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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

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 7.15.12

Who is speaking and story frame

विधर्म: परधर्मश्च आभास उपमा छल: ।

अधर्मशाखा: पञ्चेमा धर्मज्ञोऽधर्मवत्त्यजेत् ॥ १२ ॥

vidharmaḥ para-dharmaś ca

ābhāsa upamā chalaḥ

adharma-śākhāḥ pañcemā

dharma-jño ’dharmavat tyajet

Translation

There are five branches of irreligion, appropriately known as irreligion [vidharma], religious principles for which one is unfit [para-dharma], pretentious religion [ābhāsa], analogical religion [upadharma] and cheating religion [chala-dharma]. One who is aware of real religious life must abandon these five as irreligious.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Real Religion Means Surrender to Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    The verse names five branches of irreligion: vidharma, para-dharma, ābhāsa, upadharma and chala-dharma. A person who understands religious life should abandon them.

  2. 2

    Religious principles opposed to surrender to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, are considered irregular or cheating. One should follow His instructions and surrender unto Him.

  3. 3

    The intelligence needed for surrender develops through good association with devotees and the practice of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Key points from the purport
  • Any religious principles opposed to the principle of surrendering to the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, are to be considered religious principles of irregularity or cheating, and one who is actually interested in religion must give them up.
  • One should simply follow the instructions of Kṛṣṇa and surrender unto Him.
  • Everything but the principle of religion recommended by Kṛṣṇa — sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja — should be given up as irreligion.

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

Further reading

Chapter 15: Instructions for Civilized Human Beings

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Those who are advanced in knowledge of religious principles must avoid five kinds of irreligion, known as vidharma, para-dharma, dharmābhāsa, upadharma and chala-dharma. One must act according to the religious principles that suit his constitutional position; it is not that everyone must adhere to the same type of religion.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vidharmaḥirreligion
  2. para-dharmaḥreligious principles practiced by others
  3. caand
  4. ābhāsaḥpretentious religious principles
  5. upamāprinciples that appear religious but are not
  6. chalaḥa cheating religion
  7. adharma-śākhāḥwhich are different branches of irreligion
  8. pañcafive
3

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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 7.15

    In this verse: “religious”, “principles”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 7.15

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 7.15

    In this verse: “understands”

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

Do I approach religion to follow Kṛṣṇa’s instructions or to preserve my own preferences?

Practice

Spend a few minutes with a devotee discussing how to practice surrender to Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReal Religion Means Surrender 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 7.15.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.