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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 7.6.3

Who is speaking and story frame

सुखमैन्द्रियकं दैत्या देहयोगेन देहिनाम् ।

सर्वत्र लभ्यते दैवाद्यथा दु:खमयत्नत: ॥ ३ ॥

sukham aindriyakaṁ daityā

deha-yogena dehinām

sarvatra labhyate daivād

yathā duḥkham ayatnataḥ

Translation

Prahlāda Mahārāja continued: My dear friends born of demoniac families, the happiness perceived with reference to the sense objects by contact with the body can be obtained in any form of life, according to one’s past fruitive activities. Such happiness is automatically obtained without endeavor, just as we obtain distress.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Use Human Life to Revive Your Relationship

  1. 1

    Sense happiness can be obtained in any form of life according to one's past activities. Like distress, it comes without being invited.

  2. 2

    Material happiness and distress accompany a material body. Working very hard merely for happiness does not fulfill the special purpose of human life.

  3. 3

    The best use of human life is to revive our relationship with the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu. This makes us qualified to return home, back to Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • In the material world, in any form of life, there is some so-called happiness and so-called distress.
  • Thus there is no need to waste time and energy fighting against distress or working very hard for happiness.
  • Material happiness and distress come as soon as we accept a material body, regardless of what form.

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

Quoted in the purport ofSB 8.19.24

Such happiness is automatically obtained without endeavor, just as we obtain distress.”

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:

In speaking to his friends, who were all sons of demons, Prahlāda Mahārāja stressed that every living entity, especially in human society, must be interested in spiritual realization from the very beginning of life. When human beings are children, they should be taught that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the worshipable Deity for everyone.
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. sukhamhappiness
  2. aindriyakamwith reference to the material senses
  3. daityāḥO my dear friends born in demoniac families
  4. deha-yogenabecause of possessing a particular type of material body
  5. dehināmof all embodied living entities
  6. sarvatraeverywhere (in any form of life)
  7. labhyateis obtainable
  8. daivātby a superior arrangement
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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

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 7.6

    In this verse: “distress”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

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

    In this verse: “friends”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How much of my effort goes toward temporary pleasure rather than reviving my relationship with the Lord?

Practice

Set aside five minutes you would otherwise spend pursuing an extra pleasure, and use them to remember Lord Viṣṇu.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

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

4 lectures given on it · quoted in 22 more lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Show 2 more lectures on it
Quoted in 22 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.

Live this todayUse Human Life to Revive Your RelationshipThis 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 7.6.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.