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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 12: The Perfect Society: Four Spiritual Classes
7.12.197.12.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.12.20

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 7.12.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

अग्‍न्यर्थमेव शरणमुटजं वाद्रिकन्दरम् ।

श्रयेत हिमवाय्वग्निवर्षार्कातपषाट्‌स्वयम् ॥ २० ॥

agny-artham eva śaraṇam

uṭajaṁ vādri-kandaram

śrayeta hima-vāyv-agni-

varṣārkātapa-ṣāṭ svayam

Translation

A vānaprastha should prepare a thatched cottage or take shelter of a cave in a mountain only to keep the sacred fire, but he should personally practice enduring snowfall, wind, fire, rain and the shining of the sun.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

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

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Shelter for the Sacred Fire

  1. 1

    A vānaprastha may prepare a thatched cottage or take shelter in a mountain cave.

  2. 2

    The stated purpose of this shelter is to maintain the sacred fire.

  3. 3

    Personally, the vānaprastha should practice enduring snow, wind, fire, rain and sunshine.

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 12: The Perfect Society: Four Spiritual Classes

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Living in a thatched cottage, the vānaprastha should endure all kinds of heat and cold. He should not cut his nails or hair, and he should give up cleaning his body and teeth.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.12
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. agnithe fire
  2. arthamto keep
  3. evaonly
  4. śaraṇama cottage
  5. uṭa-jammade of grass
  6. vāor
  7. adri-kandarama cave in a mountain
  8. śrayetathe vānaprastha should take shelter of
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

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 7.12

    In this verse: “shelter”

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 does this verse distinguish sacred duty from personal comfort?

Practice

Reflect for one minute on the verse’s distinction between protecting the sacred fire and seeking personal comfort.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayShelter for the Sacred FireThis 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 7.12.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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