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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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

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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 13: The Behavior of a Perfect Person

7.13.26 7.13.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.13.27

Mukti· Liberation

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

सुखमस्यात्मनो रूपं सर्वेहोपरतिस्तनु: ।

मन:संस्पर्शजान् द‍ृष्ट्वा भोगान्स्वप्स्यामि संविशन् ॥ २७ ॥

sukham asyātmano rūpaṁ

sarvehoparatis tanuḥ

manaḥ-saṁsparśajān dṛṣṭvā

bhogān svapsyāmi saṁviśan

Translation

The actual form of life for the living entities is one of spiritual happiness, which is real happiness. This happiness can be achieved only when one stops all materialistic activities. Material sense enjoyment is simply an imagination. Therefore, considering this subject matter, I have ceased from all material activities and am lying down here.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Replace Material Activity With Spiritual Service

1
Spiritual happiness is the living entity's natural condition. Material sense enjoyment cannot provide that real happiness.
2
Simply stopping materialistic activities is insufficient, because one cannot remain inactive for long. The Vaiṣṇava solution is to take up spiritual activities.
3
Activities performed according to Kṛṣṇa's order are spiritual, not material. Working to please the Supreme Lord leads to liberated life and prepares one to return home, back to Godhead.

Key points from the purport

Both the Māyāvādīs and Vaiṣṇavas know that in materialistic activities there is no happiness.
Therefore, simply cultivating knowledge that materialistic activities cannot give one happiness, and that one should consequently cease from such activities, is insufficient.
The practical solution, therefore, is to cease from materialistic activities and engage in spiritual activities.

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

Chapter 13: The Behavior of a Perfect Person

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

His only concern is to satisfy Kṛṣṇa, and for that purpose he can do anything and everything, without reference to the regulative principles. He is never to be equated with materialistic men, nor is he subject to the judgments of such men.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 7.13

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

sukhamhappiness
asyaof him
ātmanaḥof the living entity
rūpamthe natural position
sarvaall
īhamaterial activities
uparatiḥcompletely stopping
tanuḥthe medium of its manifestation

Key ideas in this verse

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

Mukti · Liberation
What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 7.13
In this verse: “materialistic”, “material”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I only trying to stop unwanted activities, or am I replacing them with service to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Replace five minutes of a sense-enjoyment habit with reading Kṛṣṇa's instructions for the purpose of pleasing Him.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReplace Material Activity With Spiritual ServiceThis 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 7.13.27? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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