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

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Canto 6 · Prescribed Duties for Mankind · 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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 6.7.29-30

Who is speaking and story frame

आचार्यो ब्रह्मणो मूर्ति: पिता मूर्ति: प्रजापते: ।

भ्राता मरुत्पतेर्मूर्तिर्माता साक्षात् क्षितेस्तनु: ॥ २९ ॥

दयाया भगिनी मूर्तिर्धर्मस्यात्मातिथि: स्वयम् ।

अग्नेरभ्यागतो मूर्ति: सर्वभूतानि चात्मन: ॥ ३० ॥

ācāryo brahmaṇo mūrtiḥ

pitā mūrtiḥ prajāpateḥ

bhrātā marutpater mūrtir

mātā sākṣāt kṣites tanuḥ

dayāyā bhaginī mūrtir

dharmasyātmātithiḥ svayam

agner abhyāgato mūrtiḥ

sarva-bhūtāni cātmanaḥ

Translation

The ācārya, the spiritual master who teaches all the Vedic knowledge and gives initiation by offering the sacred thread, is the personification of all the Vedas. Similarly, a father personifies Lord Brahmā; a brother, King Indra; a mother, the planet earth; and a sister, mercy. A guest personifies religious principles, an invited guest personifies the demigod Agni, and all living entities personify Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Respect Everyone as the Lord’s Temple

  1. 1

    The ācārya personifies all the Vedas. The verse also describes the different ways to respect family members and guests.

  2. 2

    One should see all living entities on the same level as oneself. No one should be neglected as inferior.

  3. 3

    Because Paramātmā is seated in everyone’s body, everyone should be respected as a temple of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • According to the moral instructions of Cāṇakya Paṇḍita, ātmavat sarva-bhūteṣu: one should observe all living entities to be on the same level as oneself.
  • This means that no one should be neglected as inferior; because Paramātmā is seated in everyone’s body, everyone should be respected as a temple of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • This verse describes the different ways in which one should respect a guru, a father, a brother, a sister, a guest and so on.

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

Offense and dread → Moral reckoning. Heroic power does not guarantee inner freedom.

Chapters 7–10 of Canto 6: Indra, Bṛhaspati and the emergence of Vṛtrāsura. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 7: Indra Offends His Spiritual Master, Bṛhaspati.

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

King Indra, along with the other demigods, later took shelter of Lord Brahmā. Understanding the situation, Lord Brahmā chastised the demigods for their offense to their spiritual master.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.7
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ācāryaḥthe teacher or spiritual master who instructs Vedic knowledge by his personal behavior
  2. brahmaṇaḥof all the Vedas
  3. mūrtiḥthe personification
  4. pitāthe father
  5. mūrtiḥthe personification
  6. prajāpateḥof Lord Brahmā
  7. bhrātāthe brother
  8. marut-pateḥ mūrtiḥthe personification of Indra
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 6.7

    In this verse: “religious”, “principles”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 6.7

    In this verse: “mother”, “father”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.7

    In this verse: “king”

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

Is there someone I neglect because I consider them less important?

Practice

Give respectful attention to someone you might otherwise overlook, remembering Paramātmā within them.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRespect Everyone as the Lord’s TempleThis 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 6.7.29-30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.