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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 8: Prayers by Queen Kuntī and Parīkṣit Saved
1.8.181.8.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.8.19

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Queen Kuntīsince 1.8.18inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

मायाजवनिकाच्छन्नमज्ञाधोक्षजमव्ययम् ।

न लक्ष्यसे मूढद‍ृशा नटो नाट्यधरो यथा ॥ १९ ॥

māyā-javanikācchannam

ajñādhokṣajam avyayam

na lakṣyase mūḍha-dṛśā

naṭo nāṭyadharo yathā

Translation

Being beyond the range of limited sense perception, You are the eternally irreproachable factor covered by the curtain of deluding energy. You are invisible to the foolish observer, exactly as an actor dressed as a player is not recognized.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Knowing Kṛṣṇa Beyond Limited Senses

  1. 1

    Like an actor unrecognized in costume, Kṛṣṇa remains unseen by the foolish observer behind the curtain of deluding energy. Mistaking Him for an ordinary person prevents recognition of His authority.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa is adhokṣaja, beyond the range of experimental knowledge and imperfect senses. His superhuman activities and the testimony of spiritual authorities establish Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    Places of worship help people recognize the Lord’s authority and hear about Him from authorities. Bowing before Him is beneficial, while advanced devotees meditate upon Him through active service.

Key points from the purport
  • In the Bhagavad-gītā Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa affirms that less intelligent persons mistake Him to be an ordinary man like us, and thus they deride Him.
  • The less intelligent persons are those who rebel against the authority of the Lord.
  • For less intelligent men there must be such things as temples, mosques or churches so that they may begin to recognize the authority of the Lord and hear about Him from authorities in such holy places.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 2

Quoted in the purport ofSB 5.18.26

In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.8.19) Śrīmatī Kuntīdevī has explained that Kṛṣṇa appears in this world naṭo nāṭyadharo yathā, “exactly like an actor dressed as a player.”

Quoted in the purport ofSB 10.1.62-63

As confirmed in the prayers of Kuntī, nato nāṭya-dharo yathā.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

How it feels

Grief → Trust. Violence and bereavement make Kṛṣṇa's protective presence precious.

Chapters 7–9 of Canto 1: Postwar anguish, Kuntī and Bhīṣma. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 8: Prayers by Queen Kuntī and Parīkṣit Saved

Kṛṣṇa protects Parīkṣit, Kuntī prays for undivided attraction to Him, and Yudhiṣṭhira grieves.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.8
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. māyādeluding
  2. javanikācurtain
  3. ācchannamcovered by
  4. ajñāignorant
  5. adhokṣajambeyond the range of material conception (transcendental)
  6. avyayamirreproachable
  7. nanot
  8. lakṣyaseobserved
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.8

    In this verse: “devotees”, “worship”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 1.8

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I willing to learn about Kṛṣṇa beyond what my senses alone can establish?

Practice

Read one point from this purport aloud, then offer a respectful bow to the Lord.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

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

3 lectures given on it · quoted in 8 more lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Show 1 more lecture on it
Quoted in 8 other lectures

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

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Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 1.8's connections

Live this todayKnowing Kṛṣṇa Beyond Limited SensesThis 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 1.8.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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