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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 9: The Passing Away of Bhīṣmadeva in the Presence of Lord Kṛṣṇa

1.9.12 1.9.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.9.13

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Bhīṣmadevasince 1.9.12inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

संस्थितेऽतिरथे पाण्डौ पृथा बालप्रजा वधू: ।

युष्मत्कृते बहून् क्लेशान् प्राप्ता तोकवती मुहु: ॥ १३ ॥

saṁsthite ’tirathe pāṇḍau

pṛthā bāla-prajā vadhūḥ

yuṣmat-kṛte bahūn kleśān

prāptā tokavatī muhuḥ

Translation

As far as my daughter-in-law Kuntī is concerned, upon the great General Pāṇḍu’s death, she became a widow with many children, and therefore she suffered greatly. And when you were grown up she suffered a great deal also because of your actions.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Tolerating Continuing Hardship

1
Kuntīdevī suffered greatly when Pāṇḍu died and she was left a widow with young children.
2
Her suffering continued even after her children grew up, because of her sons’ actions.
3
The purport explains that her suffering was destined by providence. Such hardship has to be tolerated without becoming disturbed.

Key points from the purport

She suffered greatly because of early widowhood and to get her minor children brought up in the royal family.
And when her children were grown up, she continued to suffer because of her sons’ actions.
This means that she was destined to suffer by providence, and this one has to tolerate without being disturbed.

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 9: The Passing Away of Bhīṣmadeva in the Presence of Lord Kṛṣṇa

Bhīṣmadeva instructs Yudhiṣṭhira and fixes his attention on Kṛṣṇa as he prepares to pass away.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.9

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

saṁsthiteafter the demise
ati-ratheof the great general
pāṇḍauPāṇḍu
pṛthāKuntī
bāla-prajāhaving young children
vadhūḥmy daughter-in-law
yuṣmat-kṛteon your account
bahūnmultifarious

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
Abhaya · Fearlessness
Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 1.9
In this verse: “death”
Vātsalya · Parental affection
Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 1.9
In this verse: “children”
Karuṇā · Compassion
Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 1.9
In this verse: “suffering”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can Kuntīdevī’s continuing hardship help me reflect on patience in my own difficulties?

Practice

When one unavoidable discomfort arises today, pause before reacting and make a small effort to tolerate it calmly.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTolerating Continuing HardshipThis 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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