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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
1.4.151.4.17-18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.4.16

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.4.14inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

परावरज्ञ: स ऋषि: कालेनाव्यक्तरंहसा ।

युगधर्मव्यतिकरं प्राप्तं भुवि युगे युगे ॥ १६ ॥

parāvara-jñaḥ sa ṛṣiḥ

kālenāvyakta-raṁhasā

yuga-dharma-vyatikaraṁ

prāptaṁ bhuvi yuge yuge

Translation

The great sage Vyāsadeva saw anomalies in the duties of the millennium. This happens on the earth in different ages, due to the unseen force of time.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Spiritual Foresight Amid the Force of Time

  1. 1

    The unseen force of time brings anomalies in the duties of different ages. As a liberated soul, Vyāsadeva could clearly see past and future.

  2. 2

    He foresaw the difficulties of the Kali age and made arrangements so that people could lead a progressive life amid its darkness.

  3. 3

    People in this age are too interested in temporary matter. Ignorance prevents them from properly valuing life's assets and becoming enlightened in spiritual knowledge.

Key points from the purport
  • The great sages like Vyāsadeva are liberated souls, and therefore they can see clearly past and future.
  • Thus he could see the future anomalies in the Kali age, and accordingly he made arrangement for the people in general so that they can execute a progressive life in this age, which is full of darkness.
  • The people in general in this Age of Kali are too much interested in matter, which is temporary.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. para-avarapast and future
  2. jñaḥone who knows
  3. saḥhe
  4. ṛṣiḥVyāsadeva
  5. kālenaby time
  6. avyaktaunmanifested
  7. raṁhasāby great force
  8. yuga-dharmaacts in terms of the millennium
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 1.4

    In this verse: “duties”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 1.4

    In this verse: “knowledge”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Is concern for temporary things crowding out my attention to spiritual knowledge?

Practice

Set aside five minutes normally spent on a material distraction to study this translation and purport.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySpiritual Foresight Amid the Force of TimeThis 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 1.4.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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