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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
7.1.14-157.1.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.1.16

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhirasince 7.1.16inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

श्रीयुधिष्ठिर उवाच

अहो अत्यद्भ‍ुतं ह्येतद्दुर्लभैकान्तिनामपि ।

वासुदेवे परे तत्त्वे प्राप्तिश्चैद्यस्य विद्विष: ॥ १६ ॥

śrī-yudhiṣṭhira uvāca

aho aty-adbhutaṁ hy etad

durlabhaikāntinām api

vāsudeve pare tattve

prāptiś caidyasya vidviṣaḥ

Translation

Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira inquired: It is very wonderful that the demon Śiśupāla merged into the body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead even though extremely envious. This sāyujya-mukti is impossible to attain even for great transcendentalists. How then did the enemy of the Lord attain it?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotees Do Not Aspire to Merge

  1. 1

    There are two classes of transcendentalists: jñānīs and bhaktas. Jñānīs aspire to merge into the Lord’s existence, but bhaktas do not.

  2. 2

    Śiśupāla was neither a jñānī nor a bhakta. Yet, despite his envy, he attained an exalted position by merging into the Lord’s body.

  3. 3

    Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira found this astonishing. He asked about the cause of the Lord’s mysterious mercy to Śiśupāla.

Key points from the purport
  • The bhaktas do not aspire to merge into the existence of the Lord, but the jñānīs do.
  • Śiśupāla, however, was neither a jñānī nor a bhakta, yet simply by envy of the Lord he attained an exalted position by merging into the Lord’s body.
  • Certainly this was astonishing, and therefore Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira inquired about the cause for the Lord’s mysterious mercy to Śiśupāla.

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

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. śrī-yudhiṣṭhiraḥ uvācaMahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira said
  2. ahooh
  3. ati-adbhutamvery wonderful
  4. hicertainly
  5. etatthis
  6. durlabhadifficult to attain
  7. ekāntināmfor the transcendentalists
  8. apieven
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 7.1

    In this verse: “inquired”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 7.1

    In this verse: “mercy”

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 my spiritual aspiration to serve the Lord rather than to merge into His existence?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer expressing your desire for devotional service rather than merging into the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotees Do Not Aspire to MergeThis 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 7.1.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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