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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
1.8.191.8.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.8.20

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Queen Kuntīsince 1.8.18inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

तथा परमहंसानां मुनीनाममलात्मनाम् ।

भक्तियोगविधानार्थं कथं पश्येम हि स्त्रिय: ॥ २० ॥

tathā paramahaṁsānāṁ

munīnām amalātmanām

bhakti-yoga-vidhānārthaṁ

kathaṁ paśyema hi striyaḥ

Translation

You Yourself descend to propagate the transcendental science of devotional service unto the hearts of the advanced transcendentalists and mental speculators, who are purified by being able to discriminate between matter and spirit. How then can we women know You perfectly?

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Sincere Devotion Invites the Lord’s Mercy

  1. 1

    The Lord descends to teach the transcendental science of devotional service. Kuntī humbly questions how she can know Him perfectly.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead cannot be known merely through great learning or philosophical speculation. He is knowable only by one who receives His mercy.

  3. 3

    The Lord knows sincerity of purpose and does not reserve His favor for great philosophers. Simple acceptance of His authority is more effective than showy, insincere religious fervor.

Key points from the purport
  • Even the greatest philosophical speculators cannot have access to the region of the Lord.
  • Women in general are unable to speculate like philosophers, but they are blessed by the Lord because they believe at once in the superiority and almightiness of the Lord, and thus they offer obeisances without reservation.
  • For this reason only, women generally assemble in great number in any sort of religious function.

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· 1

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.24.33

In this regard, one may refer to the prayers of Kuntī in the First Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.8.20): The Lord is always ready to give instructions to the paramahaṁsas, or the topmost devotees of the Lord, who are completely liberated from all contaminations of the material world.

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. tathābesides that
  2. paramahaṁsānāmof the advanced transcendentalists
  3. munīnāmof the great philosophers or mental speculators
  4. amala-ātmanāmthose whose minds are competent to discern between spirit and matter
  5. bhakti-yogathe science of devotional service
  6. vidhāna-arthamfor executing
  7. kathamhow
  8. paśyemacan observe
  9. hicertainly
  10. striyaḥwomen
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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 1.8

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 1.8

    In this verse: “mercy”, “favor”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 1.8

    In this verse: “purified”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I make my devotion more sincere and less concerned with appearing knowledgeable?

Practice

Offer a quiet bow to the Lord today, sincerely accepting His authority without seeking anyone’s notice.

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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.

2 lectures given on it · quoted in 1 more lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 other 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 todaySincere Devotion Invites the Lord’s MercyThis 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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