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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 7.14.39

Who is speaking and story frame

द‍ृष्ट्वा तेषां मिथो नृणामवज्ञानात्मतां नृप ।

त्रेतादिषु हरेरर्चा क्रियायै कविभि: कृता ॥ ३९ ॥

dṛṣṭvā teṣāṁ mitho nṛṇām

avajñānātmatāṁ nṛpa

tretādiṣu harer arcā

kriyāyai kavibhiḥ kṛtā

Translation

My dear King, when great sages and saintly persons saw mutually disrespectful dealings at the beginning of Tretā-yuga, Deity worship in the temple was introduced with all paraphernalia.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Worship the Lord and Respect His Devotees

  1. 1

    When saintly persons saw disrespectful dealings at the beginning of Tretā-yuga, they introduced Deity worship in the temple. This worship helps those who cannot properly appreciate authorized devotees advance spiritually.

  2. 2

    A beginner may faithfully worship the Deity yet fail to respect devotees and people in general. An advanced Vaiṣṇava who helps others become Vaiṣṇavas deserves special respect, not criticism.

  3. 3

    In Kali-yuga, special stress should be given to chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa and distributing transcendental literature. These activities help bring people to Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Key points from the purport
  • When great saintly persons saw this contamination, they introduced worship of the Deity in the temple.
  • Therefore chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is more powerful than Deity worship.
  • Whenever there is a possibility to worship the Deity, we may establish many centers, but generally we should give more stress to the distribution of transcendental literature, for this will be more effective in converting people to 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.

Connected verses· 3

The purport of SB 7.14.39 quotesSB 12.3.52

As it is said in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (12.3.52): “Whatever result one obtained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Viṣṇu, in Tretā-yuga by performing sacrifices and in Dvāpara-yuga by serving the Lord’s lotus feet one can also obtain in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.”

The purport of SB 7.14.39 quotesSB 11.2.47

It is said in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.2.47): “A person who is very faithfully engaged in the worship of the Deity in the temple but does not know how to behave toward devotees or people in general is called a prākṛta-bhakta, or kaniṣṭha-adhikārī.”

The purport of SB 7.14.39 quotesCC Antya 7.11

In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Antya 7.11) it is clearly said, kṛṣṇa-śakti vinā nahe tāra pravartana: without being authorized by Kṛṣṇa, one cannot preach the holy name of the Lord throughout the entire world.

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:

Whatever money a gṛhastha accumulates by the grace of God he should spend in five activities, namely worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, receiving Vaiṣṇavas and saintly persons, distributing prasāda to the general public and to all living entities, offering prasāda to his forefathers, and also offering prasāda to his own self. Gṛhasthas should always be ready to worship everyone as mentioned above.
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. dṛṣṭvāafter practically seeing
  2. teṣāmamong the brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas
  3. mithaḥmutually
  4. nṛṇāmof human society
  5. avajñāna-ātmatāmthe mutually disrespectful behavior
  6. nṛpaO King
  7. tretā-ādiṣubeginning from Tretā-yuga
  8. hareḥof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
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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: “worship”, “devotees”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 7.14

    In this verse: “king”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 7.14

    In this verse: “chanting”

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

Does my worship help me appreciate those who bring others to Kṛṣṇa consciousness?

Practice

Spend a few minutes today chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWorship the Lord and Respect His DevoteesThis 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 7.14.39? Get an answer from the verses themselves.