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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
7.13.397.13.41

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.13.40

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

क्व‍चिच्छये धरोपस्थे तृणपर्णाश्मभस्मसु ।

क्व‍चित्प्रासादपर्यङ्के कशिपौ वा परेच्छया ॥ ४० ॥

kvacic chaye dharopasthe

tṛṇa-parṇāśma-bhasmasu

kvacit prāsāda-paryaṅke

kaśipau vā parecchayā

Translation

Sometimes I lie on the surface of the earth, sometimes on leaves, grass or stone, sometimes on a pile of ashes, or sometimes, by the will of others, in a palace on a first-class bed with pillows.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Comfort Comes Under the Supreme Will

  1. 1

    The learned brāhmaṇa describes resting places ranging from bare earth to a first-class bed in a palace. The purport explains that these differences indicate different types of births.

  2. 2

    Such facilities do not come simply at the living entity’s wish. They come by the supreme will or the arrangement of māyā.

  3. 3

    According to material desires, the living entity receives different bodies from material nature under the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Supreme Lord, situated in everyone’s heart, directs these wanderings.

Key points from the purport
  • The learned brāhmaṇa’s description indicates different types of births, for one lies down according to one’s body.
  • Sometimes one takes birth as an animal and sometimes as a king.
  • By the will of the Supreme, one must take different bodies with different means for lying down.

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

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 7.13.40 quotesBG 18.61

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (18.61): “The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone’s heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine, made of the material energy.”

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

Sometimes he accepts severe austerities, and sometimes he accepts material opulence. His only concern is to satisfy Kṛṣṇa, and for that purpose he can do anything and everything, without reference to the regulative principles.
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. kvacitsometimes
  2. śayeI lie down
  3. dhara-upastheon the surface of the earth
  4. tṛṇaon grass
  5. parṇaleaves
  6. aśmastone
  7. bhasmasuor a pile of ashes
  8. kvacitsometimes
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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: “māyā”, “material”

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

Do I assume that comfort is entirely under my own control?

Practice

Before resting today, pause to remember that bodily comforts do not come merely by your own wish.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayComfort Comes Under the Supreme WillThis 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 7.13.40? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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