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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
1.8.41.8.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.8.5

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.8.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

साधयित्वाजातशत्रो: स्वं राज्यं कितवैर्हृतम् ।

घातयित्वासतो राज्ञ: कचस्पर्शक्षतायुष: ॥ ५ ॥

sādhayitvājāta-śatroḥ

svaṁ rājyaṁ kitavair hṛtam

ghātayitvāsato rājñaḥ

kaca-sparśa-kṣatāyuṣaḥ

Translation

The clever Duryodhana and his party cunningly usurped the kingdom of Yudhiṣṭhira, who had no enemy. By the grace of the Lord, the recovery was executed, and the unscrupulous kings who joined with Duryodhana were killed by Him. Others also died, their duration of life having decreased for their rough handling of the hair of Queen Draupadī.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Protection Supports Progress in Spiritual Life

  1. 1

    By the Lord’s grace, Yudhiṣṭhira recovered his usurped kingdom. Those who mistreated Draupadī suffered a decrease in their duration of life.

  2. 2

    The purport emphasizes protection for brāhmaṇas, cows, women, children and old men. Such protection supports a society directed toward spiritual life.

  3. 3

    Protecting children gives them the opportunity to prepare for freedom from material bondage. Protecting old people gives them a chance to prepare for a better life after death.

Key points from the purport
  • The protection of women maintains the chastity of society, by which we can get a good generation for peace, tranquillity and progress of life.
  • The protection of children gives the human form of life its best chance to prepare the way of liberty from material bondage.
  • In the Age of Kali they are not properly protected, and therefore the duration of life of the present generation has shortened considerably.

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. sādhayitvāhaving executed
  2. ajāta-śatroḥof one who has no enemy
  3. svam rājyamown kingdom
  4. kitavaiḥby the clever (Duryodhana and party)
  5. hṛtamusurped
  6. ghātayitvāhaving killed
  7. asataḥthe unscrupulous
  8. rājñaḥof the queen’s
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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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 1.8

    In this verse: “grace”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.8

    In this verse: “kingdom”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 1.8

    In this verse: “protection”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can your care for someone vulnerable support their opportunity for spiritual life?

Practice

Do one practical act of care for a child or an elderly person today.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayProtection Supports Progress in Spiritual LifeThis 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 1.8.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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