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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 7.15.68

Who is speaking and story frame

यथा हि यूयं नृपदेव दुस्त्यजा-

दापद्गणादुत्तरतात्मन: प्रभो: ।

यत्पादपङ्केरुहसेवया भवा-

नहारषीन्निर्जितदिग्गज: क्रतून् ॥ ६८ ॥

yathā hi yūyaṁ nṛpa-deva dustyajād

āpad-gaṇād uttaratātmanaḥ prabhoḥ

yat-pāda-paṅkeruha-sevayā bhavān

ahāraṣīn nirjita-dig-gajaḥ kratūn

Translation

O King Yudhiṣṭhira, because of your service to the Supreme Lord, all of you Pāṇḍavas defeated the greatest dangers posed by numerous kings and demigods. By serving the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, you conquered great enemies, who were like elephants, and thus you collected ingredients for sacrifice. By His grace, may you be delivered from material involvement.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Take Shelter of Kṛṣṇa Without Hesitation

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira asked how someone entangled in household life could be delivered. Nārada Muni reassured him that his whole family was already safe as pure devotees of Kṛṣṇa.

  2. 2

    By Kṛṣṇa’s grace, the Pāṇḍavas overcame powerful enemies and many dangers. Their lives show how to take shelter of the Supreme Lord.

  3. 3

    The material world has dangers at every step, but Kṛṣṇa’s shelter makes the ocean of ignorance easy to cross. A pure devotee remains in the safest position as Kṛṣṇa’s servant.

Key points from the purport
  • Placing himself as an ordinary householder, Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira inquired from Nārada Muni how a gṛha-mūḍha-dhī, a person who is entangled in household life and who thus continues to remain a fool, can be delivered.
  • Thus they are a practical example of how to live in security and safety by the grace of Kṛṣṇa.
  • A pure devotee, without embarrassing himself by trying for elevation in so many ways, stays in the safest position as a servant of Kṛṣṇa, and thus his life is eternally safe without a doubt.

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:

In this regard, Nārada Muni narrated the history of how he had fallen from the Gandharva kingdom, how he was born in a śūdra family, and how by serving exalted brāhmaṇas he became the son of Lord Brahmā and was reinstated in his transcendental position. After narrating all these stories, Nārada Muni praised the mercy received from the Lord by the Pāṇḍavas.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yathāas
  2. hiindeed
  3. yūyamall of you (Pāṇḍavas)
  4. nṛpa-devaO lord of the kings, human beings and demigods
  5. dustyajātinsurmountable
  6. āpatdangerous conditions
  7. gaṇātfrom all
  8. uttarataescaped
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”, “household”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 7.15

    In this verse: “king”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 7.15

    In this verse: “dangers”

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

Where in my life do I hesitate to take shelter of Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

When one worry arises today, pause and pray to Kṛṣṇa for shelter and the strength to remain His servant.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTake Shelter of Kṛṣṇa Without HesitationThis 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 7.15.68? Get an answer from the verses themselves.