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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 8 · Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations · 24 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 8 · Chapter 1: The Manus, Administrators of the Universe
8.1.68.1.8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.1.7

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.1.4inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

विरक्त: कामभोगेषु शतरूपापति: प्रभु: ।

विसृज्य राज्यं तपसे सभार्यो वनमाविशत् ॥ ७ ॥

viraktaḥ kāma-bhogeṣu

śatarūpā-patiḥ prabhuḥ

visṛjya rājyaṁ tapase

sabhāryo vanam āviśat

Translation

Svāyambhuva Manu, the husband of Śatarūpā, was by nature not at all attached to enjoyment of the senses. Thus he gave up his kingdom of sense enjoyment and entered the forest with his wife to practice austerities.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Leadership Requires Freedom From Selfish Enjoyment

  1. 1

    The Manus were rājarṣis: although kings of the world, they were as good as great saints. They understood the supreme science through disciplic succession.

  2. 2

    Svāyambhuva Manu was emperor of the world but had no desire for sense gratification. He gave up his kingdom and entered the forest with Śatarūpā to practice austerities.

  3. 3

    A ruler must be trained not to waste money on sense gratification. The purport warns that government cannot endure without maintaining the state according to Manu-saṁhitā.

Key points from the purport
  • Svāyambhuva Manu, for example, was the emperor of the world, yet he had no desire for sense gratification.
  • The king of the country or the emperor of the empire must be so trained that by nature he renounces sense gratification.
  • As soon as kings became degraded, spending money for sense gratification, they were lost.

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 8.1.7 quotesBG 4.2

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (4.2), evaṁ paramparā-prāptam imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ: “The supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way.”

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

Helplessness → Surrender and rescue. A mighty animal finally realizes the limits of strength.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 8: Gajendra's struggle and prayers. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 1: The Manus, Administrators of the Universe

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The original Manu, along with his wife, Śatarūpā, went into the forest to practice austerities on the bank of the river Sunandā. They practiced austerities for a hundred years, and then Manu, in a trance, formed prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.1
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. viraktaḥwithout attachment
  2. kāma-bhogeṣuin sense gratification (in gṛhastha life)
  3. śatarūpā-patiḥthe husband of Śatarūpā, namely Svāyambhuva Manu
  4. prabhuḥwho was the master or king of the world
  5. visṛjyaafter renouncing totally
  6. rājyamhis kingdom
  7. tapasefor practicing austerities
  8. sa-bhāryaḥwith his wife
  9. vanamthe forest
  10. āviśatentered
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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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 8.1

    In this verse: “kingdom”, “kings”, “ruler”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 8.1

    In this verse: “attached”, “sense gratification”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 8.1

    In this verse: “gave up”

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

Where might I be using a position of responsibility mainly for my own enjoyment?

Practice

Forgo one unnecessary expense for personal enjoyment today.

Live this todayLeadership Requires Freedom From Selfish EnjoymentThis 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 8.1.7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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