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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 7.15.73

Who is speaking and story frame

तावद्दास्यामहं जज्ञे तत्रापि ब्रह्मवादिनाम् ।

शुश्रूषयानुषङ्गेण प्राप्तोऽहं ब्रह्मपुत्रताम् ॥ ७३ ॥

tāvad dāsyām ahaṁ jajñe

tatrāpi brahma-vādinām

śuśrūṣayānuṣaṅgeṇa

prāpto ’haṁ brahma-putratām

Translation

Although I took birth as a śūdra from the womb of a maidservant, I engaged in the service of Vaiṣṇavas who were well-versed in Vedic knowledge. Consequently, in this life I got the opportunity to take birth as the son of Lord Brahmā.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Serving Devotees Makes Life Successful

  1. 1

    Born as the son of a maidservant, Nārada Muni served Vaiṣṇavas who knew the Vedic teachings. Through this service, he later became the son of Lord Brahmā.

  2. 2

    Birth does not prevent anyone from reaching the highest perfection. Repeated association with devotees, following their instructions, and serving them can make anyone’s life successful.

  3. 3

    Bhakti means serving Kṛṣṇa and His devotees favorably. Life becomes successful when one has no desire other than this service.

Key points from the purport
  • Nārada Muni is explaining this in relation to his own life.
  • The saṅkīrtana movement is important, for regardless of whether one is a śūdra, vaiśya, mleccha, yavana or whatever, if one associates with a pure devotee, follows his instructions and serves the pure devotee, his life is successful.
  • If one has no desire other than to serve Kṛṣṇa and His devotee, then his life is successful.

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 7.15.73 quotesBG 9.32

The Supreme Personality of Godhead says in Bhagavad-gītā (9.32): “O son of Pṛthā, those who take shelter in Me, though they be of lower birth — women, vaiśyas [merchants], as well as śūdras [workers] — can approach the supreme destination.”

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tāvatsince being cursed
  2. dāsyāmin the womb of a maidservant
  3. ahamI
  4. jajñetook birth
  5. tatrāpialthough (being a śūdra)
  6. brahma-vādināmunto persons well conversant with the Vedic knowledge
  7. śuśrūṣayāby rendering service
  8. anuṣaṅgeṇasimultaneously
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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”, “bhakti”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 7.15

    In this verse: “favorably”

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

What desire could I set aside to serve Kṛṣṇa and His devotees more willingly?

Practice

Offer one small, practical service to a devotee today without seeking anything in return.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayServing Devotees Makes Life SuccessfulThis 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 7.15.73? Get an answer from the verses themselves.