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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
1.8.211.8.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.8.22

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

नम: पङ्कजनाभाय नम: पङ्कजमालिने ।

नम: पङ्कजनेत्राय नमस्ते पङ्कजाङ्‍घ्रये ॥ २२ ॥

namaḥ paṅkaja-nābhāya

namaḥ paṅkaja-māline

namaḥ paṅkaja-netrāya

namas te paṅkajāṅghraye

Translation

My respectful obeisances are unto You, O Lord, whose abdomen is marked with a depression like a lotus flower, who are always decorated with garlands of lotus flowers, whose glance is as cool as the lotus and whose feet are engraved with lotuses.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

See the Lord With Humble Reverence

  1. 1

    The lotuslike features of the Lord’s spiritual body distinguish Him from everyone else. Although He may appear as one of us, He always remains distinct.

  2. 2

    The Lord mercifully accepts the arcā-vigraha, His transcendental worshipable form, to favor those who cannot see beyond matter. Worship of this form is not idolatry.

  3. 3

    One should begin seeing the Lord from His lotus feet, gradually rising toward His face. A soothing atmosphere in the temple helps attract those absorbed in material troubles.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore, the Lord is merciful even to the women, śūdras and dvija-bandhus, provided they agree to visit the temple of worship in different forms made for them.
  • One should begin to see the Lord from His lotus feet, gradually rising to the thighs, waist, chest and face.
  • One should not try to look at the face of the Lord without being accustomed to seeing the lotus feet of the Lord.

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

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. namaḥall respectful obeisances
  2. paṅkaja-nābhāyaunto the Lord who has a specific depression resembling a lotus flower in the center of His abdomen
  3. namaḥobeisances
  4. paṅkaja-mālineone who is always decorated with a garland of lotus flowers
  5. namaḥobeisances
  6. paṅkaja-netrāyaone whose glance is as cooling as a lotus flower
  7. namaḥ terespectful obeisances unto You
  8. paṅkaja-aṅghrayeunto You, the soles of whose feet are engraved with lotus flowers (and who are therefore said to possess lotus feet)
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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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 1.8

    In this verse: “mercifully”, “favor”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worshipable”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 1.8

    In this verse: “material”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I approach the Lord’s worshipable form with greater humility and attention?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute contemplating the Lord’s form, beginning with His lotus feet and gradually directing your attention upward.

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.

1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

7

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 todaySee the Lord With Humble ReverenceThis 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 1.8.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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