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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
1.8.311.8.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.8.32

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

केचिदाहुरजं जातं पुण्यश्लोकस्य कीर्तये ।

यदो: प्रियस्यान्ववाये मलयस्येव चन्दनम् ॥ ३२ ॥

kecid āhur ajaṁ jātaṁ

puṇya-ślokasya kīrtaye

yadoḥ priyasyānvavāye

malayasyeva candanam

Translation

Some say that the Unborn is born for the glorification of pious kings, and others say that He is born to please King Yadu, one of Your dearest devotees. You appear in his family as sandalwood appears in the Malaya hills.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Unborn Lord Appears for His Devotees

  1. 1

    Though unborn and Lord of all creation, Kṛṣṇa appears by His own internal potency. He comes to reestablish religion, protect the pious and annihilate the impious.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa glorified King Yadu by appearing in his family and wanted to establish the kingdom of the Pāṇḍavas for everyone’s good. Under a pious ruler, the people are happy.

  3. 3

    The Lord’s connection with a family does not limit His independence, just as the rising sun does not belong to the eastern horizon. He is ever unborn and is the father of everything.

Key points from the purport
  • In the Bhagavad-gītā the Lord says that He takes His birth in the material world, although He is the Lord of all creations and He is unborn.
  • Still, it is said that the Lord is there to glorify the pious King Yudhiṣṭhira.
  • Therefore, the conclusion is that the Lord is ever unborn like the sun, and yet He appears as the sun rises on the eastern horizon.

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. kecitsomeone
  2. āhuḥsays
  3. ajamthe unborn
  4. jātambeing born
  5. puṇya-ślokasyaof the great pious king
  6. kīrtayefor glorifying
  7. yadoḥof King Yadu
  8. priyasyaof the dear
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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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.8

    In this verse: “kings”, “king”, “ruler”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 1.8

    In this verse: “glorification”, “glorified”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does knowing that Kṛṣṇa remains independent deepen my appreciation of His appearance among His devotees?

Practice

Reread the translation and offer a brief prayer of gratitude for the Lord’s appearance to protect the pious.

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.

2 lectures given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayThe Unborn Lord Appears for His DevoteesThis 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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