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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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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
1.8.451.8.47

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.8.46

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

व्यासाद्यैरीश्वरेहाज्ञै: कृष्णेनाद्भुतकर्मणा ।

प्रबोधितोऽपीतिहासैर्नाबुध्यत शुचार्पित: ॥ ४६ ॥

vyāsādyair īśvarehājñaiḥ

kṛṣṇenādbhuta-karmaṇā

prabodhito ’pītihāsair

nābudhyata śucārpitaḥ

Translation

King Yudhiṣṭhira, who was much aggrieved, could not be convinced, despite instructions by great sages headed by Vyāsa and the Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself, the performer of superhuman feats, and despite all historical evidence.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Arranges His Devotee’s Honor

  1. 1

    Yudhiṣṭhira was deeply distressed by the mass killing in the battle fought to place him on the throne. Even the explanations of Vyāsa and Kṛṣṇa did not satisfy him.

  2. 2

    This was not a failure of Kṛṣṇa’s power. As the Supersoul, He did not allow the King to be convinced because He wanted him to hear Bhīṣmadeva.

  3. 3

    The Lord wanted Bhīṣmadeva to see Him and his beloved grandchildren before passing away peacefully. He also wanted the world to witness His devotee’s exceptional knowledge.

Key points from the purport
  • The interpretation is that the Lord as īśvara, or the Supersoul in the hearts of both King Yudhiṣṭhira and Vyāsa, performed still more superhuman action because the Lord desired it.
  • As Supersoul of King Yudhiṣṭhira, He did not allow the King to be convinced by the words of Vyāsa and others, including Himself, because He desired that the King hear instructions from the dying Bhīṣmadeva, who was another great devotee of the Lord.
  • Besides this, the Lord also desired that King Yudhiṣṭhira be pacified by the words of Bhīṣmadeva so that the world could see that Bhīṣmadeva excelled all in knowledge, including the Lord Himself.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vyāsa-ādyaiḥby great sages headed by Vyāsa
  2. īśvarathe almighty God
  3. īhāby the will of
  4. jñaiḥby the learned
  5. kṛṣṇenaby Kṛṣṇa Himself
  6. adbhuta-karmaṇāby one who performs all superhuman work
  7. prabodhitaḥbeing solaced
  8. apialthough
3

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: “king”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee’s”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 1.8

    In this verse: “distressed”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the Lord’s wish to honor Bhīṣmadeva shape my respect for His devotees?

Practice

Reread the purport’s explanation of Kṛṣṇa’s purpose and write one sentence about His care for Bhīṣmadeva.

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 Lord Arranges His Devotee’s HonorThis 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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