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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
7.13.147.13.16-17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.13.15

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 नत्वाभ्यर्च्य विधिवत्पादयो: शिरसा स्पृशन् ।

विवित्सुरिदमप्राक्षीन्महाभागवतोऽसुर: ॥ १५ ॥

taṁ natvābhyarcya vidhivat

pādayoḥ śirasā spṛśan

vivitsur idam aprākṣīn

mahā-bhāgavato ’suraḥ

Translation

The advanced devotee Prahlāda Mahārāja duly worshiped and offered obeisances to the saintly person who had adopted a python’s means of livelihood. After thus worshiping the saintly person and touching his own head to the saint’s lotus feet, Prahlāda Mahārāja, in order to understand him, inquired very submissively as follows.

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.

Approach Saintly Persons With Humble Inquiry

  1. 1

    Although himself an advanced devotee, Prahlāda Mahārāja worshiped the saintly person and offered obeisances.

  2. 2

    He touched his own head to the saint’s lotus feet. His desire to understand was accompanied by deep respect.

  3. 3

    After worshiping the saint, Prahlāda Mahārāja inquired very submissively. Humility shaped the way he sought understanding.

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. tamhim (the saintly person)
  2. natvāafter offering obeisances unto
  3. abhyarcyaand worshiping
  4. vidhi-vatin terms of the rules and regulations of etiquette
  5. pādayoḥthe lotus feet of the saintly person
  6. śirasāwith the head
  7. spṛśantouching
  8. vivitsuḥdesiring to know about him (the saintly person)
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 7.13

    In this verse: “devotee”, “worshiped”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 7.13

    In this verse: “inquired”, “understand”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 7.13

    In this verse: “humility”

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

Does my way of asking spiritual questions express respect and a desire to learn?

Practice

Write one sincere spiritual question today, phrasing it humbly rather than as a challenge.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayApproach Saintly Persons With Humble InquiryThis 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.

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