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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 ›
Canto 7 · Chapter 2: Hiraṇyakaśipu, King of the Demons
7.2.247.2.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 7.2.25-26

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Hiraṇyakaśipusince 7.2.20inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja YudhiṣṭhiraHiraṇyakaśipu → his mother and family

एष आत्मविपर्यासो ह्यलिङ्गे लिङ्गभावना ।

एष प्रियाप्रियैर्योगो वियोग: कर्मसंसृति: ॥ २५ ॥

सम्भवश्च विनाशश्च शोकश्च विविध: स्मृत: ।

अविवेकश्च चिन्ता च विवेकास्मृतिरेव च ॥ २६ ॥

eṣa ātma-viparyāso

hy aliṅge liṅga-bhāvanā

eṣa priyāpriyair yogo

viyogaḥ karma-saṁsṛtiḥ

sambhavaś ca vināśaś ca

śokaś ca vividhaḥ smṛtaḥ

avivekaś ca cintā ca

vivekāsmṛtir eva ca

Translation

In his bewildered state, the living entity, accepting the body and mind to be the self, considers some people to be his kinsmen and others to be outsiders. Because of this misconception, he suffers. Indeed, the accumulation of such concocted material ideas is the cause of suffering and so-called happiness in the material world. The conditioned soul thus situated must take birth in different species and work in various types of consciousness, thus creating new bodies. This continued material life is called saṁsāra. Birth, death, lamentation, foolishness and anxiety are due to such material considerations. Thus we sometimes come to a proper understanding and sometimes fall again to a wrong conception of life.

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.

Bodily Misconceptions Sustain Saṁsāra

  1. 1

    Accepting the body and mind as the self, the bewildered living entity sees some people as kinsmen and others as outsiders. This misconception brings suffering.

  2. 2

    Material ideas produce suffering and so-called happiness. Acting in different states of consciousness, the conditioned soul creates further bodies and takes birth in different species.

  3. 3

    This continued material life is called saṁsāra. Material considerations bring birth, death, lamentation and anxiety, while understanding alternates with renewed misconception.

How it feels

Pride and rage → Oppression. The ruler's power intensifies his insecurity.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 7: Hiraṇyakaśipu's ascent and intimidation. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 2: Hiraṇyakaśipu, King of the Demons

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

When bound by the material energy, the soul takes birth in higher or lower species of life according to varying association and in this way receives various types of bodies in which to suffer or enjoy. One’s affliction by the conditions of material existence is the cause of happiness and distress; there are no other causes, and one should not be aggrieved upon seeing the superficial actions of karma.”
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. eṣaḥthis
  2. ātma-viparyāsaḥbewilderment of the living being
  3. hiindeed
  4. aliṅgein that which does not possess a material body
  5. liṅga-bhāvanāaccepting the material body to be the self
  6. eṣaḥthis
  7. priyawith those who are very dear
  8. apriyaiḥand with those who are not dear (enemies, those not in the family, etc.)
3

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 7.2

    In this verse: “material”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 7.2

    In this verse: “death”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 7.2

    In this verse: “suffering”

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

How does identifying with your body or mind shape the way you treat others?

Practice

Notice one time you label someone an outsider, and reflect on how bodily identification shapes that judgment.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBodily Misconceptions Sustain SaṁsāraThis 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 7.2.25-26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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