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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
7.13.47.13.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.13.5

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 7.13.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

सुप्तिप्रबोधयो: सन्धावात्मनो गतिमात्मद‍ृक् ।

पश्यन्बन्धं च मोक्षं च मायामात्रं न वस्तुत: ॥ ५ ॥

supti-prabodhayoḥ sandhāv

ātmano gatim ātma-dṛk

paśyan bandhaṁ ca mokṣaṁ ca

māyā-mātraṁ na vastutaḥ

Translation

During unconsciousness and consciousness, and between the two, he should try to understand the self and be fully situated in the self. In this way, he should realize that the conditional and liberated stages of life are only illusory and not actually factual. With such a higher understanding, he should see only the Absolute Truth pervading everything.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Nothing Can Exist Without Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    One should seek to understand the self during consciousness, unconsciousness, and the state between them. These changing states have no fundamental, lasting existence.

  2. 2

    With higher understanding, one sees the conditional and liberated stages as illusory and recognizes that only the Supreme Absolute Truth exists.

  3. 3

    Everything exists on the basis of Kṛṣṇa’s impersonal feature; nothing can exist without Kṛṣṇa. The advanced devotee therefore sees the Lord everywhere, without illusion.

Key points from the purport
  • The marginal state, between consciousness and unconsciousness, has no permanent existence.
  • Therefore one who is advanced in understanding the self should understand that unconsciousness and consciousness are but illusions, for they fundamentally do not exist.
  • Therefore the advanced devotee of Kṛṣṇa can see the Lord everywhere, without illusion.

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 7.13.5 quotesBG 9.4

As confirmed by the Lord in Bhagavad-gītā (9.4): “By Me, in My unmanifested form, this entire universe is pervaded.

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:

Without bodily comforts and free from dependence on anyone with respect to bodily necessities, one should travel everywhere, wearing almost nothing or actually walking naked. Without association with ordinary human society, one should beg alms and always be satisfied in himself.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. suptiin the state of unconsciousness
  2. prabodhayoḥand in the state of consciousness
  3. sandhauin the state of marginal existence
  4. ātmanaḥof oneself
  5. gatimthe movement
  6. ātma-dṛkone who can actually see the self
  7. paśyanalways trying to see or understand
  8. bandhamthe conditional state of life
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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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “absolute truth”, “understand”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 7.13

    In this verse: “illusion”

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

How would remembering that nothing exists without Kṛṣṇa change my outlook?

Practice

Take one minute today to reflect on the statement, “Nothing can exist without Kṛṣṇa.”

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayNothing Can Exist Without KṛṣṇaThis 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 7.13.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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