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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 7: The Son of Droṇa Punished
1.7.91.7.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.7.10

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.7.10inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

सूत उवाच

आत्मारामाश्च मुनयो निर्ग्रन्था अप्युरुक्रमे ।

कुर्वन्त्यहैतुकीं भक्तिमित्थम्भूतगुणो हरि: ॥ १० ॥

sūta uvāca

ātmārāmāś ca munayo

nirgranthā apy urukrame

kurvanty ahaitukīṁ bhaktim

ittham-bhūta-guṇo hariḥ

Translation

Sūta Gosvāmī said: All different varieties of ātmārāmas [those who take pleasure in the ātmā, or spirit self], especially those established on the path of self-realization, though freed from all kinds of material bondage, desire to render unalloyed devotional service unto the Personality of Godhead. This means that the Lord possesses transcendental qualities and therefore can attract everyone, including liberated souls.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Attracts Liberated Souls to Devotion

  1. 1

    Even ātmārāmas freed from material bondage desire unalloyed devotional service. The transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, attract even liberated souls.

  2. 2

    Unalloyed devotion means serving for the Lord’s pleasure, not for personal benefit. It is free from desires for material enjoyment, mystic powers and liberation.

  3. 3

    The Lord’s qualities are not material; they are full of bliss, knowledge and eternity. Pure devotional practice matures into transcendental love and progressively deeper loving service.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore, it means that the ātmārāmas render devotional service unto the Lord not for personal interest but for the pleasure of the Lord, Urukrama.
  • By His personal features and transcendental attributes, the Lord attracts all psychological activities of a pure devotee.
  • So by interpreting each and every word of this śloka, one can see unlimited numbers of transcendental qualities of Lord Kṛṣṇa that attract the mind of a pure devotee.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 5

Quoted in the purport ofSB 2.6.40-41

We have already discussed the statement itthaṁ-bhūta-guṇo hariḥ.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.24.33

Similarly, it is stated in the ātmārāma verse: The word ātmārāma refers to those who are not interested in the material world but are simply engaged in spiritual realization.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 5.5.14

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.7.10): Even those who are liberated (ātmārāma) must always engage in devotional service.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 11.3.2

Hari, the Personality of Godhead, is called Kṛṣṇa because He has such transcendentally attractive features.”

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 6.186

This is the famous ātmārāma verse.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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 7: The Son of Droṇa Punished

Vyāsadeva compiles Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam; Arjuna captures Aśvatthāmā, and Kṛṣṇa addresses the question of his punishment.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.7
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sūtaḥ uvācaSūta Gosvāmī said
  2. ātmārāmāḥthose who take pleasure in the ātmā (generally, spirit self)
  3. caalso
  4. munayaḥsages
  5. nirgranthāḥfreed from all bondage
  6. apiin spite of
  7. urukrameunto the great adventurer
  8. kurvantido
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Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.7

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 1.7

    In this verse: “material”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 1.7

    In this verse: “free from”

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

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I seeking personal benefit in devotion, or learning to serve for the Lord’s pleasure?

Practice

Before one act of devotional service today, pause and set the intention to please Kṛṣṇa rather than gain something for yourself.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

1 lecture given on it · quoted in 4 more lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 4 other lectures

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

7

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 1.7's connections

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Attracts Liberated Souls to DevotionThis 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 1.7.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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