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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

1.8.43 1.8.45

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.8.44

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.8.44inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

सूत उवाच

पृथयेत्थं कलपदै: परिणूताखिलोदय: ।

मन्दं जहास वैकुण्ठो मोहयन्निव मायया ॥ ४४ ॥

sūta uvāca

pṛthayetthaṁ kala-padaiḥ

pariṇūtākhilodayaḥ

mandaṁ jahāsa vaikuṇṭho

mohayann iva māyayā

Translation

Sūta Gosvāmī said: The Lord, thus hearing the prayers of Kuntīdevī, composed in choice words for His glorification, mildly smiled. That smile was as enchanting as His mystic power.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Welcomes Sincere Prayers

1
The Lord mildly smiled upon hearing Kuntīdevī’s prayers. His enchanting smile expressed His mercy toward her.
2
Conditioned souls are enchanted by the Lord’s mystic powers while trying to rule material nature. Devotees are enchanted by His glories and receive His merciful blessings.
3
No chosen words can fully describe the Lord’s glories, yet He is pleased by His devotees’ prayers. He accepts them as a father accepts the imperfect speech of his growing child.

Key points from the purport

Anything that is enchanting in the world is said to be a representation of the Lord.
All His devotees worship Him in that way, by chosen words, and therefore the Lord is known as Uttamaśloka.
Herein the word māyā is used in the sense of the Lord’s mercy upon Kuntīdevī.

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.

sūtaḥ uvācaSūta said
pṛthayāby Pṛthā (Kuntī)
itthamthis
kala-padaiḥby chosen words
pariṇūtabeing worshiped
akhilauniversal
udayaḥglories
mandammildly

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
Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting
Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 1.8
In this verse: “hearing”, “glorification”
Kṛpā · Divine mercy
Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 1.8
In this verse: “mercy”, “merciful”, “blessings”
Vātsalya · Parental affection
Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 1.8
In this verse: “father”, “child”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I hesitate to pray because I feel my words are inadequate?

Practice

Offer a short prayer glorifying the Lord in your own simple words.

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 todayThe Lord Welcomes Sincere PrayersThis 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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