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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 7.5.53

Who is speaking and story frame

यथा त्रिवर्गं गुरुभिरात्मने उपशिक्षितम् ।

न साधु मेने तच्छिक्षां द्वन्द्वारामोपवर्णिताम् ॥ ५३ ॥

yathā tri-vargaṁ gurubhir

ātmane upaśikṣitam

na sādhu mene tac-chikṣāṁ

dvandvārāmopavarṇitām

Translation

The teachers Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka instructed Prahlāda Mahārāja in the three kinds of material advancement called religion, economic development and sense gratification. Prahlāda, however, being situated above such instructions, did not like them, for such instructions are based on the duality of worldly affairs, which involve one in a materialistic way of life marked by birth, death, old age and disease.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Choose Spiritual Education

  1. 1

    Prahlāda Mahārāja did not consider materialistic education truly beneficial. Its worldly duality keeps one involved in birth, death, old age and disease.

  2. 2

    The principles of religion cannot be understood while remaining on the material platform. Those interested in spiritual life should follow great devotees such as Prahlāda Mahārāja and Nārada Muni.

  3. 3

    Prahlāda rejected education centered on mundane religion, economic development and sense gratification. Following his footsteps, the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement spreads spiritual education.

Key points from the purport
  • Only the devotees of the Lord, headed by such great personalities as Prahlāda Mahārāja and Nārada Muni, are interested in the real education of spiritual life.
  • Those interested in spiritual life should follow Prahlāda Mahārāja in rejecting the education of religion, economic development and sense gratification.
  • Therefore the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is spreading all over the world, following in the footsteps of Prahlāda Mahārāja, who did not like any of the materialistic education he received from his teachers.

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 7.5.53 quotesSB 6.3.20-21

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (6.3.20): One must follow in the footsteps of such great personalities as Lord Brahmā, Nārada, Lord Śiva, Kapila, Manu, the Kumāras, Prahlāda Mahārāja, Bhīṣma, Janaka, Bali Mahārāja, Śukadeva Gosvāmī and Yamarāja.

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

Threat → Steady faith. A vulnerable child remains inwardly unshaken.

Chapters 5–7 of Canto 7: Prahlāda refuses to abandon his devotion. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 5: Prahlāda Mahārāja, the Saintly Son of Hiraṇyakaśipu

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Instead, they suffer repeated birth and death in this material world and continue simply chewing the chewed. Prahlāda explained that the duty of every man is to take shelter of a pure devotee and thus become eligible to understand Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.5
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yathāas
  2. tri-vargamthe three processes (religion, economic development and sense gratification)
  3. gurubhiḥby the teachers
  4. ātmaneunto himself (Prahlāda Mahārāja)
  5. upaśikṣitaminstructed
  6. nanot
  7. sādhureally good
  8. menehe considered
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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 7.5

    In this verse: “sense gratification”, “material”, “materialistic”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 7.5

    In this verse: “religion”, “principles”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 7.5

    In this verse: “death”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What kind of education am I giving the most attention to?

Practice

Spend five minutes today rereading this purport as a deliberate choice to receive spiritual education.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 6.3.20

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 7.5's connections

Live this todayChoose Spiritual EducationThis 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 7.5.53? Get an answer from the verses themselves.