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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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

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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 2: Hiraṇyakaśipu, King of the Demons

7.2.44 7.2.46

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.2.45

Āśraya· The supreme shelter

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Yamarājasince 7.2.44inside 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

न श्रोता नानुवक्तायं मुख्योऽप्यत्र महानसु: ।

यस्त्विहेन्द्रियवानात्मा स चान्य: प्राणदेहयो: ॥ ४५ ॥

na śrotā nānuvaktāyaṁ

mukhyo ’py atra mahān asuḥ

yas tv ihendriyavān ātmā

sa cānyaḥ prāṇa-dehayoḥ

Translation

In the body the most important substance is the life air, but that also is neither the listener nor the speaker. Beyond even the life air, the soul also can do nothing, for the Supersoul is actually the director, in cooperation with the individual soul. The Supersoul conducting the activities of the body is different from the body and living force.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Supersoul Directs the Individual Soul

1
The individual soul is different from the body, senses and life air. Above the individual soul is the Supersoul, who supplies all facilities for action.
2
The Supersoul is the witness and sanctioner. The soul acts in cooperation with Him, and He controls the results.
3
The Supersoul, Hṛṣīkeśa, is the actual proprietor of the senses. Surrendering everything to Him brings happiness and leads to eternal, blissful life in the spiritual kingdom.

Key points from the purport

Although the individual soul possesses the indriyas, or senses, he is not actually the proprietor, for the proprietor is the Supersoul.
In conclusion, the individual soul is different from the body, senses, living force and the airs within the body, and above him is the Supersoul, who gives the individual soul all facilities.
The individual soul who renders everything to the Supersoul lives very happily within the body.

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 7.2.45 quotesBG 15.15

The Supreme Personality of Godhead distinctly says in Bhagavad-gītā (15.15), sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭo mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca: “I am seated in everyone’s heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness.”

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

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

Chapter 2: Hiraṇyakaśipu, King of the Demons

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

We should always know, however, that the spirit soul, which is different from the body, is eternal, inadjustable, pure, all-pervading and aware of everything. 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.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 7.2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

nanot
śrotāthe listener
nanot
anuvaktāthe speaker
ayamthis
mukhyaḥchief
apialthough
atrain this body

Key ideas in this verse

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

Āśraya · The summum bonum
Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10
Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership
Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 7.2
In this verse: “kingdom”
Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender
Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 7.2
In this verse: “surrendering”

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 might remembering the Supersoul as the proprietor of my senses change how I use them?

Practice

Before one activity today, pause and offer the use of your senses in service to the Lord.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Supersoul Directs the Individual SoulThis 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 7.2.45? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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