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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
7.13.217.13.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.13.22

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The saintly brāhmaṇasince 7.13.21inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

यस्य नारायणो देवो भगवान्‍हृद्गत: सदा ।

भक्त्या केवलयाज्ञानं धुनोति ध्वान्तमर्कवत् ॥ २२ ॥

yasya nārāyaṇo devo

bhagavān hṛd-gataḥ sadā

bhaktyā kevalayājñānaṁ

dhunoti dhvāntam arkavat

Translation

Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is full of all opulences, is predominant within the core of your heart because of your being a pure devotee. He always drives away all the darkness of ignorance, as the sun drives away the darkness of the universe.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pure Devotion Dispels the Darkness of Ignorance

  1. 1

    Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is predominant in the pure devotee’s heart. He removes ignorance as the sun removes darkness.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa is the master of all knowledge and is situated in everyone’s heart. When pleased with a devotee, He gives instructions for advancing further in devotional service.

  3. 3

    Bhaktyā kevalayā means devotion unmixed with fruitive activities or speculative knowledge. Simply surrendering at the Lord’s lotus feet brings enlightenment and awareness.

Key points from the purport
  • The words bhaktyā kevalayā indicate that simply by executing devotional service one can become full of all knowledge.
  • The Lord is situated in everyone’s heart (īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛd-deśe ’rjuna tiṣṭhati), and when the Lord is pleased with a devotee, the Lord instructs him.
  • The pure devotee is described by the words bhaktyā kevalayā.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

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:

He should also give up the path of unnecessary argument and should not depend on anyone under any circumstances. He should not try to allure people into becoming his disciples just so that the number of his disciples may increase.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.13
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yasyaof whom
  2. nārāyaṇaḥ devaḥthe Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa
  3. bhagavānthe Lord
  4. hṛt-gataḥin the core of the heart
  5. sadāalways
  6. bhaktyāby devotional service
  7. kevalayāalone
  8. ajñānamignorance
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”, “devotional service”, “devotee’s”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 7.13

    In this verse: “surrendering”

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 seeking knowledge to advance in devotional service, or mainly for some separate gain?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer to Kṛṣṇa today, asking for guidance to serve Him without seeking a separate reward.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPure Devotion Dispels the Darkness of IgnoranceThis 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 7.13.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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