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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 ›
Canto 7 · Chapter 6: Prahlāda Instructs His Demoniac Schoolmates
7.6.47.6.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.6.5

Mukti· Liberation
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

ततो यतेत कुशल: क्षेमाय भवमाश्रित: ।

शरीरं पौरुषं यावन्न विपद्येत पुष्कलम् ॥ ५ ॥

tato yateta kuśalaḥ

kṣemāya bhavam āśritaḥ

śarīraṁ pauruṣaṁ yāvan

na vipadyeta puṣkalam

Translation

Therefore, while in material existence [bhavam āśritaḥ], a person fully competent to distinguish wrong from right must endeavor to achieve the highest goal of life as long as the body is stout and strong and is not embarrassed by dwindling.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pursue Life's Goal While You Are Strong

  1. 1

    A thoughtful person distinguishes right from wrong and pursues the highest goal while the body is strong. Valuable human energy should not be spent only on economic improvement.

  2. 2

    Without Kṛṣṇa consciousness, material life brings anxiety through birth, death, old age, and disease. Social position has no real meaning without devotional service, which everyone can practice.

  3. 3

    We should keep the body, mind, and intelligence healthy and strong. This helps us distinguish life's true goal from a life absorbed in problems.

Key points from the purport
  • The highest goal of life can be achieved as long as one’s body is stout and strong.
  • We should therefore live in such a way that we keep ourselves always healthy and strong in mind and intelligence so that we can distinguish the goal of life from a life full of problems.
  • A thoughtful man must act in this way, learning to distinguish right from wrong, and thus attain the goal of 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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tataḥtherefore
  2. yatetashould endeavor
  3. kuśalaḥan intelligent man interested in the ultimate goal of life
  4. kṣemāyafor the real benefit of life, or for liberation from material bondage
  5. bhavam āśritaḥwho is in material existence
  6. śarīramthe body
  7. pauruṣamhuman
  8. yāvatas long as
3

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: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 7.6

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “death”

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

How can I use the strength and ability I have now for devotional service?

Practice

Choose one small act of devotional service and do it today rather than leaving it for old age.

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

Quoted in 3 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 todayPursue Life's Goal While You Are StrongThis 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 7.6.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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