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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
7.15.57.15.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.15.6

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

देवर्षिपितृभूतेभ्य आत्मने स्वजनाय च ।

अन्नं संविभजन्पश्येत्सर्वं तत्पुरुषात्मकम् ॥ ६ ॥

devarṣi-pitṛ-bhūtebhya

ātmane sva-janāya ca

annaṁ saṁvibhajan paśyet

sarvaṁ tat puruṣātmakam

Translation

One should offer prasāda to the demigods, the saintly persons, one’s forefathers, the people in general, one’s family members, one’s relatives and one’s friends, seeing them all as devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Share Prasāda, Honor Everyone’s Relationship With God

  1. 1

    Prasāda should be offered to the demigods, saintly persons, forefathers, people in general, family, relatives, and friends.

  2. 2

    Everyone should distribute prasāda, considering every living being a part and parcel of the Supreme Lord. Feeding the poor should also be done by distributing prasāda.

  3. 3

    Being related to the Supreme Personality of Godhead does not make someone the Supreme Lord, Nārāyaṇa. The purport warns that confusing the two endangers devotional life.

Key points from the purport
  • As mentioned above, it is recommended that everyone distribute prasāda, considering every living being a part and parcel of the Supreme Lord.
  • One should distribute sumptuous prasāda, considering everyone a part of the Supreme Lord, but one should not juggle words to make a poor man Nārāyaṇa.
  • Everyone is related to the Supreme Lord, but one should not mistakenly think that because one is related to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he has become the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa.

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:

The best process for the śrāddha ceremony is to distribute bhāgavata-prasāda (remnants of food that has first been offered to Kṛṣṇa) to all of one’s forefathers and relatives. This makes a first-class śrāddha ceremony.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. devaunto the demigods
  2. ṛṣisaintly persons
  3. pitṛforefathers
  4. bhūtebhyaḥthe living entities in general
  5. ātmanerelatives
  6. sva-janāyafamily members and friends
  7. caand
  8. annamfoodstuff ( prasāda)
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”, “devotional”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 7.15

    In this verse: “friends”

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 someone as part of the Supreme Lord without confusing that person with the Lord Himself?

Practice

Share prasāda with one person today, remembering their relationship with the Supreme Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayShare Prasāda, Honor Everyone’s Relationship With GodThis 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 7.15.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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