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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

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

7.11.26-27 7.11.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.11.28

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

सन्तुष्टालोलुपा दक्षा धर्मज्ञा प्रियसत्यवाक् ।

अप्रमत्ता शुचि: स्‍निग्धा पतिं त्वपतितं भजेत् ॥ २८ ॥

santuṣṭālolupā dakṣā

dharma-jñā priya-satya-vāk

apramattā śuciḥ snigdhā

patiṁ tv apatitaṁ bhajet

Translation

A chaste woman should not be greedy, but satisfied in all circumstances. She must be very expert in handling household affairs and should be fully conversant with religious principles. She should speak pleasingly and truthfully and should be very careful and always clean and pure. Thus a chaste woman should engage with affection in the service of a husband who is not fallen.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Marriage Should Support Spiritual Progress

1
A chaste wife should be satisfied, free from greed, skilled in household affairs and familiar with religious principles. Her speech should be pleasing and truthful, and her service affectionate, attentive and pure.
2
The purport says that a wife is not meant to be a slave to a fallen husband. It recommends living separately if he is addicted to illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling or intoxication.
3
The conclusion is that the husband should be a pure Vaiṣṇava and the wife should have the qualities described here. Together they can be happy and make spiritual progress in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Key points from the purport

Thus a chaste woman is advised not to agree to serve such a husband.
If a chaste woman unfortunately marries a husband who is fallen, she should live separately from him.
The conclusion is that a husband should be a pure Vaiṣṇava and that a woman should be a chaste wife with all the symptoms described in this regard.

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

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 15.265

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.11.28):

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

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 qualification for a woman is to be a very faithful and chaste wife. In this way, Nārada Muni described the characteristics of higher and lower grades of people and recommended that one follow the principles of his caste or his hereditary occupation.

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

santuṣṭāalways satisfied
alolupāwithout being greedy
dakṣāvery expert in serving
dharma-jñāfully conversant with religious principles
priyapleasing
satyatruthful
vākin speaking
apramattāattentive in service to her husband

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”, “principles”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 7.11
In this verse: “household”
Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment
Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 7.11
In this verse: “free from”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can my speech and conduct better support spiritual progress at home?

Practice

In one household conversation today, speak both truthfully and pleasingly.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMarriage Should Support Spiritual ProgressThis 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 7.11.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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