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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 7.14.2

Who is speaking and story frame

श्रीनारद उवाच

गृहेष्ववस्थितो राजन्क्रिया: कुर्वन्यथोचिता: ।

वासुदेवार्पणं साक्षादुपासीत महामुनीन् ॥ २ ॥

śrī-nārada uvāca

gṛheṣv avasthito rājan

kriyāḥ kurvan yathocitāḥ

vāsudevārpaṇaṁ sākṣād

upāsīta mahā-munīn

Translation

Nārada Muni replied: My dear King, those who stay at home as householders must act to earn their livelihood, and instead of trying to enjoy the results of their work themselves, they should offer these results to Kṛṣṇa, Vāsudeva. How to satisfy Vāsudeva in this life can be perfectly understood through the association of great devotees of the Lord.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Dedicate Your Work to Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Householders must work for their livelihood, but should offer the results to Kṛṣṇa rather than seek their own enjoyment.

  2. 2

    In every status of life, the basic principle is to satisfy Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Dedication to Him is the foundation of household life.

  3. 3

    This dedication is learned through association with devotees who are actually satisfying the Lord. Regular hearing of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam helps one understand the aim of life.

Key points from the purport
  • The format for gṛhastha life should be dedication to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Saintly persons are generally known as munis, or thoughtful philosophers concerned with transcendental subject matters, and mahā-munīn refers to those who have not only thoroughly studied the goal of life but who are actually engaged in satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva.
  • Unless one associates with devotees, one cannot learn the science of vāsudevārpaṇa, or dedicating one’s life to Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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 7.14.2 quotesBG 6.1

In Bhagavad-gītā (6.1) it is said: “One who is unattached to the fruits of his work and who works as he is obligated is in the renounced order of life, and he is the true mystic, not he who lights no fire and performs no work.”

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 14: Ideal Family Life

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

When Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja became very much inquisitive about the occupational duties for the householder, Nārada Muni advised him that a gṛhastha’s first duty is to be fully dependent on Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa, and to try to satisfy Him in all respects by executing one’s prescribed devotional service. This devotional service will depend on the instructions of authorities and the association of devotees who are actually engaged in devotional service.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-nāradaḥ uvācaŚrī Nārada Muni replied
  2. gṛheṣuat home
  3. avasthitaḥstaying (a householder generally stays home with his wife and children)
  4. rājanO King
  5. kriyāḥactivities
  6. kurvanperforming
  7. yathocitāḥsuitable (as instructed by the guru and śāstra)
  8. vāsudevaunto Lord Vāsudeva
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 7.14

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 7.14

    In this verse: “king”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 7.14

    In this verse: “householders”

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 could the results of my work be used to satisfy Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Set aside a small part of today’s earnings or work results for service to Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDedicate Your Work to 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 7.14.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.