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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
1.4.81.4.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.4.9

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śaunaka Ṛṣisince 1.4.2inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

अभिमन्युसुतं सूत प्राहुर्भागवतोत्तमम् ।

तस्य जन्म महाश्चर्यं कर्माणि च गृणीहि न: ॥ ९ ॥

abhimanyu-sutaṁ sūta

prāhur bhāgavatottamam

tasya janma mahāścaryaṁ

karmāṇi ca gṛṇīhi naḥ

Translation

It is said that Mahārāja Parīkṣit is a great first-class devotee of the Lord and that his birth and activities are all wonderful. Please tell us about him.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hear the Wonderful Life of a Devotee

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Parīkṣit was a first-class devotee whose birth was wonderful: Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, protected him in his mother's womb.

  2. 2

    His activities were wonderful because he chastised Kali for attempting to kill a cow. The purport emphasizes that protecting cows is essential to human civilization.

  3. 3

    After receiving notice of his death, he prepared by hearing the Lord's transcendental activities on the bank of the Ganges. His attentive hearing shows his devotion, and his life is itself worth hearing attentively.

Key points from the purport
  • The birth of Mahārāja Parīkṣit is wonderful because in the womb of his mother he was protected by the Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
  • His death is also wonderful because he got previous notice of his death, which is wonderful for any mortal being, and thus he prepared himself for passing away by sitting down on the bank of the Ganges and hearing the transcendental activities of the Lord.
  • So everything about him is wonderful, and his activities are worth hearing attentively.

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. abhimanyu-sutamthe son of Abhimanyu
  2. sūtaO Sūta
  3. prāhuḥis said to be
  4. bhāgavata-uttamamthe first-class devotee of the Lord
  5. tasyahis
  6. janmabirth
  7. mahā-āścaryamvery wonderful
  8. karmāṇiactivities
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.4

    In this verse: “devotee”, “devotion”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 1.4

    In this verse: “hearing”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 1.4

    In this verse: “death”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does Mahārāja Parīkṣit's dedication to hearing teach me about making devotional service my priority?

Practice

Set aside five uninterrupted minutes today to read this account of Mahārāja Parīkṣit's devotion attentively.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHear the Wonderful Life of a DevoteeThis 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 1.4.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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