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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
1.7.31.7.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.7.4

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.7.2inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya
A turning point forVyāsadeva· Samādhi and composition

भक्तियोगेन मनसि सम्यक् प्रणिहितेऽमले ।

अपश्यत्पुरुषं पूर्णं मायां च तदपाश्रयम् ॥ ४ ॥

bhakti-yogena manasi

samyak praṇihite ’male

apaśyat puruṣaṁ pūrṇaṁ

māyāṁ ca tad-apāśrayām

Translation

Thus he fixed his mind, perfectly engaging it by linking it in devotional service [bhakti-yoga] without any tinge of materialism, and thus he saw the Absolute Personality of Godhead along with His external energy, which was under full control.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotion Reveals the Supreme Person

  1. 1

    Perfect vision of the Absolute Truth is possible only through devotional service. Vyāsadeva fixed his mind without any tinge of materialism and saw the Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    The Absolute Truth is the perfect Supreme Person, Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Realization of impersonal Brahman or localized Paramātmā is only a partial approach.

  3. 3

    The Lord’s external energy is under His full control. Devotional service is the function of His internal energy, whose shelter dispels the darkness of material ignorance.

Key points from the purport
  • The Absolute Personality of Godhead is the perfect person.
  • The internal energy is there along with the Absolute Person as the moonlight is there with the moon.
  • It is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā that the impersonal Brahman effulgence is also an emanation from the Absolute Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

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· 1

The purport of SB 1.7.4 quotesBG 7.19

The absolute vision is the Personality of Godhead, as it is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā (7.19): vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. bhaktidevotional service
  2. yogenaby the process of linking up
  3. manasiupon the mind
  4. samyakperfectly
  5. praṇihiteengaged in and fixed upon
  6. amalewithout any matter
  7. apaśyatsaw
  8. puruṣamthe Personality of Godhead
3

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”, “bhakti-yoga”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “materialism”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 1.7

    In this verse: “shelter”

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 approaching spiritual realization as loving service to the Supreme Person?

Practice

Spend two minutes meditating on Śrī Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, with the intention to serve Him.

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 · quoted in 16 more lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 16 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.

Live this todayDevotion Reveals the Supreme PersonThis 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 1.7.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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