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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 7.6.4

Who is speaking and story frame

तत्प्रयासो न कर्तव्यो यत आयुर्व्यय: परम् ।

न तथा विन्दते क्षेमं मुकुन्दचरणाम्बुजम् ॥ ४ ॥

tat-prayāso na kartavyo

yata āyur-vyayaḥ param

na tathā vindate kṣemaṁ

mukunda-caraṇāmbujam

Translation

Endeavors merely for sense gratification or material happiness through economic development are not to be performed, for they result only in a loss of time and energy, with no actual profit. If one’s endeavors are directed toward Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one can surely attain the spiritual platform of self-realization. There is no such benefit from engaging oneself in economic development.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seek Spiritual Progress, Not Merely Material Comfort

  1. 1

    Endeavors merely for sense gratification and economic development waste valuable time and energy. Even increased wealth does not solve life's real problems.

  2. 2

    Without spiritual education, people consider the body to be everything and neglect the spirit soul and its needs.

  3. 3

    The true benefit of human life is to become Kṛṣṇa conscious. Effort directed toward Kṛṣṇa consciousness leads to spiritual self-realization rather than continued birth and death.

Key points from the purport
  • We see materialistic persons busily engaged in economic development all day and all night, trying to increase their material opulence, but even if we suppose that they get some benefit from such endeavors, that does not solve the real problem of their lives.
  • Nor do they know what the real problem of life is.
  • Thus one loses the true benefit of human life, which is to become Kṛṣṇa conscious and solve life’s problems.

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:

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. tatfor that (sense gratification and economic development)
  2. prayāsaḥendeavor
  3. nanot
  4. kartavyaḥto be done
  5. yataḥfrom which
  6. āyuḥ-vyayaḥwaste of the duration of life
  7. paramonly or ultimately
  8. nanor
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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 7.6

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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 7.6

    In this verse: “death”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “spirit soul”

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

Am I measuring progress only by bodily comfort, or also by growth in Kṛṣṇa consciousness?

Practice

Review today's plans and reserve five minutes specifically for cultivating Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

5

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.

3 lectures given on it · quoted in 5 more lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Show 1 more lecture on it
Quoted in 5 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 todaySeek Spiritual Progress, Not Merely Material ComfortThis 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 7.6.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.