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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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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 11: The Perfect Society: Four Social Classes

7.11.8-12 7.11.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.11.13

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Nārada Munisince 7.11.5inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

संस्कारा यत्राविच्छिन्ना: स द्विजोऽजो जगाद यम् ।

इज्याध्ययनदानानि विहितानि द्विजन्मनाम् ।

जन्मकर्मावदातानां क्रियाश्चाश्रमचोदिता: ॥ १३ ॥

saṁskārā yatrāvicchinnāḥ

sa dvijo ’jo jagāda yam

ijyādhyayana-dānāni

vihitāni dvijanmanām

janma-karmāvadātānāṁ

kriyāś cāśrama-coditāḥ

Translation

Those who have been reformed by the garbhādhāna ceremony and other prescribed reformatory methods, performed with Vedic mantras and without interruption, and who have been approved by Lord Brahmā, are dvijas, or twice-born. Such brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas, purified by their family traditions and by their behavior, should worship the Lord, study the Vedas and give charity. In this system, they should follow the principles of the four āśramas [brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa].

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Qualification Requires Training and Purified Conduct

1
Training in the thirty qualities must come before introducing the varṇāśrama system. Good character is the foundation of this training.
2
The reformatory ceremonies begin with garbhādhāna, intended for bringing forth a good child. Birth in a twice-born family alone does not make one twice-born if the reformatory process has not been followed.
3
Purified brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas should worship the Lord, study the Vedas and give charity. They should also follow the duties of the four āśramas.

Key points from the purport

After giving a general list of thirty qualifications for one’s behavior, Nārada Muni now describes the principles of the four varṇas and four āśramas.
In the varṇāśrama system, the first ceremony for purification is garbhādhāna, which is performed with mantras at the time of sex for propagating a good child.
One should not waste semen on sensual pleasure, violating the principles of Vedic life.

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

Seriousness → Principled living. The example of bhakti becomes a guide to daily life.

Chapters 11–15 of Canto 7: Teachings on social and spiritual conduct. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Chapter 11: The Perfect Society: Four Social Classes

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

One who follows the garbhādhāna saṁskāra system is actually twice-born, but those who do not, who deviate from the principles of varṇāśrama-dharma, are called dvija-bandhus. The principal occupations for a brāhmaṇa are worshiping the Deity, teaching others how to worship the Deity, studying the Vedic literatures, teaching the Vedic literatures, accepting charity from others and again giving charity to others.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 7.11

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

saṁskārāḥreformatory processes
yatrawherein
avicchinnāḥwithout interruption
saḥsuch a person
dvi-jaḥtwice-born
ajaḥLord Brahmā
jagādasanctioned
yamwho

Key ideas in this verse

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

Manvantara · The change of Manus
What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10
Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct
Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 7.11
In this verse: “principles”, “āśramas”, “duties”
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 7.11
In this verse: “worship”
Śuddhi · Inner transformation
The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 7.11
In this verse: “purified”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I place more importance on family background or on training and actual conduct?

Practice

Set aside a small amount for charity today as a deliberate act of duty.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayQualification Requires Training and Purified ConductThis 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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