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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

1.8.42 1.8.44

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.8.43

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

श्रीकृष्ण कृष्णसख वृष्ण्यृषभावनिध्रुग्

राजन्यवंशदहनानपवर्गवीर्य ।

गोविन्द गोद्विजसुरार्तिहरावतार

योगेश्वराखिलगुरो भगवन्नमस्ते ॥ ४३ ॥

śrī-kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa-sakha vṛṣṇy-ṛṣabhāvani-dhrug-

rājanya-vaṁśa-dahanānapavarga-vīrya

govinda go-dvija-surārti-harāvatāra

yogeśvarākhila-guro bhagavan namas te

Translation

O Kṛṣṇa, O friend of Arjuna, O chief amongst the descendants of Vṛṣṇi, You are the destroyer of those political parties which are disturbing elements on this earth. Your prowess never deteriorates. You are the proprietor of the transcendental abode, and You descend to relieve the distresses of the cows, the brāhmaṇas and the devotees. You possess all mystic powers, and You are the preceptor of the entire universe. You are the almighty God, and I offer You my respectful obeisances.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Protects and Sustains All

1
Kuntī offers respectful obeisances to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord and teacher of the universe. He has an eternal transcendental abode where He tends surabhi cows.
2
He creates, maintains and annihilates through His unlimited energies. Yet His strength and potency never diminish.
3
He descends to reclaim His devotees and remove disturbing rulers. Cows, brāhmaṇas and devotees receive His special attention because they are important for the welfare of living beings.

Key points from the purport

The almighty Lord has His eternal transcendental abode where He is engaged in keeping surabhi cows.
He descends to the material world to reclaim His devotees and to annihilate the disturbing elements in groups of political parties and kings who are supposed to be in charge of administration work.
The cows, the brāhmaṇas and the devotees of the Lord are all objects of His special attention because they are very important factors for the general welfare of living beings.

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

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

śrī-kṛṣṇaO Śrī Kṛṣṇa
kṛṣṇa-sakhaO friend of Arjuna
vṛṣṇiof descendants of Vṛṣṇi
ṛṣabhaO chief
avanithe earth
dhrukrebellious
rājanya-vaṁśadynasties of the kings
dahanaO annihilator

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
Karuṇā · Compassion
Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 1.8
In this verse: “distresses”, “welfare”
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.8
In this verse: “devotees”
Sakhya · Sacred friendship
The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 1.8
In this verse: “friend”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does Kṛṣṇa’s undiminishing power and protective care deepen my respect for Him?

Practice

Read the translation aloud once, then offer respectful obeisances to Kṛṣṇa.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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 todayKṛṣṇa Protects and Sustains AllThis 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 1.8.43? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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