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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
7.1.77.1.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.1.8

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 7.1.4-5inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

जयकाले तु सत्त्वस्य देवर्षीन् रजसोऽसुरान् ।

तमसो यक्षरक्षांसि तत्कालानुगुणोऽभजत् ॥ ८ ॥

jaya-kāle tu sattvasya

devarṣīn rajaso ’surān

tamaso yakṣa-rakṣāṁsi

tat-kālānuguṇo ’bhajat

Translation

When the quality of goodness is prominent, the sages and demigods flourish with the help of that quality, with which they are infused and surcharged by the Supreme Lord. Similarly, when the mode of passion is prominent the demons flourish, and when ignorance is prominent the Yakṣas and Rākṣasas flourish. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is present in everyone’s heart, fostering the reactions of sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Changing Fortunes Do Not Mean Divine Partiality

  1. 1

    Victory and loss under sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa are reactions of those modes, not signs of the Lord’s partiality. Present in everyone’s heart, He gives the results without taking part in victory or loss.

  2. 2

    The modes become prominent at different times, like changing seasons. Goodness fosters knowledge, passion brings attachment and intense desire, and ignorance brings illusion, inertia and darkness.

  3. 3

    The Lord remains untouched by material qualities, while the conditioned soul experiences their effects. Material pleasure is followed by painful conditions, and even an apparent victory may bring ruin.

Key points from the purport
  • The Supreme Personality of Godhead is not partial to anyone.
  • The conditioned soul is under the influence of the various modes of material nature, and behind material nature is the Supreme Personality of Godhead; but one’s victory and loss under the influence of sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa are reactions of these modes, not of the Supreme Lord’s partiality.
  • The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is present in everyone’s heart, simply gives the results of the increase in the various qualities, but He is impartial.

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 7.1.8 quotesBG 14.11

This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (14.11-13):

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. jaya-kālein the time of prominence
  2. tuindeed
  3. sattvasyaof goodness
  4. devathe demigods
  5. ṛṣīnand the sages
  6. rajasaḥof passion
  7. asurānthe demons
  8. tamasaḥof ignorance
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “attachment”, “illusion”, “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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

Do I mistake material success or failure for evidence that the Lord favors or rejects someone?

Practice

Recall one recent success or setback and reflect on it without treating it as proof of the Lord’s partiality.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayChanging Fortunes Do Not Mean Divine PartialityThis 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.

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