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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 13: The Behavior of a Perfect Person
7.13.117.13.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 7.13.12-13

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 7.13.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

तं शयानं धरोपस्थे कावेर्यां सह्यसानुनि ।

रजस्वलैस्तनूदेशैर्निगूढामलतेजसम् ॥ १२ ॥

ददर्श लोकान्विचरन् लोकतत्त्वविवित्सया ।

वृतोऽमात्यै: कतिपयै: प्रह्रादो भगवत्प्रिय: ॥ १३ ॥

taṁ śayānaṁ dharopasthe

kāveryāṁ sahya-sānuni

rajas-valais tanū-deśair

nigūḍhāmala-tejasam

dadarśa lokān vicaran

loka-tattva-vivitsayā

vṛto ’mātyaiḥ katipayaiḥ

prahrādo bhagavat-priyaḥ

Translation

Prahlāda Mahārāja, the most dear servitor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, once went out touring the universe with some of his confidential associates just to study the nature of saintly persons. Thus he arrived at the bank of the Kāverī, where there was a mountain known as Sahya. There he found a great saintly person who was lying on the ground, covered with dirt and dust, but who was deeply spiritually advanced.

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.

Spiritual Advancement Beyond Outward Appearance

  1. 1

    Prahlāda Mahārāja was the most dear servitor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He traveled with confidential associates to study the nature of saintly persons.

  2. 2

    At the bank of the Kāverī, near the mountain Sahya, he found a great saint lying on the ground.

  3. 3

    Although covered with dirt and dust, the saint was deeply spiritually advanced. His outward condition did not reveal the depth of his spiritual life.

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 13: The Behavior of a Perfect Person

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

In this regard, Nārada Muni described a meeting between Prahlāda and a saintly person who had adopted the mode of life of a python. In this way he described the symptoms of a paramahaṁsa.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamthat (saintly person)
  2. śayānamlying down
  3. dharā-upastheon the ground
  4. kāveryāmon the bank of the river Kāverī
  5. sahya-sānunion a ridge of the mountain known as Sahya
  6. rajaḥ-valaiḥcovered with dust and dirt
  7. tanū-deśaiḥwith all the parts of the body
  8. nigūḍhavery grave and deep
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 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

How much do outward appearances influence my respect for someone’s spiritual life?

Practice

Notice one judgment you make about someone’s appearance today, and pause before accepting it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySpiritual Advancement Beyond Outward AppearanceThis 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 7.13.12-13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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