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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
7.15.687.15.70

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.15.69

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
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

अहं पुराभवं कश्चिद्गन्धर्व उपबर्हण: ।

नाम्नातीते महाकल्पे गन्धर्वाणां सुसम्मत: ॥ ६९ ॥

ahaṁ purābhavaṁ kaścid

gandharva upabarhaṇaḥ

nāmnātīte mahā-kalpe

gandharvāṇāṁ susammataḥ

Translation

Long, long ago, in another mahā-kalpa [millennium of Brahmā], I existed as the Gandharva known as Upabarhaṇa. I was very respected by the other Gandharvas.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotee Association Surpasses Exalted Status

  1. 1

    Nārada Muni recalls being Upabarhaṇa, a respected Gandharva, during a previous lifetime of Lord Brahmā.

  2. 2

    Although he fell from his exalted position and became a śūdra, association with devotees made him more fortunate than before. In his next life he became the son of Lord Brahmā.

  3. 3

    Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa remembers events from millions of years ago. His pure devotee Nārada Muni can also remember events from such a distant past life.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Nārada Muni is giving a practical example from his past life.
  • Brahmā dies at the end of a life of many millions of years.
  • Similarly, His pure devotee like Nārada Muni can also remember incidents from a past life millions and millions of years ago.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 7.15.69 quotesBG 8.17

The day of Brahmā is described in Bhagavad-gītā (8.17): “By human calculation, a thousand ages taken together is the duration of Brahmā’s one day.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. ahamI myself
  2. purāformerly
  3. abhavamexisted as
  4. kaścit gandharvaḥone of the denizens of Gandharvaloka
  5. upabarhaṇaḥUpabarhaṇa
  6. nāmnāby the name
  7. atītelong, long ago
  8. mahā-kalpein a life of Brahmā, which is known as a mahā-kalpa
  9. gandharvāṇāmamong the Gandharvas
  10. su-sammataḥa very respectable person
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

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

Do I value association with devotees more than respect or social position?

Practice

Make time today for a brief conversation with a devotee about spiritual life.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotee Association Surpasses Exalted StatusThis 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.

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