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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
7.13.57.13.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.13.6

Nirodha· Winding up
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

नाभिनन्देद् ध्रुवं मृत्युमध्रुवं वास्य जीवितम् ।

कालं परं प्रतीक्षेत भूतानां प्रभवाप्ययम् ॥ ६ ॥

nābhinanded dhruvaṁ mṛtyum

adhruvaṁ vāsya jīvitam

kālaṁ paraṁ pratīkṣeta

bhūtānāṁ prabhavāpyayam

Translation

Since the material body is sure to be vanquished and the duration of one’s life is not fixed, neither death nor life is to be praised. Rather, one should observe the eternal time factor, in which the living entity manifests himself and disappears.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Observe Time and Surrender to the Lord

  1. 1

    The body is sure to perish, and its duration of life is uncertain. One should neither praise death nor try to preserve material life perpetually for enjoyment.

  2. 2

    One should observe eternal time, under whose control material bodies appear and disappear. Living entities remain entangled in birth and death, life after life.

  3. 3

    Time is the impersonal representation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He gives conditioned living entities the opportunity to escape material nature by surrendering to Him.

Key points from the purport
  • It is advised that one observe the eternal time factor, which is the cause of the material body’s appearance and disappearance, and that one observe the living entity’s entanglement in this time factor.
  • One should observe the activities of eternal time, which is the cause of birth and death.
  • Before the creation of the present millennium, the living entities were under the influence of the time factor, and within the time factor the material world comes into existence and is again annihilated.

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:

A sannyāsī should travel alone in this way, not caring for life or death, waiting for the time when he will leave his material body. He should not indulge in unnecessary books or adopt professions like astrology, nor should he try to become a great orator.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanot
  2. abhinandetone should praise
  3. dhruvamsure
  4. mṛtyumdeath
  5. adhruvamnot sure
  6. vāeither
  7. asyaof this body
  8. jīvitamthe duration of life
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “death”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 7.13

    In this verse: “surrendering”

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

Does awareness of passing time encourage me to surrender to the Lord?

Practice

Notice one change caused by time today, then offer a brief prayer expressing your wish to surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayObserve Time and Surrender to the LordThis 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 7.13.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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