1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 7 · The Science of God · 15 chapters

123456789101112131415

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 6: Prahlāda Instructs His Demoniac Schoolmates
7.6.257.6.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.6.26

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Prahlāda Mahārājasince 7.6.3inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja YudhiṣṭhiraPrahlāda Mahārāja → his schoolmates

धर्मार्थकाम इति योऽभिहितस्त्रिवर्ग

ईक्षा त्रयी नयदमौ विविधा च वार्ता ।

मन्ये तदेतदखिलं निगमस्य सत्यं

स्वात्मार्पणं स्वसुहृद: परमस्य पुंस: ॥ २६ ॥

dharmārtha-kāma iti yo ’bhihitas tri-varga

īkṣā trayī naya-damau vividhā ca vārtā

manye tad etad akhilaṁ nigamasya satyaṁ

svātmārpaṇaṁ sva-suhṛdaḥ paramasya puṁsaḥ

Translation

Religion, economic development and sense gratification — these are described in the Vedas as tri-varga, or three ways to salvation. Within these three categories are education and self-realization; ritualistic ceremonies performed according to Vedic injunction; logic; the science of law and order; and the various means of earning one’s livelihood. These are the external subject matters of study in the Vedas, and therefore I consider them material. However, I consider surrender to the lotus feet of Lord Viṣṇu to be transcendental.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Full Surrender Is Life’s Ultimate Goal

  1. 1

    One who fully engages in unfailing devotional service immediately rises above the modes of material nature. This is the spiritual platform called the brahma-bhūta stage.

  2. 2

    Material activities are not life’s ultimate goal, even when sanctioned by the Vedas. The goal of human life is to remain on the spiritual platform, fully surrendered to the Supreme Person.

  3. 3

    Vedic ceremonies and injunctions should not be discounted, because they are means of spiritual advancement. But duties that do not awaken attraction for the Lord’s message and lead to surrender are only wasted time and energy.

Key points from the purport
  • Any education or activity not on the brahma-bhūta platform, the platform of self-realization, is considered to be material, and Prahlāda Mahārāja says that anything material cannot be the Absolute Truth, for the Absolute Truth is on the spiritual platform.
  • In summary, the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies and injunctions are not to be discounted; they are means of being promoted to the spiritual platform.
  • But if one does not come to the spiritual platform, the Vedic ceremonies are simply a waste of time.

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· 4

The purport of SB 7.6.26 quotesBG 14.26

As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (14.26): “One who engages in full devotional service, who does not fall down in any circumstance, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman.”

The purport of SB 7.6.26 quotesBG 2.45

This is also confirmed by Lord Kṛṣṇa in Bhagavad-gītā (2.45), where He says, traiguṇya-viṣayā vedā nistraiguṇyo bhavārjuna: “The Vedas mainly deal with the subject of the three modes of material nature.

The purport of SB 7.6.26 quotesSB 1.2.8

This is confirmed in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.8): “Duties [ dharma] executed by men, regardless of occupation, are only so much useless labor if they do not provoke attraction for the message of the Supreme Lord.”

Quoted in the purport ofSB 2.4.3-4

On the other hand, surrendering unto the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu is a factual gain in life, and I consider it the ultimate truth.”

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 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. dharmareligion
  2. arthaeconomic development
  3. kāmaḥregulated sense gratification
  4. itithus
  5. yaḥwhich
  6. abhihitaḥprescribed
  7. tri-vargaḥthe group of three
  8. īkṣāself-realization
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

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

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 7.6

    In this verse: “surrender”, “surrendered”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 7.6

    In this verse: “religion”, “duties”

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

Are my religious activities helping me develop attraction for the Lord’s message and surrender to Him?

Practice

Read a short passage of the Lord’s teachings today, then pray to Lord Viṣṇu for help in surrendering to His service.

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.

1 lecture given on it · quoted in 2 more lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 2 other lectures

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

7

Connected stories

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

The purport quotesSB 1.2.8

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 7.6's connections

Live this todayFull Surrender Is Life’s Ultimate GoalThis 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 7.6.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories