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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
7.15.297.15.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.15.30

Mukti· Liberation
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

यश्चित्तविजये यत्त: स्यान्नि:सङ्गोऽपरिग्रह: ।

एको विविक्तशरणो भिक्षुर्भैक्ष्यमिताशन: ॥ ३० ॥

yaś citta-vijaye yattaḥ

syān niḥsaṅgo ’parigrahaḥ

eko vivikta-śaraṇo

bhikṣur bhaikṣya-mitāśanaḥ

Translation

One who desires to conquer the mind must leave the company of his family and live in a solitary place, free from contaminated association. To maintain the body and soul together, he should beg as much as he needs for the bare necessities of life.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Renunciation Helps Conquer the Agitated Mind

  1. 1

    The verse describes leaving family company and living alone, free from contaminated association, as the process for conquering the mind.

  2. 2

    The renounced person should maintain the body by begging only for the bare necessities and eating only as much as needed.

  3. 3

    Sannyāsa means accepting a life of begging, which fosters humility, meekness and freedom from lusty desires. The purport urges renunciation upon clearly recognizing how family life disrupts spiritual life and meditation.

Key points from the purport
  • One is recommended to take leave of his family and live alone, maintaining body and soul together by begging alms and eating only as much as needed to keep himself alive.
  • Sannyāsa means accepting a life of begging, which makes one automatically very humble and meek and free from lusty desires.
  • Specifically understanding this fact, one should accept the order of sannyāsa without hesitation.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yaḥone who
  2. citta-vijayeconquering the mind
  3. yattaḥis engaged
  4. syātmust be
  5. niḥsaṅgaḥwithout contaminated association
  6. aparigrahaḥwithout being dependent (on the family)
  7. ekaḥalone
  8. vivikta-śaraṇaḥtaking shelter of a solitary place
3

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

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 7.15

    In this verse: “free from”, “renounced”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 7.15

    In this verse: “contaminated”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “lusty”

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

Which attachments or associations most disturb my mind when I try to meditate?

Practice

Spend a short period alone today, away from distracting company, and reflect on being satisfied with bare necessities.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRenunciation Helps Conquer the Agitated MindThis 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 7.15.30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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