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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 7.14.24

Who is speaking and story frame

त एते श्रेयस: काला नृणां श्रेयोविवर्धना: ।

कुर्यात्सर्वात्मनैतेषु श्रेयोऽमोघं तदायुष: ॥ २४ ॥

ta ete śreyasaḥ kālā

nṝṇāṁ śreyo-vivardhanāḥ

kuryāt sarvātmanaiteṣu

śreyo ’moghaṁ tad-āyuṣaḥ

Translation

All of these seasonal times are considered extremely auspicious for humanity. At such times, one should perform all auspicious activities, for by such activities a human being attains success in his short duration of life.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Make Human Life Successful Through Devotion

  1. 1

    The specified seasonal times are especially auspicious for humanity. Auspicious activities help a person make successful use of a short human life.

  2. 2

    Having attained human life, one must take responsibility for further progress. Devotional service to the Lord leads one back home, back to Godhead.

  3. 3

    Devotional service does not depend on material conditions. The prescribed times and seasons are especially favorable for those engaged in fruitive activities.

Key points from the purport
  • When one comes to the human form of life through natural evolution, one must then take the responsibility for further progress.
  • In the human form of life, therefore, one is meant to act auspiciously in order to return home, back to Godhead.
  • Of course, for those who are engaged in fruitive activities on the material platform, the times and seasons mentioned above are extremely congenial.

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 7.14.24 quotesBG 9.25

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (9.25), yānti deva-vratā devān: one who worships the demigods can be promoted to their planets.

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:

He should provide the necessities of life even to the dogs and the lowest creatures and should not exploit others for sense gratification. Factually, according to the instructions of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, every gṛhastha is a great communist who provides the means of living for everyone.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.14
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tetherefore
  2. eteall these (descriptions of astronomical calculations)
  3. śreyasaḥof auspiciousness
  4. kālāḥtimes
  5. nṝṇāmfor human beings
  6. śreyaḥauspiciousness
  7. vivardhanāḥincrease
  8. kuryātone should perform
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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: “devotional service”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 7.14

    In this verse: “favorable”

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

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I postponing devotional service while waiting for more favorable circumstances?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes for devotional service today without waiting for a special date or ideal conditions.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMake Human Life Successful Through DevotionThis 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 7.14.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.