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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
7.12.37.12.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.12.4

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

मेखलाजिनवासांसि जटादण्डकमण्डलून् ।

बिभृयादुपवीतं च दर्भपाणिर्यथोदितम् ॥ ४ ॥

mekhalājina-vāsāṁsi

jaṭā-daṇḍa-kamaṇḍalūn

bibhṛyād upavītaṁ ca

darbha-pāṇir yathoditam

Translation

Carrying pure kuśa grass in his hand, the brahmacārī should dress regularly with a belt of straw and with deerskin garments. He should wear matted hair, carry a rod and waterpot and be decorated with a sacred thread, as recommended in the śāstras.

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.

Follow the Prescribed Discipline of Student Life

  1. 1

    The brahmacārī should carry pure kuśa grass and wear a belt of straw and deerskin garments.

  2. 2

    He should wear matted hair and carry a rod and waterpot.

  3. 3

    He should also wear a sacred thread, following the recommendations of the śāstras.

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:

According to the brahmacarya system, he should dress with a belt, deerskin, and matted hair and should bear a daṇḍa, waterpot and sacred thread. He should collect alms daily in the morning, and in the evening whatever alms he has collected he should offer to the spiritual master.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.12
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mekhalāa belt made of straw
  2. ajina-vāsāṁsigarments made of deerskin
  3. jaṭāmatted hair
  4. daṇḍaa rod
  5. kamaṇḍalūnand a waterpot known as a kamaṇḍalu
  6. bibhṛyāthe (the brahmacārī) should regularly carry or wear
  7. upavītam caand a sacred thread
  8. darbha-pāṇiḥtaking purified kuśa in his hand
  9. yathā uditamas recommended in the śāstras.
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

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

Am I willing to learn what the śāstras prescribe rather than assume spiritual discipline is entirely personal preference?

Practice

Write down the items prescribed here for the brahmacārī and note that they follow the śāstras.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayFollow the Prescribed Discipline of Student LifeThis 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 7.12.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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