1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter

Canto

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

7.11.22 7.11.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.11.23

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

देवगुर्वच्युते भक्तिस्त्रिवर्गपरिपोषणम् ।

आस्तिक्यमुद्यमो नित्यं नैपुण्यं वैश्यलक्षणम् ॥ २३ ॥

deva-gurv-acyute bhaktis

tri-varga-paripoṣaṇam

āstikyam udyamo nityaṁ

naipuṇyaṁ vaiśya-lakṣaṇam

Translation

Being always devoted to the demigods, the spiritual master and the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu; endeavoring for advancement in religious principles, economic development and sense gratification [dharma, artha and kāma]; believing in the words of the spiritual master and scripture; and always endeavoring with expertise in earning money — these are the symptoms of the vaiśya.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Expert Work With Faith and Devotion

1
A vaiśya is always devoted to the demigods, the spiritual master, and the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu.
2
The vaiśya endeavors for advancement in religious principles, economic development, and sense gratification.
3
Faith in the words of the spiritual master and scripture accompanies continuous, expert effort in earning money.

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:

When Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira asked Nārada Muni about these matters, Nārada Muni stopped giving his own statements and quoted statements by Lord Nārāyaṇa, for He is the supreme authority for giving religious codes ( dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam). Every human being is expected to acquire thirty qualities, such as truthfulness, mercy and austerity.

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

deva-guru-acyuteunto the demigods, the spiritual master and Lord Viṣṇu
bhaktiḥengagement in devotional service
tri-vargaof the three principles of pious life (religion, economic development and sense gratification)
paripoṣaṇamexecution
āstikyamfaith in the scriptures, the spiritual master and the Supreme Lord
udyamaḥactive
nityamwithout cessation, continuously
naipuṇyamexpertise
vaiśya-lakṣaṇamthe symptoms of a vaiśya.

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: “religious”, “dharma”, “principles”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 7.11
In this verse: “sense gratification”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Does my attention to earning money leave room for faith and devotion to the Supreme Lord?

Practice

Before beginning work today, take a moment to remember the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayExpert Work With Faith and 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 7.11.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories