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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
7.2.407.2.42

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.2.41

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The boysince 7.2.39inside 5 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja YudhiṣṭhiraHiraṇyakaśipu → his mother and familyYamarāja, as a boy → the queens of King Suyajña

भूतानि तैस्तैर्निजयोनिकर्मभि-

र्भवन्ति काले न भवन्ति सर्वश: ।

न तत्र हात्मा प्रकृतावपि स्थित-

स्तस्या गुणैरन्यतमो हि बध्यते ॥ ४१ ॥

bhūtāni tais tair nija-yoni-karmabhir

bhavanti kāle na bhavanti sarvaśaḥ

na tatra hātmā prakṛtāv api sthitas

tasyā guṇair anyatamo hi badhyate

Translation

Every conditioned soul receives a different type of body according to his work, and when the engagement is finished the body is finished. Although the spirit soul is situated in subtle and gross material bodies in different forms of life, he is not bound by them, for he is always understood to be completely different from the manifested body.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Use Your Work in the Lord’s Service

  1. 1

    A living entity receives a particular body according to his own karma and the laws of nature. God is not responsible for his accepting these different bodies.

  2. 2

    The soul remains different from the body, yet becomes subject to the modes of nature through his association with them. Spiritual education changes his consciousness so that he follows the Supreme Lord’s orders.

  3. 3

    The Lord’s directions in Bhagavad-gītā teach us to apply our activities to His service. By surrendering to Him, we can become free from repeated birth and death and return home, back to Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • One has to accept a body according to the laws of nature and one’s own karma.
  • Although the body is obtained and lost in due course of time, the spirit soul does not actually mix with the body, but is subjugated by the particular modes of nature with which he is sinfully associated.
  • Spiritual education changes one’s consciousness so that one simply carries out the orders of the Supreme Lord and becomes free from the influence of the modes of material nature.

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

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. bhūtāniall the bodies of the living entities
  2. taiḥ taiḥtheir own respective
  3. nija-yonicausing their own bodies
  4. karmabhiḥby past activities
  5. bhavantiappear
  6. kālein due course of time
  7. na bhavantidisappear
  8. sarvaśaḥin all respects
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 7.2

    In this verse: “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 7.2

    In this verse: “spirit soul”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “death”

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 can I apply my ordinary work to the service of the Lord?

Practice

Choose one task today and consciously undertake it as service to the Lord, seeking to follow His directions.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUse Your Work in the Lord’s ServiceThis 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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