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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 15: Instructions for Civilized Human Beings
7.15.127.15.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.15.13

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 7.15.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

धर्मबाधो विधर्म: स्यात्परधर्मोऽन्यचोदित: ।

उपधर्मस्तु पाखण्डो दम्भो वा शब्दभिच्छल: ॥ १३ ॥

dharma-bādho vidharmaḥ syāt

para-dharmo ’nya-coditaḥ

upadharmas tu pākhaṇḍo

dambho vā śabda-bhic chalaḥ

Translation

Religious principles that obstruct one from following his own religion are called vidharma. Religious principles introduced by others are called para-dharma. A new type of religion created by one who is falsely proud and who opposes the principles of the Vedas is called upadharma. And interpretation by one’s jugglery of words is called chala-dharma.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Religion Is Given, Not Invented

  1. 1

    Real religion is given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, just as real law is given by the government. No one can manufacture actual religion at home.

  2. 2

    The real religious system leads one to become a devotee of the Supreme Lord. Anything opposed to progressive Kṛṣṇa consciousness falls among the misleading systems described here.

  3. 3

    Making Kṛṣṇa’s direct words mean something different is chala-dharma, or cheating religion. One should carefully avoid such jugglery of words.

Key points from the purport
  • In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, however, such fashionable ideas are called vidharma because they go against one’s own religious system.
  • The real religious system is that of surrender to the lotus feet of the Lord.
  • Therefore, anything opposed to this religious system of progressive Kṛṣṇa consciousness is called vidharma, para-dharma, upadharma or chala-dharma.

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. dharma-bādhaḥobstructs the execution of one’s own religious principles
  2. vidharmaḥagainst the principles of religion
  3. syātshould be
  4. para-dharmaḥimitating religious systems for which one is unfit
  5. anya-coditaḥwhich is introduced by someone else
  6. upadharmaḥconcocted religious principles
  7. tuindeed
  8. pākhaṇḍaḥby one who is against the principles of Vedas, standard scriptures
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”, “religion”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 7.15

    In this verse: “proud”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

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

Am I willing to accept Kṛṣṇa’s direct teaching without changing it to suit myself?

Practice

Reread the purport’s teaching on surrender and write its meaning in one plain sentence without altering it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReligion Is Given, Not InventedThis 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 7.15.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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