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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 7.12.26-28

Who is speaking and story frame

वाचमग्नौ सवक्तव्यामिन्द्रे शिल्पं करावपि ।

पदानि गत्या वयसि रत्योपस्थं प्रजापतौ ॥ २६ ॥

मृत्यौ पायुं विसर्गं च यथास्थानं विनिर्दिशेत् ।

दिक्षु श्रोत्रं सनादेन स्पर्शेनाध्यात्मनि त्वचम् ॥ २७ ॥

रूपाणि चक्षुषा राजन् ज्योतिष्यभिनिवेशयेत् ।

अप्सु प्रचेतसा जिह्वां घ्रेयैर्घ्राणं क्षितौ न्यसेत् ॥ २८ ॥

vācam agnau savaktavyām

indre śilpaṁ karāv api

padāni gatyā vayasi

ratyopasthaṁ prajāpatau

mṛtyau pāyuṁ visargaṁ ca

yathā-sthānaṁ vinirdiśet

dikṣu śrotraṁ sa-nādena

sparśenādhyātmani tvacam

rūpāṇi cakṣuṣā rājan

jyotiṣy abhiniveśayet

apsu pracetasā jihvāṁ

ghreyair ghrāṇaṁ kṣitau nyaset

Translation

Thereafter, the object of speech, along with the sense of speech [the tongue], should be bestowed upon fire. Craftsmanship and the two hands should be given to the demigod Indra. The power of movement and the legs should be given to Lord Viṣṇu. Sensual pleasure, along with the genitals, should be bestowed upon Prajāpati. The rectum, with the power of evacuation, should be bestowed, in its proper place, unto Mṛtyu. The aural instrument, along with sound vibration, should be given to the deities presiding over the directions. The instrument of touch, along with the sense objects of touch, should be given to Vāyu. Form, with the power of sight, should be bestowed upon the sun. The tongue, along with the demigod Varuṇa, should be bestowed upon water, and the power of smell, along with the two Aśvinī-kumāra demigods, should be bestowed upon the earth.

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.

Return the Senses to Their Presiding Deities

  1. 1

    Speech and its object should be bestowed upon fire, craftsmanship and the hands upon Indra, and movement and the legs upon Lord Viṣṇu.

  2. 2

    Sensual pleasure and the genitals should be bestowed upon Prajāpati, and evacuation and the rectum upon Mṛtyu. Hearing and sound should be given to the deities of the directions, and touch to Vāyu.

  3. 3

    Form and sight should be bestowed upon the sun. The tongue with Varuṇa should be bestowed upon water, and smell with the Aśvinī-kumāra demigods upon earth.

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:

Nor should he cook food with fire, although he is allowed to eat caru, grains that have been offered in a sacrificial fire. He may also eat fruits and grains that have grown naturally.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.12
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vācamspeech
  2. agnauin the fire-god (the personified god controlling fire)
  3. sa-vaktavyāmwith the subject matter of speaking
  4. indreunto King Indra
  5. śilpamcraftsmanship or the capacity to work with the hands
  6. karauas well as the hands
  7. apiindeed
  8. padānithe legs
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 7.12

    In this verse: “hearing”

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 account change the way I think about my bodily abilities?

Practice

When you walk today, recall the verse's connection between the legs, the power of movement and Lord Viṣṇu.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReturn the Senses to Their Presiding DeitiesThis 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 7.12.26-28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.