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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
7.15.267.15.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.15.27

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
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

एष वै भगवान्साक्षात् प्रधानपुरुषेश्वर: ।

योगेश्वरैर्विमृग्याङ्‌घ्रिर्लोको यं मन्यते नरम् ॥ २७ ॥

eṣa vai bhagavān sākṣāt

pradhāna-puruṣeśvaraḥ

yogeśvarair vimṛgyāṅghrir

loko yaṁ manyate naram

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, is the master of all other living entities and of the material nature. His lotus feet are sought and worshiped by great saintly persons like Vyāsa. Nonetheless, there are fools who consider Lord Kṛṣṇa an ordinary human being.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Is Worshipable; the Guru Serves

  1. 1

    Lord Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of living entities and material nature. Being mistaken for an ordinary human being does not change His position.

  2. 2

    The spiritual master is sevaka-bhagavān, the servitor Personality of Godhead; Kṛṣṇa is sevya-bhagavān, the Supreme Personality of Godhead who is worshiped. This is their distinction.

  3. 3

    The spiritual master represents the Supreme Lord by presenting His instructions without deviation. One serious about spiritual advancement must not regard this bona fide representative as an ordinary person.

Key points from the purport
  • The example of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s being the Supreme Personality of Godhead is appropriate in regard to understanding the spiritual master.
  • The spiritual master is the worshiper God, whereas the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, is the worshipable God.
  • Therefore, on the absolute platform, there is no difference between the spiritual master and the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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 should never consider the spiritual master an ordinary human being, even though the members of the spiritual master’s family may think of him as such. Meditation and other processes of austerity are useful only if they help in advancement toward Kṛṣṇa consciousness; otherwise, they are simply a waste of time and labor.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. eṣaḥthis
  2. vaiindeed
  3. bhagavānSupreme Personality of Godhead
  4. sākṣātdirectly
  5. pradhānathe chief cause of the material nature
  6. puruṣaof all living entities or of the puruṣāvatāra, Lord Viṣṇu
  7. īśvaraḥthe supreme controller
  8. yoga-īśvaraiḥby great saintly persons, yogīs
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worshiped”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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

Can I honor the spiritual master while clearly understanding his position as Kṛṣṇa’s servant?

Practice

Write one sentence distinguishing Kṛṣṇa, who is worshiped, from the spiritual master, who serves Him and carries His message.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 7.15's connections

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Is Worshipable; the Guru ServesThis 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 7.15.27? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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