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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 7.6.10

Who is speaking and story frame

को न्वर्थतृष्णां विसृजेत्प्राणेभ्योऽपि य ईप्सित: ।

यं क्रीणात्यसुभि: प्रेष्ठैस्तस्कर: सेवको वणिक् ॥ १० ॥

ko nv artha-tṛṣṇāṁ visṛjet

prāṇebhyo ’pi ya īpsitaḥ

yaṁ krīṇāty asubhiḥ preṣṭhais

taskaraḥ sevako vaṇik

Translation

Money is so dear that one conceives of money as being sweeter than honey. Therefore, who can give up the desire to accumulate money, especially in household life? Thieves, professional servants [soldiers] and merchants try to acquire money even by risking their very dear lives.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Value Devotional Service More Than Money

  1. 1

    Money can seem sweeter than honey and even dearer than life. Thieves, soldiers and merchants may risk their lives to acquire it.

  2. 2

    Early training in renunciation and sense control enabled even wealthy kings to give up their possessions. Material wealth need not remain an unbreakable attachment.

  3. 3

    Human life is rare and temporary, but meaningful because one can perform devotional service. Even a slight amount of sincere devotional service can give complete perfection.

Key points from the purport
  • How money can be dearer than life is indicated in this verse.
  • Thieves may enter the house of a rich man to steal money at the risk of their lives.
  • One may risk everything to acquire money, and this is especially true of rich men who are too attached to household life.

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

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 6: Prahlāda Instructs His Demoniac Schoolmates

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Therefore, from the very beginning of life, one should engage in devotional service ( śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ). This is the duty of all living entities.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.6
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kaḥwho
  2. nuindeed
  3. artha-tṛṣṇāma strong desire to acquire money
  4. visṛjetcan give up
  5. prāṇebhyaḥthan life
  6. apiindeed
  7. yaḥwhich
  8. īpsitaḥmore desired
3

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 7.6

    In this verse: “household”, “attachment”, “wealthy”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 7.6

    In this verse: “give up”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 7.6

    In this verse: “sweeter”

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

Does my desire to acquire money leave room for the true purpose of human life?

Practice

Reserve five minutes today for devotional service rather than using that time to pursue an unnecessary purchase.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

3 lectures given on it · quoted in 1 more lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Show 1 more lecture on it
Quoted in 1 other lecture

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayValue Devotional Service More Than MoneyThis 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 7.6.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.