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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 7.15.7

Who is speaking and story frame

न दद्यादामिषं श्राद्धे न चाद्याद्धर्मतत्त्ववित् ।

मुन्यन्नै: स्यात्परा प्रीतिर्यथा न पशुहिंसया ॥ ७ ॥

na dadyād āmiṣaṁ śrāddhe

na cādyād dharma-tattvavit

muny-annaiḥ syāt parā prītir

yathā na paśu-hiṁsayā

Translation

A person fully aware of religious principles should never offer anything like meat, eggs or fish in the śrāddha ceremony, and even if one is a kṣatriya, he himself should not eat such things. When suitable food prepared with ghee is offered to saintly persons, the function is pleasing to the forefathers and the Supreme Lord, who are never pleased when animals are killed in the name of sacrifice.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Please the Lord Without Killing Animals

  1. 1

    One who understands religious principles should never offer meat, eggs, or fish in the śrāddha ceremony.

  2. 2

    Such a person should not eat these foods personally, even if one is a kṣatriya.

  3. 3

    Suitable food prepared with ghee and offered to saintly persons pleases the forefathers and the Supreme Lord. Killing animals in the name of sacrifice never pleases them.

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 the śrāddha ceremony there is no need to offer meat or eat meat. Unnecessary killing of animals must be avoided.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanever
  2. dadyātshould offer
  3. āmiṣammeat, fish, eggs and so on
  4. śrāddhein the performance of the śrāddha ceremony
  5. nanor
  6. caalso
  7. adyātone should eat personally
  8. dharma-tattva-vitone who is actually learned in regard to religious activities
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 7.15

    In this verse: “religious”, “principles”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 7.15

    In this verse: “understands”

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 my food choices reflect the verse’s concern for pleasing the Lord without killing animals?

Practice

Choose a meal today without meat, fish, or eggs.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPlease the Lord Without Killing AnimalsThis 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 7.15.7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.