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

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Canto 7 · The Science of God · 15 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 7 · Chapter 1: The Supreme Lord Is Equal to Everyone
7.1.97.1.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.1.10

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 7.1.4-5inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

यदा सिसृक्षु: पुर आत्मन: परो

रज: सृजत्येष पृथक् स्वमायया ।

सत्त्वं विचित्रासु रिरंसुरीश्वर:

शयिष्यमाणस्तम ईरयत्यसौ ॥ १० ॥

yadā sisṛkṣuḥ pura ātmanaḥ paro

rajaḥ sṛjaty eṣa pṛthak sva-māyayā

sattvaṁ vicitrāsu riraṁsur īśvaraḥ

śayiṣyamāṇas tama īrayaty asau

Translation

When the Supreme Personality of Godhead creates different types of bodies, offering a particular body to each living entity according to his character and fruitive actions, the Lord revives all the qualities of material nature — sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa. Then, as the Supersoul, He enters each body and influences the qualities of creation, maintenance and annihilation, using sattva-guṇa for maintenance, rajo-guṇa for creation and tamo-guṇa for annihilation.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Material Nature Acts Under the Lord

  1. 1

    Material nature is not independent. The Supreme Personality of Godhead directs the activities of its three qualities: goodness, passion and ignorance.

  2. 2

    A living entity receives a body according to character and karma, under the Supreme Lord’s supervision. In each body, one of the three qualities is prominent.

  3. 3

    The Lord enters each body as Paramātmā and gives directions. He employs sattva-guṇa for maintenance, rajo-guṇa for creation and tamo-guṇa for annihilation.

Key points from the purport
  • Although material nature is conducted by the three qualities — sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa — nature is not independent.
  • In the various types of bodies given to the living entities by material nature (yantrārūḍhāni māyayā), either sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa or tamo-guṇa is prominent.
  • The body is produced by material nature according to the direction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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 7.1.10 quotesBG 9.10

As the Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (9.10): “This material nature is working under My direction, O son of Kuntī, and it is producing all moving and unmoving beings.

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

Pride and rage → Oppression. The ruler's power intensifies his insecurity.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 7: Hiraṇyakaśipu's ascent and intimidation. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 1: The Supreme Lord Is Equal to Everyone

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Śukadeva Gosvāmī proves that because the body of the conditioned soul is infected by the three qualities of nature, dualities arise such as enmity and friendship, attachment and detachment. For the Supreme Personality of Godhead, however, there are no such dualities.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.1
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yadāwhen
  2. sisṛkṣuḥdesiring to create
  3. puraḥmaterial bodies
  4. ātmanaḥfor the living entities
  5. paraḥthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  6. rajaḥthe mode of passion
  7. sṛjatimanifests
  8. eṣaḥHe
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 7.1

    In this verse: “material”

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

How does knowing that material nature has a supreme director change my understanding of the body?

Practice

Write down the three qualities of material nature and the activity the Lord directs through each.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

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 7.1's connections

Live this todayMaterial Nature Acts Under the LordThis 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 7.1.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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