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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
7.1.17.1.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.1.2

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Parīkṣitsince 7.1.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

न ह्यस्यार्थ: सुरगणै: साक्षान्नि:श्रेयसात्मन: ।

नैवासुरेभ्यो विद्वेषो नोद्वेगश्चागुणस्य हि ॥ २ ॥

na hy asyārthaḥ sura-gaṇaiḥ

sākṣān niḥśreyasātmanaḥ

naivāsurebhyo vidveṣo

nodvegaś cāguṇasya hi

Translation

Lord Viṣṇu Himself, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the reservoir of all pleasure. Therefore, what benefit would He derive from siding with the demigods? What interest would He fulfill in this way? Since the Lord is transcendental, why should He fear the asuras, and how could He be envious of them?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Needs Nothing, Yet Accepts Devotion

  1. 1

    Material qualities cannot touch what is spiritual. Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, remains absolute whether He kills or bestows His favor.

  2. 2

    The Lord needs no one’s help and has no reason to fear or envy the asuras. Even those killed by Him attain salvation.

  3. 3

    The Lord accepts a leaf, flower, fruit or water offered with devotion. He does not depend on these offerings, but mercifully likes to be dependent upon His devotee.

Key points from the purport
  • Everyone who deals with the Supreme Personality of Godhead gradually acquires the qualities of the Lord.
  • The Supreme Lord, therefore, must certainly be freed from these qualities.
  • Thus there is no question of partiality in 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 7.1.2 quotesBG 9.26

The Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (9.26): “If a devotee offers Me with devotion a little leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I shall accept it.”

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:

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, therefore, is always transcendental to the influence of the modes of nature, māyā, the Lord’s external energy, which acts in creation and annihilation. Thus all the demons killed by the Supreme Lord attain salvation immediately.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.1
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanot
  2. hicertainly
  3. asyaHis
  4. arthaḥbenefit, interest
  5. sura-gaṇaiḥwith the demigods
  6. sākṣātpersonally
  7. niḥśreyasaof the highest bliss
  8. ātmanaḥwhose nature
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 7.1

    In this verse: “fear”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 7.1

    In this verse: “devotion”, “devotee”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 7.1

    In this verse: “mercifully”, “favor”

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 the Lord needs nothing change my understanding of offering something to Him?

Practice

Offer a little water to Kṛṣṇa with devotion, remembering that He accepts it out of mercy, not need.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Needs Nothing, Yet Accepts DevotionThis 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 7.1.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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