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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
7.13.337.13.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.13.34

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The brāhmaṇasince 7.13.32inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

शोकमोहभयक्रोधरागक्लैब्यश्रमादय: ।

यन्मूला: स्युर्नृणां जह्यात्स्पृहां प्राणार्थयोर्बुध: ॥ ३४ ॥

śoka-moha-bhaya-krodha-

rāga-klaibya-śramādayaḥ

yan-mūlāḥ syur nṛṇāṁ jahyāt

spṛhāṁ prāṇārthayor budhaḥ

Translation

Those in human society who are intelligent should give up the original cause of lamentation, illusion, fear, anger, attachment, poverty and unnecessary labor. The original cause of all of these is the desire for unnecessary prestige and money.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Limit Wants and Protect Devotional Service

  1. 1

    The desire for unnecessary prestige and money causes lamentation, illusion, fear, anger, and needless labor. Vedic civilization directed people toward self-realization while meeting their minimum needs.

  2. 2

    Collecting too much, overendeavoring, and greed for worldly achievements spoil devotional service. Renunciation is meant for full engagement in self-realization, not escape from responsibility or collecting money for enjoyment.

  3. 3

    Money collected for Kṛṣṇa consciousness should support literature, centers, and other needs of the mission. It should be spent for Kṛṣṇa, not for personal sense gratification.

Key points from the purport
  • Sannyāsa does not mean begging from door to door to accumulate money for sense gratification.
  • Otherwise money will be the cause of lamentation, illusion, fear, anger, material attachment, material poverty, and unnecessary hard work.
  • Whatever money is collected should be spent for Kṛṣṇa, and not a farthing for sense gratification.

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:

Without association with ordinary human society, one should beg alms and always be satisfied in himself. One should be a friend to every living entity and be very peaceful in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śokalamentation
  2. mohaillusion
  3. bhayafear
  4. krodhaanger
  5. rāgaattachment
  6. klaibyapoverty
  7. śramaunnecessary labor
  8. ādayaḥand so on
3

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: “attachment”, “illusion”, “sense gratification”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 7.13

    In this verse: “give up”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 7.13

    In this verse: “fear”

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

Which unnecessary desire for money or recognition is taking time from my devotional service?

Practice

Set aside one unnecessary pursuit today and use that time for devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLimit Wants and Protect Devotional 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 7.13.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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