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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 7.9.46

Who is speaking and story frame

मौनव्रतश्रुततपोऽध्ययनस्वधर्म-

व्याख्यारहोजपसमाधय आपवर्ग्या: ।

प्राय: परं पुरुष ते त्वजितेन्द्रियाणां

वार्ता भवन्त्युत न वात्र तु दाम्भिकानाम् ॥ ४६ ॥

mauna-vrata-śruta-tapo-’dhyayana-sva-dharma-

vyākhyā-raho-japa-samādhaya āpavargyāḥ

prāyaḥ paraṁ puruṣa te tv ajitendriyāṇāṁ

vārtā bhavanty uta na vātra tu dāmbhikānām

Translation

O Supreme Personality of Godhead, there are ten prescribed methods on the path to liberation — to remain silent, not to speak to anyone, to observe vows, to amass all kinds of Vedic knowledge, to undergo austerities, to study the Vedas and other Vedic literatures, to execute the duties of varṇāśrama-dharma, to explain the śāstras, to stay in a solitary place, to chant mantras silently, and to be absorbed in trance. These different methods for liberation are generally only a professional practice and means of livelihood for those who have not conquered their senses. Because such persons are falsely proud, these procedures may not be successful.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Choose Devotional Service Over Spiritual Show

  1. 1

    Methods meant for liberation may become a livelihood or a display of pride when the senses remain uncontrolled. False pride alone cannot bring liberation.

  2. 2

    Complete, unalloyed devotional service to Kṛṣṇa uproots sinful actions as sunlight dissipates fog. Those fully surrendered to Him automatically achieve the results of the other methods.

  3. 3

    Real silence means not speaking foolishly, rather than merely stopping speech. One who speaks the Lord’s glories has no need to remain silent; active service is essential.

Key points from the purport
  • Śukadeva Gosvāmī says that those who are vāsudeva-parāyaṇa, who have fully surrendered to the lotus feet of Lord Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa, automatically achieve the results of mauna (silence), vrata (vows) and other such methods simply by discharging devotional service.
  • Kevalayā bhaktyā: if one simply engages in devotional service to the Lord, all ten methods of liberation are automatically observed.
  • Prahlāda Mahārāja does not condemn such a process; he accepts it, but without active service to the Lord, simply by such methods one generally cannot attain liberation.

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

The purport of SB 7.9.46 quotesSB 6.1.15

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (6.1.15): “Only a rare person who has adopted complete, unalloyed devotional service to Kṛṣṇa can uproot the weeds of sinful actions with no possibility that they will revive.

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

Terror and divine fury → Protection and compassion. The crisis resolves through relationship rather than domination.

Chapters 8–10 of Canto 7: Nṛsiṁhadeva appears; Prahlāda pacifies Him. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 9: Prahlāda Pacifies Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva with Prayers

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Although being silent, observing austerities and penances, learning the Vedic literature, undergoing ritualistic ceremonies, living in a solitary place and performing japa and transcendental meditation are approved means of liberation, they are meant for nondevotees or for cheaters who want to live at the expense of others. A pure devotee, however, being freed from all such deceptive activities, is able to see the Lord face to face.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.9
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. maunasilence
  2. vratavows
  3. śrutaVedic knowledge
  4. tapaḥausterity
  5. adhyayanastudy of scripture
  6. sva-dharmaexecuting varṇāśrama-dharma
  7. vyākhyāexplaining the śāstras
  8. rahaḥliving in a solitary place
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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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 7.9

    In this verse: “duties”, “varṇāśrama-dharma”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 7.9

    In this verse: “proud”, “pride”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 7.9

    In this verse: “chant”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Is my spiritual practice directed toward serving Kṛṣṇa or toward appearing advanced?

Practice

Replace one unnecessary conversation today with a few moments of chanting the Lord’s glories.

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.

1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayChoose Devotional Service Over Spiritual ShowThis 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 7.9.46? Get an answer from the verses themselves.