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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
1.8.411.8.43

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.8.42

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Queen Kuntīsince 1.8.18inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

त्वयि मेऽनन्यविषया मतिर्मधुपतेऽसकृत् ।

रतिमुद्वहतादद्धा गङ्गेवौघमुदन्वति ॥ ४२ ॥

tvayi me ’nanya-viṣayā

matir madhu-pate ’sakṛt

ratim udvahatād addhā

gaṅgevaugham udanvati

Translation

O Lord of Madhu, as the Ganges forever flows to the sea without hindrance, let my attraction be constantly drawn unto You without being diverted to anyone else.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Let Affection Flow Toward Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Kuntī prays that her attraction flow toward the Lord without diversion, as the Ganges flows to the sea. Such unalloyed devotion is the ultimate goal of life.

  2. 2

    Desire and affection cannot be annihilated; their object must change. Desire for personal sense gratification becomes devotional service when directed toward the Lord’s satisfaction.

  3. 3

    Service to the Lord and service to His devotees are identical. Bodily relationships cause bondage, but relationships of the soul established through the Supreme Soul bring freedom.

Key points from the purport
  • Perfection of pure devotional service is attained when all attention is diverted towards the transcendental loving service of the Lord.
  • When this desire is changed for the satisfaction of the Lord, it is called devotional service.
  • Her affection for the Pāṇḍavas and the Vṛṣṇis is not out of the range of devotional service because the service of the Lord and the service of the devotees are identical.

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. tvayiunto You
  2. memy
  3. ananya-viṣayāunalloyed
  4. matiḥattention
  5. madhu-pateO Lord of Madhu
  6. asakṛtcontinuously
  7. ratimattraction
  8. udvahatātmay overflow
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “sense gratification”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which desire could I redirect from my own satisfaction toward the Lord’s service?

Practice

Pause before one activity today and pray to do it for Kṛṣṇa’s satisfaction rather than only your own.

5

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.

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

Live this todayLet Affection Flow Toward KṛṣṇaOne of the 108 chosen lessons: a practice and a question from this verse

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 1.8.42? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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