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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.1.12

Who is speaking and story frame

य एष राजन्नपि काल ईशिता

सत्त्वं सुरानीकमिवैधयत्यत: ।

तत्प्रत्यनीकानसुरान् सुरप्रियो

रजस्तमस्कान् प्रमिणोत्युरुश्रवा: ॥ १२ ॥

ya eṣa rājann api kāla īśitā

sattvaṁ surānīkam ivaidhayaty ataḥ

tat-pratyanīkān asurān sura-priyo

rajas-tamaskān pramiṇoty uruśravāḥ

Translation

O King, this time factor enhances the sattva-guṇa. Thus although the Supreme Lord is the controller, He favors the demigods, who are mostly situated in sattva-guṇa. Then the demons, who are influenced by tamo-guṇa, are annihilated. The Supreme Lord induces the time factor to act in different ways, but He is never partial. Rather, His activities are glorious, and therefore He is called Uruśravā.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Is Impartial and Kind

  1. 1

    The Supreme Lord is equal to everyone. When the time factor strengthens goodness and the demigods are favored, this does not make Him partial.

  2. 2

    Even a demon killed by the Lord can receive His mercy. Although Pūtanā approached Kṛṣṇa to kill Him, He accepted her as His mother because He had sucked her breast.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa is the supreme controller and the friend of all living beings. His dealings are always impartial and kind.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore when the demigods are favored and the demons killed, this is not His partiality but the influence of the time factor.
  • Therefore partiality cannot apply to the character of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who always maintains His position as the supreme controller.
  • The Lord killed Pūtanā as an enemy, but because of His being the supreme controller, she attained an exalted position as His mother.

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 7.1.12 quotesBG 9.29

The Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (9.29), samo ’haṁ sarva-bhūteṣu na me dveṣyo ’sti na priyaḥ: “I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone.

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:

In this chapter, in response to a question by Mahārāja Parīkṣit, Śukadeva Gosvāmī gives his conclusions concerning how the Supreme Personality of Godhead, although the Supersoul, friend and protector of everyone, killed the Daityas, the demons, for the sake of Indra, the King of heaven. In his statements, he totally refutes the arguments of people in general who accuse the Supreme Lord of partiality.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.1
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yaḥwhich
  2. eṣaḥthis
  3. rājanO King
  4. apieven
  5. kālaḥtime
  6. īśitāthe Supreme Lord
  7. sattvamthe mode of goodness
  8. sura-anīkamnumbers of demigods
3

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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 7.1

    In this verse: “favors”, “mercy”, “favored”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 7.1

    In this verse: “king”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 7.1

    In this verse: “friend”

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 Pūtanā’s example deepen my understanding of the Lord’s kindness?

Practice

Reread Pūtanā’s example and write one sentence about the mercy she received from Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Is Impartial and KindThis 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 7.1.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.