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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.2.47

Who is speaking and story frame

यावल्लिङ्गान्वितो ह्यात्मा तावत्कर्मनिबन्धनम् ।

ततो विपर्यय: क्लेशो मायायोगोऽनुवर्तते ॥ ४७ ॥

yāval liṅgānvito hy ātmā

tāvat karma-nibandhanam

tato viparyayaḥ kleśo

māyā-yogo ’nuvartate

Translation

As long as the spirit soul is covered by the subtle body, consisting of the mind, intelligence and false ego, he is bound to the results of his fruitive activities. Because of this covering, the spirit soul is connected with the material energy and must accordingly suffer material conditions and reversals, continually, life after life.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Engage the Mind at Kṛṣṇa’s Lotus Feet

  1. 1

    The subtle body consists of mind, intelligence and false ego. As long as the soul remains covered by it, he is bound to the results of fruitive activities.

  2. 2

    The mind’s condition at death determines the next body. By resisting its dictation and engaging it in loving service to the Lord, one prevents the mind from causing degradation.

  3. 3

    Keeping the mind at Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet purifies the intelligence and brings inspiration from the Supersoul. The Supersoul witnesses and sanctions the soul’s activities but is not bound by their results.

Key points from the purport
  • The living entity is bound by the subtle body, consisting of the mind, intelligence and false ego.
  • At the time of death, therefore, the position of the mind becomes the cause for the next body.
  • The duty of all human beings, therefore, is to keep the mind always engaged at the lotus feet of the Lord (sa vai manaḥ kṛṣṇa-padāravindayoḥ).

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 7.2.47 quotesBG 8.6

As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (8.6), yaṁ yaṁ vāpi smaran bhāvaṁ tyajaty ante kalevaram: at the time of death the mind sets the criteria for the spirit soul’s being carried to another type of body.

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

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yāvatas long as
  2. liṅga-anvitaḥcovered by the subtle body
  3. hiindeed
  4. ātmāthe soul
  5. tāvatthat long
  6. karmaof fruitive activities
  7. nibandhanambondage
  8. tataḥfrom that
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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”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 7.2

    In this verse: “false ego”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “spirit soul”

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

Which recurring thought could I redirect toward loving service to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Set aside one quiet minute today to bring your mind to Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayEngage the Mind at Kṛṣṇa’s Lotus FeetThis 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 7.2.47? Get an answer from the verses themselves.