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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

7.15.77 7.15.79

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.15.78

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 7.15.78inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

इति देवर्षिणा प्रोक्तं निशम्य भरतर्षभ: ।

पूजयामास सुप्रीत: कृष्णं च प्रेमविह्वल: ॥ ७८ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

iti devarṣiṇā proktaṁ

niśamya bharatarṣabhaḥ

pūjayām āsa suprītaḥ

kṛṣṇaṁ ca prema-vihvalaḥ

Translation

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, the best member of the Bharata dynasty, thus learned everything from the descriptions of Nārada Muni. After hearing these instructions, he felt great pleasure from within his heart, and in great ecstasy, love and affection, he worshiped Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hearing About Kṛṣṇa Deepens Loving Worship

1
Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira heard Nārada Muni’s instructions and felt great pleasure within his heart. In the ecstasy of love and affection, he worshiped Lord Kṛṣṇa.
2
It is natural to feel ecstatic love upon learning that someone in one’s family is a very great personality.
3
The Pāṇḍavas already knew Kṛṣṇa, but Nārada Muni further described Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Their amazement that He was with them as their cousin brought extraordinary ecstasy.

Key points from the purport

It is natural that when someone belonging to one’s family circle is understood to be very great, one becomes ecstatic in love, thinking, “Oh, such a great personality is our relative!”
When Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who was already known to the Pāṇḍavas, was further described by Nārada Muni to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead, naturally the Pāṇḍavas were amazed, thinking, “The Supreme Personality of Godhead is with us as our cousin!”

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

Chapter 15: Instructions for Civilized Human Beings

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, after hearing from Nārada, became ecstatic in love of Kṛṣṇa, and then Nārada Muni left that place and returned to his own place. Thus Śukadeva Gosvāmī, having described various descendants of the daughters of Dakṣa, ends the Seventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
itithus
deva-ṛṣiṇāby the great saint (Nārada Muni)
proktamdescribed
niśamyahearing
bharata-ṛṣabhaḥthe best of the descendants in Bharata Mahārāja’s dynasty, namely Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira
pūjayām āsaworshiped
su-prītaḥbeing extremely pleased

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
Prema · Transcendental love
The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 7.15
In this verse: “love”, “ecstasy”, “ecstatic”
Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting
Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 7.15
In this verse: “hearing”, “heard”
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 7.15
In this verse: “worshiped”

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 hearing that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead deepen my affection for Him?

Practice

Reread the translation slowly, then offer Kṛṣṇa a brief prayer of loving appreciation.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHearing About Kṛṣṇa Deepens Loving WorshipThis 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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