Once upon a time he [Vyāsadeva], as the sun rose, took his morning ablution in the waters of the Sarasvatī and sat alone to concentrate.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Quiet Preparation for Concentration

  1. 1

    As the sun rose, Vyāsadeva took his morning ablution in the waters of the Sarasvatī.

  2. 2

    Afterward, he sat alone to concentrate.

  3. 3

    The purport identifies this place as Śamyāprāsa in Badarikāśrama, where Śrī Vyāsadeva resides. The Sarasvatī flows through this area of the Himālayas.

Key points from the purport
  • The river Sarasvatī is flowing in the Badarikāśrama area of the Himālayas.
  • So the place indicated here is Śamyāprāsa in Badarikāśrama, where Śrī Vyāsadeva is residing.

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

Dissatisfaction → Inspired clarity. Even great accomplishment leaves Vyāsa without contentment until devotion is centered.

Chapters 4–6 of Canto 1: Vyāsa is dissatisfied; Nārada directs him to the Lord. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 4: The Appearance of Śrī Nārada

The sages inquire about Parīkṣit, while Sūta describes Vyāsadeva’s division of the Vedas and dissatisfaction.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.4
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥhe
  2. kadācitonce
  3. sarasvatyāḥon the bank of the Sarasvatī
  4. upaspṛśyaafter finishing morning ablutions
  5. jalamwater
  6. śuciḥbeing purified
  7. vivikteconcentration
  8. ekaḥalone
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

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What small change could help me make room for quiet concentration?

Practice

After washing today, sit alone quietly for two minutes and practice concentrating without distractions.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

Quoted in 1 lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 lecture

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayQuiet Preparation for ConcentrationThis 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.

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