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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
1.8.391.8.41

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.8.40

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Queen Kuntīsince 1.8.18inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

इमे जनपदा: स्वृद्धा: सुपक्‍वौषधिवीरुध: ।

वनाद्रिनद्युदन्वन्तो ह्येधन्ते तव वीक्षितै: ॥ ४० ॥

ime jana-padāḥ svṛddhāḥ

supakvauṣadhi-vīrudhaḥ

vanādri-nady-udanvanto

hy edhante tava vīkṣitaiḥ

Translation

All these cities and villages are flourishing in all respects because the herbs and grains are in abundance, the trees are full of fruits, the rivers are flowing, the hills are full of minerals and the oceans full of wealth. And this is all due to Your glancing over them.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Receive Natural Gifts Through Devotional Gratitude

  1. 1

    Human prosperity flourishes through natural gifts supplied by the Supreme Lord. Grains, fruits, rivers and minerals depend on His mercy, not on human power alone.

  2. 2

    We should use nature’s gifts without trying to exploit or dominate material nature. When sufficient grains and vegetables are available, there is no need to kill animals for food.

  3. 3

    The real need is to obey the Lord’s laws and attain the perfection of human life through devotional service. Kuntīdevī desires His mercy so that natural prosperity may continue by His grace.

Key points from the purport
  • Human prosperity flourishes by natural gifts and not by gigantic industrial enterprises.
  • The natural gifts such as grains and vegetables, fruits, rivers, the hills of jewels and minerals, and the seas full of pearls are supplied by the order of the Supreme, and as He desires, material nature produces them in abundance or restricts them at times.
  • If the human civilization has sufficient grains, minerals, jewels, water, milk, etc., then why should it hanker after terrible industrial enterprises at the cost of the labor of some unfortunate men?

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. imeall these
  2. jana-padāḥcities and towns
  3. svṛddhāḥflourished
  4. supakvamature
  5. auṣadhiherbs
  6. vīrudhaḥvegetables
  7. vanaforests
  8. adrihills
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “wealth”, “material”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 1.8

    In this verse: “mercy”, “grace”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I receive nature’s gifts gratefully rather than use them with an exploitative attitude?

Practice

Choose a meal of grains, vegetables or fruits today, and pause to acknowledge the Lord’s mercy in providing it.

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 todayReceive Natural Gifts Through Devotional GratitudeThis 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 1.8.40? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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