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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 7.1.34

Who is speaking and story frame

श्रीयुधिष्ठिर उवाच

कीद‍ृश: कस्य वा शापो हरिदासाभिमर्शन: ।

अश्रद्धेय इवाभाति हरेरेकान्तिनां भव: ॥ ३४ ॥

śrī-yudhiṣṭhira uvāca

kīdṛśaḥ kasya vā śāpo

hari-dāsābhimarśanaḥ

aśraddheya ivābhāti

harer ekāntināṁ bhavaḥ

Translation

Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira inquired: What kind of great curse could affect even liberated viṣṇu-bhaktas, and what sort of person could curse even the Lord’s associates? For unflinching devotees of the Lord to fall again to this material world is impossible. I cannot believe this.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Returning to Godhead Ends Material Rebirth

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira could not believe that unflinching devotees could fall again into material existence. He asked what curse could affect the Lord’s liberated associates.

  2. 2

    The Lord states that one purified of material contamination who returns to Him does not return to this material world. This assurance explains Yudhiṣṭhira’s surprise.

  3. 3

    One who truly knows the transcendental nature of Kṛṣṇa’s appearance and activities attains His eternal abode after leaving the body. Such a person does not take material birth again.

Key points from the purport
  • In Bhagavad-gītā (8.16) the Lord clearly states, mām upetya tu kaunteya punar janma na vidyate: one who is purified of material contamination and returns home, back to Godhead, does not return to this material world.
  • Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, therefore, was surprised that a pure devotee could return to this material world.

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· 2

The purport of SB 7.1.34 quotesBG 8.16

In Bhagavad-gītā (8.16) the Lord clearly states, mām upetya tu kaunteya punar janma na vidyate: one who is purified of material contamination and returns home, back to Godhead, does not return to this material world.

The purport of SB 7.1.34 quotesBG 4.9

Elsewhere in Bhagavad-gītā (4.9) Kṛṣṇa says: “One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.”

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 second question raised by Parīkṣit Mahārāja concerns how Śiśupāla, although inimical toward Kṛṣṇa from his very childhood and always blaspheming Kṛṣṇa, attained salvation in oneness when Kṛṣṇa killed him. Śukadeva Gosvāmī explains that because of their offenses at the feet of devotees, two attendants of the Lord in Vaikuṇṭha named Jaya and Vijaya became Hiraṇyakaśipu and Hiraṇyākṣa in Satya-yuga, Rāvaṇa and Kumbhakarṇa in the next yuga, Tretā-yuga, and Śiśupāla and Dantavakra at the end of Dvāpara-yuga.
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. śrī-yudhiṣṭhiraḥ uvācaMahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira said
  2. kīdṛśaḥwhat kind of
  3. kasyawhose
  4. vāor
  5. śāpaḥcurse
  6. hari-dāsathe servant of Hari
  7. abhimarśanaḥovercoming
  8. aśraddheyaḥincredible
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 7.1

    In this verse: “purified”, “contamination”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does Kṛṣṇa’s assurance strengthen my desire to understand His appearance and activities?

Practice

Reread Kṛṣṇa’s assurance in the purport and write down one question you would like to understand better.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReturning to Godhead Ends Material RebirthThis 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 7.1.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.