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Study a Verse

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

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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 12: The Perfect Society: Four Spiritual Classes

7.12.2 7.12.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.12.3

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

छन्दांस्यधीयीत गुरोराहूतश्चेत् सुयन्त्रित: ।

उपक्रमेऽवसाने च चरणौ शिरसा नमेत् ॥ ३ ॥

chandāṁsy adhīyīta guror

āhūtaś cet suyantritaḥ

upakrame ’vasāne ca

caraṇau śirasā namet

Translation

Being called by the spiritual master, the student should study the Vedic mantras regularly. Every day, before beginning his studies and at the end of his studies, the disciple should respectfully offer obeisances unto the spiritual master.

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.

Study Regularly With Respect

1
When called by the spiritual master, the student should study the Vedic mantras.
2
This study should be regular, forming part of the disciple’s daily life.
3
Before and after studying, the disciple should respectfully offer obeisances to the spiritual master.

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 12: The Perfect Society: Four Spiritual Classes

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The brahmacārī should engage himself in spiritual activities and study the Vedic literature under the direction of the spiritual master. According to the brahmacarya system, he should dress with a belt, deerskin, and matted hair and should bear a daṇḍa, waterpot and sacred thread.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 7.12

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

chandāṁsimantras in the Vedas, like the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and the Gāyatrī mantra
adhīyītaone should chant or read regularly
guroḥfrom the spiritual master
āhūtaḥbeing addressed or called (by him)
cetif
su-yantritaḥfaithful, well-behaved
upakramein the beginning
avasāneat the end (of reading Vedic mantras)