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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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

7.13.8 7.13.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.13.9

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

न यतेराश्रम: प्रायो धर्महेतुर्महात्मन: ।

शान्तस्य समचित्तस्य बिभृयादुत वा त्यजेत् ॥ ९ ॥

na yater āśramaḥ prāyo

dharma-hetur mahātmanaḥ

śāntasya sama-cittasya

bibhṛyād uta vā tyajet

Translation

A peaceful, equipoised person who is factually advanced in spiritual consciousness does not need to accept the symbols of a sannyāsī, such as the tridaṇḍa and kamaṇḍalu. According to necessity, he may sometimes accept those symbols and sometimes reject them.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Spreading Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Comes Before Dress

1
A peaceful, equipoised person who is truly advanced may accept or reject the outward symbols of sannyāsa according to necessity.
2
The paramahaṁsa stage involves realization of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, beyond an impersonal conception of the Absolute Truth.
3
For Vaiṣṇava sannyāsīs, preaching is the first duty. Whether wearing the symbols of sannyāsa or ordinary dress, their concern is to attract people to Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Key points from the purport

To preach, such sannyāsīs may accept the symbols of sannyāsa, such as the daṇḍa and kamaṇḍalu, or sometimes they may not.
Sometimes the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement sends its representative sannyāsīs to foreign countries where the daṇḍa and kamaṇḍalu are not very much appreciated.
Our only concern is to spread interest in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

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

Chapter 13: The Behavior of a Perfect Person

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

One should be a friend to every living entity and be very peaceful in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. 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.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 7.13

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

nanot
yateḥof the sannyāsī
āśramaḥthe symbolic dress (with daṇḍa and kamaṇḍalu)
prāyaḥalmost always
dharma-hetuḥthe cause of advancement in spiritual life
mahā-ātmanaḥwho is factually exalted and advanced
śāntasyawho is peaceful
sama-cittasyawho has attained the stage of being equipoised

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
Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct
Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 7.13
In this verse: “duty”
Jñāna · Spiritual insight
Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 7.13
In this verse: “absolute truth”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I place more value on spiritual appearance or on helping others become interested in Kṛṣṇa consciousness?

Practice

Share one teaching about Kṛṣṇa consciousness from today’s reading with someone who is interested.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySpreading Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Comes Before DressThis 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 7.13.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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