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

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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.9.49

Who is speaking and story frame

नैते गुणा न गुणिनो महदादयो ये

सर्वे मन: प्रभृतय: सहदेवमर्त्या: ।

आद्यन्तवन्त उरुगाय विदन्ति हि त्वा-

मेवं विमृश्य सुधियो विरमन्ति शब्दात् ॥ ४९ ॥

naite guṇā na guṇino mahad-ādayo ye

sarve manaḥ prabhṛtayaḥ sahadeva-martyāḥ

ādy-antavanta urugāya vidanti hi tvām

evaṁ vimṛśya sudhiyo viramanti śabdāt

Translation

Neither the three modes of material nature [sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa], nor the predominating deities controlling these three modes, nor the five gross elements, nor the mind, nor the demigods nor the human beings can understand Your Lordship, for they are all subjected to birth and annihilation. Considering this, the spiritually advanced have taken to devotional service. Such wise men hardly bother with Vedic study. Instead, they engage themselves in practical devotional service.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Understand the Lord Through Devotional Service

  1. 1

    The modes of material nature, the elements, the mind, demigods and human beings all have a beginning and an end. They cannot understand the Supreme Lord by themselves.

  2. 2

    Only by devotional service can the Supreme Personality of Godhead be understood. Wise devotees therefore engage in practical devotional service.

  3. 3

    Once one understands the Lord and engages in His service, further study and severe austerities are not needed for that purpose. Austerities that do not lead to understanding Him are useless.

Key points from the purport
  • As stated in several places, bhaktyā mām abhijānāti: only by devotional service can the Supreme Lord be understood.
  • When one understands the Supreme Personality of Godhead by executing devotional service, one ceases the practice of studying the Vedic literature.
  • If one can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead and engage in His service, there is no more need of severe austerities, penances and so on.

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 7.9.49 quotesBG 2.52

Bhagavad-gītā (2.52) also says: When one understands the Supreme Personality of Godhead by executing devotional service, one ceases the practice of studying the Vedic literature.

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:

One should therefore always engage in devotional service by offering respectful obeisances to the Lord, offering prayers, working for the Lord, worshiping the Lord in the temple, always remembering the Lord and always hearing about His transcendental activities. Without these six kinds of activity, one cannot attain to devotional service.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.9
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. naneither
  2. eteall these
  3. guṇāḥthree qualities of material nature
  4. nanor
  5. guṇinaḥthe predominating deities of the three modes of material nature (namely Lord Brahmā, the predominating deity of passion, and Lord Śiva, the predominating deity of ignorance)
  6. mahat-ādayaḥthe five elements, the senses and the sense objects
  7. yethose which
  8. sarveall
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 7.9

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 7.9

    In this verse: “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 7.9

    In this verse: “understand”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I using my study to support practical devotional service?

Practice

After reading today, offer a brief prayer asking to understand the Lord through serving Him.

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. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayUnderstand the Lord Through Devotional ServiceThis 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 7.9.49? Get an answer from the verses themselves.