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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 7.15.23

Who is speaking and story frame

आन्वीक्षिक्या शोकमोहौ दम्भं महदुपासया ।

योगान्तरायान्मौनेन हिंसां कामाद्यनीहया ॥ २३ ॥

ānvīkṣikyā śoka-mohau

dambhaṁ mahad-upāsayā

yogāntarāyān maunena

hiṁsāṁ kāmādy-anīhayā

Translation

By discussing spiritual knowledge one can conquer lamentation and illusion, by serving a great devotee one can become prideless, by keeping silent one can avoid obstacles on the path of mystic yoga, and simply by stopping sense gratification one can conquer envy.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Spiritual Knowledge Helps Overcome Lamentation

  1. 1

    Discussing spiritual knowledge can conquer lamentation and illusion. The purport explains that the soul leaves one body and accepts another.

  2. 2

    One who is sober, learned in philosophy and established in knowledge is not bewildered by the soul’s transmigration. Lord Kṛṣṇa’s teaching gives a spiritual basis for facing loss.

  3. 3

    Serving a great devotee helps one become free from pride. Silence avoids obstacles in mystic yoga, and stopping sense gratification helps conquer envy.

Key points from the purport
  • If one’s son has died, one may certainly be affected by lamentation and illusion and cry for the dead son, but one may overcome lamentation and illusion by considering the verses of Bhagavad-gītā.
  • As the soul transmigrates, one who has taken birth must give up the present body, and then he must certainly accept another body.
  • Therefore Lord Kṛṣṇa says, dhīras tatra na muhyati: one who is dhīra, or sober, who is learned in philosophy and established in knowledge, cannot be unhappy over the transmigration of the soul.

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:

One must conquer lusty desires, anger, greed, fear, lamentation, illusion, fright, unnecessary talks on material subjects, violence, the four miseries of material existence, and the three material qualities. That is the objective of human life.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.15
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ānvīkṣikyāby deliberation upon material and spiritual subject matters
  2. śokalamentation
  3. mohauand illusion
  4. dambhamfalse pride
  5. mahata Vaiṣṇava
  6. upāsayāby serving
  7. yoga-antarāyānobstacles on the path of yoga
  8. maunenaby silence
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 7.15

    In this verse: “illusion”, “sense gratification”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “philosophy”

  • Dainya · Humility

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

    In this verse: “prideless”, “pride”

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 understanding the soul’s continued existence change my view of loss?

Practice

Spend a few minutes reflecting on the purport’s teaching that the soul continues after leaving the present body.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySpiritual Knowledge Helps Overcome LamentationThis 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 7.15.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.