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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 7.15.70

Who is speaking and story frame

रूपपेशलमाधुर्यसौगन्ध्यप्रियदर्शन: ।

स्त्रीणां प्रियतमो नित्यं मत्त: स्वपुरलम्पट: ॥ ७० ॥

rūpa-peśala-mādhurya-

saugandhya-priya-darśanaḥ

strīṇāṁ priyatamo nityaṁ

mattaḥ sva-pura-lampaṭaḥ

Translation

I had a beautiful face and a pleasing, attractive bodily structure. Decorated with flower garlands and sandalwood pulp, I was most pleasing to the women of my city. Thus I was bewildered, always feeling lusty desires.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Beauty and Desire Can Bewilder

  1. 1

    As Upabarhaṇa, Nārada Muni had great beauty and skill in decorating himself. He used these gifts to attract women and became bewildered by lusty desires.

  2. 2

    The purport warns that unrestricted attraction and mingling lead to spiritual decline. Outward beauty does not protect a person from this danger.

  3. 3

    Without cultural and spiritual education, people manufacture their own way of life. The purport describes the result as increasing misfortune and disturbance.

Key points from the purport
  • From the description of the beauty of Nārada Muni when he was one of the denizens of Gandharvaloka, it appears that everyone on that planet is extremely beautiful and pleasing and always decorated with flowers and sandalwood.
  • Upabarhaṇa was specifically expert in decorating himself to attract the attention of women, and thus he became a playboy, as described in the next verse.
  • Thus they manufacture their own way of life, with the result that they gradually become unfortunate (manda-bhāgyāḥ), and furthermore they are always disturbed by various circumstances.

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:

Those who follow the paths of pitṛ-yāna and deva-yāna are never bewildered, even while in the material body. A monistic philosopher who gradually develops control of the senses understands that the objective of all the different āśramas, the statuses of life, is salvation.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.15
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. rūpabeauty
  2. peśalaformation of the body
  3. mādhuryaattractiveness
  4. saugandhyavery fragrant, being decorated with various flower garlands and sandalwood pulp
  5. priya-darśanaḥvery beautiful to see
  6. strīṇāmof the women
  7. priya-tamaḥnaturally attracted
  8. nityamdaily
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “lusty”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “danger”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 7.15

    In this verse: “protect”

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

When does my desire to appear attractive distract me from spiritual training?

Practice

Set aside one activity meant only to attract admiration today, and use that time for spiritual study.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBeauty and Desire Can BewilderThis 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 7.15.70? Get an answer from the verses themselves.