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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 7.6.16

Who is speaking and story frame

विद्वानपीत्थं दनुजा: कुटुम्बं

पुष्णन्स्वलोकाय न कल्पते वै ।

य: स्वीयपारक्यविभिन्नभाव-

स्तम: प्रपद्येत यथा विमूढ: ॥ १६ ॥

vidvān apītthaṁ danujāḥ kuṭumbaṁ

puṣṇan sva-lokāya na kalpate vai

yaḥ svīya-pārakya-vibhinna-bhāvas

tamaḥ prapadyeta yathā vimūḍhaḥ

Translation

O my friends, sons of demons! In this material world, even those who are apparently advanced in education have the propensity to consider, “This is mine, and that is for others.” Thus they are always engaged in providing the necessities of life to their families in a limited conception of family life, just like uneducated cats and dogs. They are unable to take to spiritual knowledge; instead, they are bewildered and overcome by ignorance.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Real Education Begins With Spiritual Inquiry

  1. 1

    A truly educated person seeks to understand his own position in the material world. The essential questions are, “Who am I?” and “What is the goal of my life?”

  2. 2

    Education does not fulfill its purpose if one remains absorbed in “This is mine, and this is yours.” Desire for material enjoyment traps people in their own fruitive activities.

  3. 3

    Prahlāda Mahārāja advises following varṇāśrama-dharma. At a certain stage, one should leave family life and accept renunciation to cultivate spiritual knowledge and become liberated.

Key points from the purport
  • What is the goal of my life?” but instead follows the same animal propensities as cats and dogs, what is the use of his education?
  • As cats, dogs and other animals, not knowing their true interest in life, become increasingly involved in ignorance, the so-called educated person who does not know his own self-interest or the true goal of life becomes increasingly involved in materialism.
  • Specifically, at a certain point one must give up family life and take to the renounced order of life to cultivate spiritual knowledge and thus become liberated.

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:

Material education is infected by the three modes of nature, but spiritual education, for which there is a great need in human society, is transcendental. Prahlāda Mahārāja disclosed the secret of how he had received instructions from Nārada Muni.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vidvānknowing (the inconvenience of material existence, especially in household life)
  2. apialthough
  3. itthamthus
  4. danu-jāḥO sons of demons
  5. kuṭumbamthe family members or extended family members (like one’s community, society, nation or union of nations)
  6. puṣṇanproviding with all the necessities of life
  7. sva-lokāyain understanding himself
  8. nanot
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 7.6

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “understand”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 7.6

    In this verse: “material”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 7.6

    In this verse: “friends”

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

Is my learning helping me understand my identity and the true goal of life?

Practice

Write down “Who am I?” and “What is the goal of my life?” Spend five minutes considering them in light of this purport.

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.

2 lectures given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayReal Education Begins With Spiritual InquiryThis 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 7.6.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.