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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.13.46

Who is speaking and story frame

श्रीनारद उवाच

धर्मं पारमहंस्यं वै मुने: श्रुत्वासुरेश्वर: ।

पूजयित्वा तत: प्रीत आमन्‍त्र्यप्रययौ गृहम् ॥ ४६ ॥

śrī-nārada uvāca

dharmaṁ pāramahaṁsyaṁ vai

muneḥ śrutvāsureśvaraḥ

pūjayitvā tataḥ prīta

āmantrya prayayau gṛham

Translation

Nārada Muni continued: After Prahlāda Mahārāja, the King of the demons, heard these instructions from the saint, he understood the occupational duties of a perfect person [paramahaṁsa]. Thus he duly worshiped the saint, took his permission and then left for his own home.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Spiritual Excellence Is Not Limited by Status

  1. 1

    After hearing the saint’s instructions, Prahlāda Mahārāja understood the duties of a paramahaṁsa, a perfect person. He worshiped the saint, took his permission and returned home.

  2. 2

    Anyone well conversant with the science of Kṛṣṇa can be a guru. Although Prahlāda Mahārāja was a gṛhastha ruling over demons, he was a paramahaṁsa and an authority.

  3. 3

    A paramahaṁsa is an exalted devotee. Such a devotee may be a brahmacārī, gṛhastha, vānaprastha or sannyāsī and be equally liberated and exalted.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore although Prahlāda Mahārāja was a gṛhastha ruling over the demons, he was a paramahaṁsa, the best of human beings, and thus he is our guru.
  • The conclusion is that a paramahaṁsa is an exalted devotee (bhagavat-priya).
  • Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Seventh Canto, Thirteenth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Behavior of a Perfect Person.”

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· 2

The purport of SB 7.13.46 quotesCC Madhya 8.128

As quoted in Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 8.128), Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said: A guru, or spiritual master, can be anyone who is well conversant with the science of Kṛṣṇa.

The purport of SB 7.13.46 quotesSB 6.3.20-21

balir vaiyāsakir vayam. The conclusion is that a paramahaṁsa is an exalted devotee (bhagavat-priya).

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:

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-nāradaḥ uvācaŚrī Nārada Muni said
  2. dharmamthe occupational duty
  3. pāramahaṁsyamof the paramahaṁsas, the most perfect human beings
  4. vaiindeed
  5. muneḥfrom the saintly person
  6. śrutvāthus hearing
  7. asura-īśvaraḥthe King of the asuras, Prahlāda Mahārāja
  8. pūjayitvāby worshiping the saintly person
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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: “worshiped”, “devotee”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 7.13

    In this verse: “heard”, “hearing”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 7.13

    In this verse: “duties”

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 value spiritual understanding and devotion more than someone’s outward position?

Practice

Offer a sincere word of gratitude today to someone from whom you have received instruction about Kṛṣṇa.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 6.3.20

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 7.13's connections

Live this todaySpiritual Excellence Is Not Limited by StatusThis 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 7.13.46? Get an answer from the verses themselves.