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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

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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

7.11.13 7.11.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.11.14

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

विप्रस्याध्ययनादीनि षडन्यस्याप्रतिग्रह: ।

राज्ञो वृत्ति: प्रजागोप्तुरविप्राद्वा करादिभि: ॥ १४ ॥

viprasyādhyayanādīni

ṣaḍ-anyasyāpratigrahaḥ

rājño vṛttiḥ prajā-goptur

aviprād vā karādibhiḥ

Translation

For a brāhmaṇa there are six occupational duties. A kṣatriya should not accept charity, but he may perform the other five of these duties. A king or kṣatriya is not allowed to levy taxes on brāhmaṇas, but he may make his livelihood by levying minimal taxes, customs duties, and penalty fines upon his other subjects.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Livelihood Must Follow Duty and Qualification

1
A brāhmaṇa has three compulsory duties: studying the Vedas, worshiping the Deity and giving charity. Teaching, guiding others in worship and accepting gifts provide the necessities of life.
2
A brāhmaṇa must be pure to accept charity; family birth alone is not sufficient. A kṣatriya may perform the other five duties but must not accept charity.
3
A ruler may levy minimal taxes only when able to protect the lives and property of the subjects. Brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas fully engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness should not be taxed.

Key points from the purport

Of the six occupational duties of the brāhmaṇas, three are compulsory — namely, worship of the Deity, study of the Vedas and the giving of charity.
Even if one is born in a family of brāhmaṇas, if one acts as a śūdra one cannot accept charity, for this is strictly prohibited.
Although the kṣatriyas are almost as qualified as the brāhmaṇas, even they cannot accept charity.

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:

The duty of a kṣatriya is to give protection to the citizens and levy taxes upon them, but he is forbidden to tax the brāhmaṇas. The members of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement should therefore be exempt from government taxation.

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

viprasyaof the brāhmaṇa
adhyayana-ādīnireading the Vedas, etc
ṣaṭsix (to study the Vedas, to teach the Vedas, to worship the Deity, to teach others how to worship, to accept charity and to give charity)
anyasyaof those other than the brāhmaṇas (the kṣatriyas)
apratigrahaḥwithout accepting charity from others (the kṣatriyas may execute the five other occupational duties prescribed for the brāhmaṇas)
rājñaḥof the kṣatriya
vṛttiḥthe means of livelihood
prajā-goptuḥwho maintain the subjects

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
Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership
Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 7.11
In this verse: “king”, “ruler”
Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct
Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 7.11
In this verse: “duties”
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 7.11
In this verse: “worshiping”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I fulfilling the responsibilities that belong with the support I receive?

Practice

Identify one responsibility attached to support you receive, and fulfill it carefully today.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLivelihood Must Follow Duty and QualificationThis 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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