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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 11: The Perfect Society: Four Social Classes
7.11.47.11.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.11.5

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

श्रीनारद उवाच

नत्वा भगवतेऽजाय लोकानां धर्मसेतवे ।

वक्ष्ये सनातनं धर्मं नारायणमुखाच्छ्रुतम् ॥ ५ ॥

śrī-nārada uvāca

natvā bhagavate ’jāya

lokānāṁ dharma-setave

vakṣye sanātanaṁ dharmaṁ

nārāyaṇa-mukhāc chrutam

Translation

Śrī Nārada Muni said: After first offering my obeisances unto Lord Kṛṣṇa, the protector of the religious principles of all living entities, let me explain the principles of the eternal religious system, of which I have heard from the mouth of Nārāyaṇa.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Honor Kṛṣṇa Before Explaining Religious Principles

  1. 1

    Before explaining eternal religious principles, Nārada Muni offers obeisances to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa protects the religious principles of all living entities. Nārada Muni explains what he has heard directly from Nārāyaṇa.

  3. 3

    The word aja refers to Kṛṣṇa, who is ever existing and never takes birth. There is no change in His existence.

Key points from the purport
  • The word aja refers to Kṛṣṇa, who explains in Bhagavad-gītā (4.6), ajo ’pi sann avyayātmā: “I am ever existing, and thus I never take birth.

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 7.11.5 quotesBG 4.6

The word aja refers to Kṛṣṇa, who explains in Bhagavad-gītā (4.6), ajo ’pi sann avyayātmā: “I am ever existing, and thus I never take birth.

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

Further reading

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 summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.11
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-nāradaḥ uvācaŚrī Nārada Muni said
  2. natvāoffering my obeisances
  3. bhagavateunto the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  4. ajāyaever existing, never born
  5. lokānāmthroughout the entire universe
  6. dharma-setavewho protects religious principles
  7. vakṣyeI shall explain
  8. sanātanameternal
3

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”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 7.11

    In this verse: “protector”, “protects”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 7.11

    In this verse: “heard”

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

How can I approach spiritual teachings with the humility shown by Nārada Muni?

Practice

Offer respectful obeisances to Lord Kṛṣṇa before your study today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHonor Kṛṣṇa Before Explaining Religious PrinciplesThis 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 7.11.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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