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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
7.2.477.2.49

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.2.48

Mukti· Liberation
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

वितथाभिनिवेशोऽयं यद्गुणेष्वर्थद‍ृग्वच: ।

यथा मनोरथ: स्वप्न: सर्वमैन्द्रियकं मृषा ॥ ४८ ॥

vitathābhiniveśo ’yaṁ

yad guṇeṣv artha-dṛg-vacaḥ

yathā manorathaḥ svapnaḥ

sarvam aindriyakaṁ mṛṣā

Translation

It is fruitless to see and talk of the material modes of nature and their resultant so-called happiness and distress as if they were factual. When the mind wanders during the day and a man begins to think himself extremely important, or when he dreams at night and sees a beautiful woman enjoying with him, these are merely false dreams. Similarly, the happiness and distress caused by the material senses should be understood to be meaningless.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Real Pleasure Comes Through Serving Hṛṣīkeśa

  1. 1

    Happiness and distress manufactured through the material senses and mind are compared to dreams. They are not the real happiness found beyond material life.

  2. 2

    When the senses are purified and engaged in serving Hṛṣīkeśa, the master of the senses, one experiences transcendental pleasure.

  3. 3

    Even heavenly sense enjoyment is limited and perishable. Rather than imagining happiness through mental concoction, one should engage the mind in the Lord’s service.

Key points from the purport
  • The happiness and distress derived from the activities of the material senses are not actual happiness and distress.
  • Therefore Bhagavad-gītā speaks of happiness that is transcendental to the material conception of life (sukham ātyantikaṁ yat tad buddhi-grāhyam atīndriyam).
  • All thoughts of obtaining happiness by using the material senses have a false background and therefore have no meaning.

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 7.2.48 quotesBG 7.23

As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (7.23), antavat tu phalaṁ teṣāṁ tad bhavaty alpa-medhasām: “Men of small intelligence worship the demigods, and their fruits are limited and temporary.”

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:

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.” Hiraṇyakaśipu then related a historical incident concerning a King Suyajña who resided in the country named Uśīnara.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vitathafruitless
  2. abhiniveśaḥthe conception
  3. ayamthis
  4. yatwhich
  5. guṇeṣuin the modes of material nature
  6. arthaas a fact
  7. dṛk-vacaḥthe seeing and talking of
  8. yathājust as
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”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

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

    In this verse: “distress”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 7.2

    In this verse: “purified”

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

What imagined pleasure am I pursuing as though it could give lasting happiness?

Practice

When you notice one daydream about sense enjoyment today, redirect your mind toward a small act of service to the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReal Pleasure Comes Through Serving HṛṣīkeśaThis 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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