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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 14: Ideal Family Life
7.14.417.15.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.14.42

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 7.14.27-28inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

नन्वस्य ब्राह्मणा राजन्कृष्णस्य जगदात्मन: ।

पुनन्त: पादरजसा त्रिलोकीं दैवतं महत् ॥ ४२ ॥

nanv asya brāhmaṇā rājan

kṛṣṇasya jagad-ātmanaḥ

punantaḥ pāda-rajasā

tri-lokīṁ daivataṁ mahat

Translation

My dear King Yudhiṣṭhira, the brāhmaṇas, especially those engaged in preaching the glories of the Lord throughout the entire world, are recognized and worshiped by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the heart and soul of all creation. The brāhmaṇas, by their preaching, sanctify the three worlds with the dust of their lotus feet, and thus they are worshipable even for Kṛṣṇa.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Honors Those Who Preach His Glories

  1. 1

    Qualified brāhmaṇas who preach the Lord’s glories throughout the world sanctify the three worlds with the dust of their lotus feet. Kṛṣṇa, the heart and soul of creation, recognizes them as worshipable.

  2. 2

    This relationship is reciprocal: the brāhmaṇas worship Kṛṣṇa, and Kṛṣṇa wants to honor them. Brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas engaged in preaching His glories therefore deserve everyone’s respect.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa always remains the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By His causeless mercy, He recognizes those who preach His glories as dearmost to Him.

Key points from the purport
  • The brāhmaṇas preach the cult of Kṛṣṇa consciousness all around the world, and therefore, although they worship Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Lord also recognizes them as worshipable.
  • In conclusion, therefore, brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas who are engaged in preaching the glories of the Lord must be worshiped by religionists, philosophers and people in general.
  • Therefore, Kṛṣṇa is always the Supreme Person, but by His causeless mercy He recognizes the brāhmaṇas as dearmost to Him.

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 7.14.42 quotesBG 18.69

As admitted by Lord Kṛṣṇa in Bhagavad-gītā (18.69), na ca tasmān manuṣyeṣu kaścin me priya-kṛttamaḥ.

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:

The gṛhastha should also visit the holy places of pilgrimage mentioned in the Purāṇas. In this way he should fully engage in worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead for the benefit of his family, his society, his country, and humanity at large.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanubut
  2. asyaby Him
  3. brāhmaṇāḥthe qualified brāhmaṇas
  4. rājanO King
  5. kṛṣṇasyaby Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  6. jagat-ātmanaḥwho is the life and soul of the whole creation
  7. punantaḥsanctifying
  8. pāda-rajasāby the dust of their lotus feet
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worshiped”, “worshipable”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 7.14

    In this verse: “king”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 7.14

    In this verse: “mercy”, “causeless”

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 does Kṛṣṇa’s affection for those who preach His glories shape my attitude toward them?

Practice

Share with one willing person this teaching: Kṛṣṇa remains supreme while lovingly honoring those who preach His glories.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Honors Those Who Preach His GloriesThis 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.

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