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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

7.15.76 7.15.78

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.15.77

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Nārada Munisince 7.15.72inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

न यस्य साक्षाद्भ‍वपद्मजादिभी

रूपं धिया वस्तुतयोपवर्णितम् ।

मौनेन भक्त्योपशमेन पूजित:

प्रसीदतामेष स सात्वतां पति: ॥ ७७ ॥

na yasya sākṣād bhava-padmajādibhī

rūpaṁ dhiyā vastutayopavarṇitam

maunena bhaktyopaśamena pūjitaḥ

prasīdatām eṣa sa sātvatāṁ patiḥ

Translation

Present here now is the same Supreme Personality of Godhead whose true form cannot be understood even by such great personalities as Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva. He is realized by devotees because of their unflinching surrender. May that same Personality of Godhead, who is the maintainer of His devotees and who is worshiped by silence, by devotional service and by cessation of material activities, be pleased with us.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Understand Kṛṣṇa Through Devotion and Surrender

1
Even Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva cannot fully understand Kṛṣṇa by their own power. By His causeless mercy, devotees receive devotion and can understand Him as He is.
2
Everyone who sincerely accepts Kṛṣṇa’s instructions and engages in devotional service can know the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This understanding is not limited to the Pāṇḍavas.
3
Nārada Muni prays that the Lord, the maintainer of His devotees, be pleased with everyone. His desire is that everyone become perfect in God consciousness and return home, back to Godhead.

Key points from the purport

Lord Kṛṣṇa is not properly understood even by such exalted personalities as Lord Śiva and Lord Brahmā, what to speak of ordinary men, but by His causeless mercy He bestows the benediction of devotion upon His devotees, who can thus understand Kṛṣṇa as He is.
Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself teaches how one can understand Him perfectly well, without a doubt.
Not only the Pāṇḍavas but everyone who sincerely accepts the instructions of Kṛṣṇa can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead as He is.

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 7.15.77 quotesBG 7.1

This is also confirmed by the Lord in the Seventh Chapter of Bhagavad-gītā (7.1): “Now, hear, O son of Pṛthā [Arjuna], how by practicing yoga in full consciousness of Me, with mind attached to Me, you can know Me in full, free from doubt.”

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

Chapter 15: Instructions for Civilized Human Beings

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Such a devotee, even though not performing ritualistic ceremonies, advances in spiritual consciousness by the supreme will of the Personality of Godhead. One may actually become successful in spiritual consciousness by the mercy of devotees, or one may fall from spiritual consciousness by being disrespectful to devotees.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 7.15

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

nanot
yasyaof whom (Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
sākṣātdirectly
bhavaby Lord Śiva
padma-ja-ādibhiḥLord Brahmā and others
rūpamthe form
dhiyāby meditation
vastutayāfactually

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: “devotional service”, “devotees”, “worshiped”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 7.15
In this verse: “material”
Kṛpā · Divine mercy
Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 7.15
In this verse: “mercy”, “causeless”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I approach understanding Kṛṣṇa with more surrender and less reliance on my own ability?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer that the Lord be pleased with everyone and help everyone advance in devotional service.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUnderstand Kṛṣṇa Through Devotion and SurrenderThis 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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