Bhagavata Purana — Skandha 7 — Chapter 11
SB 7 11.1
श्रीशुक उवाच श्रुत्वेहितं साधु सभासभाजितं महत्तमाग्रण्य उरुक्रमात्मनः युधिष्ठिरो दैत्यपतेर्मुदान्वितः पप्रच्छ भूयस्तनयं स्वयम्भुवः
śrīśuka uvāca śrutvehitaṃ sādhu sabhāsabhājitaṃ mahattamāgraṇya urukramātmanaḥ yudhiṣṭhiro daityapatermudānvitaḥ papraccha bhūyastanayaṃ svayambhuvaḥ
Śrī Śuka said: Having well heard the doings of the lord of the Daityas, honoured in the assembly, foremost of the greatest ones, (the doings) of him of wide strides, Yudhiṣṭhira, filled with delight, asked the son of the Self-born (Nārada) further.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SB 7 11.2
श्रीयुधिष्ठिर उवाच भगवन् श्रोतुमिच्छामि नृणां धर्मं सनातनम् वर्णाश्रमाचारयुतं यत् पुमान् विन्दते परम्
śrīyudhiṣṭhira uvāca bhagavan śrotumicchāmi nṛṇāṃ dharmaṃ sanātanam varṇāśramācārayutaṃ yat pumān vindate param
Śrī Yudhiṣṭhira said: Lord, I wish to hear the eternal dharma of men, joined with the observances of the classes and the stages of life, by which a man attains the Supreme.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 7 11.3
भवान् प्रजापतेः साक्षादात्मजः परमेष्ठिनः सुतानां सम्मतो ब्रह्मंस्तपोयोगसमाधिभिः
bhavān prajāpateḥ sākṣādātmajaḥ parameṣṭhinaḥ sutānāṃ sammato brahmaṃstapoyogasamādhibhiḥ
You are the direct son of Prajāpati, the highest-placed one (Brahmā), and among his sons you are the esteemed one, O brāhmaṇa, by reason of austerity, yoga and meditation.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 7 11.4
नारायणपरा विप्रा धर्मं गुह्यं परं विदुः करुणाः साधवः शान्तास्त्वद्विधा न तथापरे
nārāyaṇaparā viprā dharmaṃ guhyaṃ paraṃ viduḥ karuṇāḥ sādhavaḥ śāntāstvadvidhā na tathāpare
Brāhmaṇas devoted to Nārāyaṇa know the secret, supreme dharma—compassionate, good and tranquil ones like yourself; others are not so.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 7 11.5
श्रीनारद उवाच नत्वा भगवते ऽजाय लोकानां धर्मसेतवे वक्ष्ये सनातनं धर्मं नारायणमुखाच् छ्रुतम्
śrīnārada uvāca natvā bhagavate 'jāya lokānāṃ dharmasetave vakṣye sanātanaṃ dharmaṃ nārāyaṇamukhāc chrutam
Śrī Nārada said: Having bowed to the Lord, the unborn one, the bridge of dharma for the worlds, I shall declare the eternal dharma as heard from the mouth of Nārāyaṇa,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 7 11.6
यो ऽवतीर्यात्मनो ऽंशेन दाक्षायण्यां तु धर्मतः लोकानां स्वस्तये ऽध्यास्ते तपो बदरिकाश्रमे
yo 'vatīryātmano 'ṃśena dākṣāyaṇyāṃ tu dharmataḥ lokānāṃ svastaye 'dhyāste tapo badarikāśrame
who, having descended by a portion of himself in (the womb of) Dākṣāyaṇī through dharma, for the welfare of the worlds practises austerity in the hermitage of Badarikā.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 7 11.7
धर्ममूलं हि भगवान् सर्ववेदमयो हरिः स्मृतं च तद्विदां राजन् येन चात्मा प्रसीदति
dharmamūlaṃ hi bhagavān sarvavedamayo hariḥ smṛtaṃ ca tadvidāṃ rājan yena cātmā prasīdati
For the Lord Hari, who consists of all the Vedas, is the root of dharma, and (so he is) held to be by those who know it, O king—he by whom the self is made content.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SB 7 11.8
सत्यं दया तपः शौचं तितिक्षेक्षा शमो दमः अहिंसा ब्रह्मचर्यं च त्यागः स्वाध्याय आर्जवम्
satyaṃ dayā tapaḥ śaucaṃ titikṣekṣā śamo damaḥ ahiṃsā brahmacaryaṃ ca tyāgaḥ svādhyāya ārjavam
Truthfulness, compassion, austerity, purity, endurance, discernment, calm of mind, restraint, non-injury, chastity, renunciation, recitation of one's own scripture, straightforwardness,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 7 11.9
सन्तोषः समदृक्सेवा ग्राम्येहोपरमः शनैः नृणां विपर्ययेहेक्षा मौनमात्मविमर्शनम्
santoṣaḥ samadṛksevā grāmyehoparamaḥ śanaiḥ nṛṇāṃ viparyayehekṣā maunamātmavimarśanam
Contentment, service of those who see equally, gradual withdrawal from vulgar pursuits, observing how men's activities turn to their opposite (result), silence, and reflection upon the self;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 7 11.10
अन्नाद्यादेः संविभागो भूतेभ्यश्च यथार्हतः तेष्वात्मदेवताबुद्धिः सुतरां नृषु पाण्डव
annādyādeḥ saṃvibhāgo bhūtebhyaśca yathārhataḥ teṣvātmadevatābuddhiḥ sutarāṃ nṛṣu pāṇḍava
And the fair distribution of food and other necessities among living beings as each deserves, and regarding the self and the gods as present in them—most of all in human beings, O Pāṇḍava;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 7 11.11
श्रवणं कीर्तनं चास्य स्मरणं महतां गतेः सेवेज्यावनतिर्दास्यं सख्यमात्मसमर्पणम्
śravaṇaṃ kīrtanaṃ cāsya smaraṇaṃ mahatāṃ gateḥ sevejyāvanatirdāsyaṃ sakhyamātmasamarpaṇam
Hearing of Him, praising Him, and remembering Him who is the refuge of the great ones; service, worship, bowing down, servitude, friendship, and the offering of oneself—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 7 11.12
नृणामयं परो धर्मः सर्वेषां समुदाहृतः त्रिंशल्लक्षणवान् राजन् सर्वात्मा येन तुष्यति
nṛṇāmayaṃ paro dharmaḥ sarveṣāṃ samudāhṛtaḥ triṃśallakṣaṇavān rājan sarvātmā yena tuṣyati
This is declared to be the highest duty of all men, having thirty characteristics, O king, by which the Self of all is satisfied.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 7 11.13
संस्कारा यत्राविच्छिन्नाः स द्विजो ऽजो जगाद यम् इज्याध्ययनदानानि विहितानि द्विजन्मनाम् जन्मकर्मावदातानां क्रियाश्चाश्रमचोदिताः
saṃskārā yatrāvicchinnāḥ sa dvijo 'jo jagāda yam ijyādhyayanadānāni vihitāni dvijanmanām janmakarmāvadātānāṃ kriyāścāśramacoditāḥ
He in whom the sacraments are unbroken is a twice-born—so the Unborn (Brahmā) declared. Sacrifice, study, and giving are prescribed for the twice-born, and the rites enjoined by the (four) stages of life, for those purified by birth and observance.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 7 11.14
विप्रस्याध्ययनादीनि षडन्यस्याप्रतिग्रहः राज्ञो वृत्तिः प्रजागोप्तुरविप्राद्वा करादिभिः
viprasyādhyayanādīni ṣaḍanyasyāpratigrahaḥ rājño vṛttiḥ prajāgopturaviprādvā karādibhiḥ
For the brahmin, study and the rest (are six duties); for the other (twice-born), the same six except accepting gifts. The king's livelihood, as protector of the people, is from taxes and the like levied on non-brahmins.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 7 11.15
वैश्यस्तु वार्तावृत्तिः स्यान् नित्यं ब्रह्मकुलानुगः शूद्रस्य द्विजशुश्रूषा वृत्तिश्च स्वामिनो भवेत्
vaiśyastu vārtāvṛttiḥ syān nityaṃ brahmakulānugaḥ śūdrasya dvijaśuśrūṣā vṛttiśca svāmino bhavet
The vaiśya's livelihood should be trade and agriculture, and he should always follow the brahmin community; the śūdra's livelihood should be the service of the twice-born and of a master.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 7 11.16
वार्ता विचित्रा शालीन यायावरशिलोञ्छनम् विप्रवृत्तिश्चतुर्धेयं श्रेयसी चोत्तरोत्तरा
vārtā vicitrā śālīna yāyāvaraśiloñchanam vipravṛttiścaturdheyaṃ śreyasī cottarottarā
Livelihood is of various kinds: śālīna (subsisting on what is at hand), yāyāvara (roaming), śila (gleaning ears) and uñchana (picking up grains); this is the fourfold livelihood of a brahmin, each succeeding one better than the one before.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SB 7 11.17
जघन्यो नोत्तमां वृत्तिमनापदि भजेन् नरः ऋते राजन्यमापत्सु सर्वेषामपि सर्वशः
jaghanyo nottamāṃ vṛttimanāpadi bhajen naraḥ ṛte rājanyamāpatsu sarveṣāmapi sarvaśaḥ
A man of lower (station) should not adopt the livelihood of a higher one except in distress—excepting the kṣatriya; in times of distress all may adopt any of them in every way.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SB 7 11.18
ऋतामृताभ्यां जीवेत मृतेन प्रमृतेन वा सत्यानृताभ्यामपि वा न श्ववृत्त्या कदाचन
ṛtāmṛtābhyāṃ jīveta mṛtena pramṛtena vā satyānṛtābhyāmapi vā na śvavṛttyā kadācana
One may live by ṛta and amṛta, or by mṛta or pramṛta, or even by satyānṛta—but never by the way of a dog.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 7 11.19
ऋतमुञ्छशिलं प्रोक्तममृतं यदयाचितम् मृतं तु नित्ययाच्ञा स्यात् प्रमृतं कर्षणं स्मृतम्
ṛtamuñchaśilaṃ proktamamṛtaṃ yadayācitam mṛtaṃ tu nityayācñā syāt pramṛtaṃ karṣaṇaṃ smṛtam
Ṛta is said to be gleaning grains and ears; amṛta is what is got unasked; mṛta is daily begging; and ploughing is known as pramṛta.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 7 11.20
सत्यानृतं च वाणिज्यं श्ववृत्तिर्नीचसेवनम् वर्जयेत् तां सदा विप्रो राजन्यश्च जुगुप्सिताम् सर्ववेदमयो विप्रः सर्वदेवमयो नृपः
satyānṛtaṃ ca vāṇijyaṃ śvavṛttirnīcasevanam varjayet tāṃ sadā vipro rājanyaśca jugupsitām sarvavedamayo vipraḥ sarvadevamayo nṛpaḥ
And trade is satyānṛta; serving the base is the way of a dog. A brahmin, and a kṣatriya too, should always avoid that despicable (livelihood); for the brahmin consists of all the Vedas, and the king of all the gods.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 7 11.21
शमो दमस्तपः शौचं सन्तोषः क्षान्तिरार्जवम् ज्ञानं दयाच्युतात्मत्वं सत्यं च ब्रह्मलक्षणम्
śamo damastapaḥ śaucaṃ santoṣaḥ kṣāntirārjavam jñānaṃ dayācyutātmatvaṃ satyaṃ ca brahmalakṣaṇam
Calm, self-restraint, austerity, purity, contentment, forbearance, straightforwardness, knowledge, compassion, having Acyuta as one's self, and truth—these are the marks of a brahmin.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 7 11.22
शौर्यं वीर्यं धृतिस्तेजस्त्यागश्चात्मजयः क्षमा ब्रह्मण्यता प्रसादश्च सत्यं च क्षत्रलक्षणम्
śauryaṃ vīryaṃ dhṛtistejastyāgaścātmajayaḥ kṣamā brahmaṇyatā prasādaśca satyaṃ ca kṣatralakṣaṇam
Valour, energy, firmness, splendour, generosity, self-conquest, patience, devotion to brahmins, graciousness, and truth—these are the marks of a kṣatriya.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 7 11.23
देवगुर्वच्युते भक्तिस्त्रिवर्गपरिपोषणम् आस्तिक्यमुद्यमो नित्यं नैपुण्यं वैश्यलक्षणम्
devagurvacyute bhaktistrivargaparipoṣaṇam āstikyamudyamo nityaṃ naipuṇyaṃ vaiśyalakṣaṇam
Devotion to the gods, to the teacher, and to Acyuta, the fostering of the three aims (dharma, artha, kāma), faith, constant effort, and skill—these are the marks of a vaiśya.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 7 11.24
शूद्रस्य सन्नतिः शौचं सेवा स्वामिन्यमायया अमन्त्रयज्ञो ह्यस्तेयं सत्यं गोविप्ररक्षणम्
śūdrasya sannatiḥ śaucaṃ sevā svāminyamāyayā amantrayajño hyasteyaṃ satyaṃ goviprarakṣaṇam
Humility, purity, guileless service of the master, sacrifice without mantras, not stealing, truth, and protection of cows and brahmins—these are of the śūdra.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 7 11.25
स्त्रीणां च पतिदेवानां तच्छुश्रूषानुकूलता तद्बन्धुष्वनुवृत्तिश्च नित्यं तद्व्रतधारणम्
strīṇāṃ ca patidevānāṃ tacchuśrūṣānukūlatā tadbandhuṣvanuvṛttiśca nityaṃ tadvratadhāraṇam
And for women whose husband is their god: attentive service and compliance towards him, courteous behaviour towards his relatives, and constant observance of his vows.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 7 11.26
सम्मार्जनोपलेपाभ्यां गृहमण्डनवर्तनैः स्वयं च मण्डिता नित्यं परिमृष्टपरिच्छदा
sammārjanopalepābhyāṃ gṛhamaṇḍanavartanaiḥ svayaṃ ca maṇḍitā nityaṃ parimṛṣṭaparicchadā
With sweeping and plastering, with decorating and arranging the house, herself always adorned, with the household articles kept clean—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 7 11.27
कामैरुच्चावचैः साध्वी प्रश्रयेण दमेन च वाक्यैः सत्यैः प्रियैः प्रेम्णा काले काले भजेत् पतिम्
kāmairuccāvacaiḥ sādhvī praśrayeṇa damena ca vākyaiḥ satyaiḥ priyaiḥ premṇā kāle kāle bhajet patim
—the good woman should serve her husband at all times with objects of desire great and small, with modesty and self-control, with words true and pleasing, and with love.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 7 11.28
सन्तुष्टालोलुपा दक्षा धर्मज्ञा प्रियसत्यवाक् अप्रमत्ता शुचिः स्निग्धा पतिं त्वपतितं भजेत्
santuṣṭālolupā dakṣā dharmajñā priyasatyavāk apramattā śuciḥ snigdhā patiṃ tvapatitaṃ bhajet
Content, free from greed, capable, knowing what is right, speaking pleasantly and truthfully, attentive, pure, affectionate—she should serve her husband, so long as he is not fallen.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 7 11.29
या पतिं हरिभावेन भजेत् श्रीरिव तत्परा हर्यात्मना हरेर्लोके पत्या श्रीरिव मोदते
yā patiṃ haribhāvena bhajet śrīriva tatparā haryātmanā harerloke patyā śrīriva modate
She who worships her husband as though he were Hari, wholly devoted (to him) like Śrī, rejoices in Hari's world together with her husband, like Śrī, with Hari as her (inner) self.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 7 11.30
वृत्तिः सङ्करजातीनां तत्तत्कुलकृता भवेत् अचौराणामपापानामन्त्यजान्तेवसायिनाम्
vṛttiḥ saṅkarajātīnāṃ tattatkulakṛtā bhavet acaurāṇāmapāpānāmantyajāntevasāyinām
The livelihood of those of mixed birth should be that established by each particular family — (this holds for) those who are not thieves and not sinful, (including) the lowest-born and those who dwell (outside the village).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SB 7 11.31
प्रायः स्वभावविहितो नृणां धर्मो युगे युगे वेददृग्भिः स्मृतो राजन् प्रेत्य चेह च शर्मकृत्
prāyaḥ svabhāvavihito nṛṇāṃ dharmo yuge yuge vedadṛgbhiḥ smṛto rājan pretya ceha ca śarmakṛt
For the most part, the dharma laid down for men by their own nature (svabhāva) in each age is declared by the seers of the Veda, O king, to bring welfare both here and after death.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 7 11.32
वृत्त्या स्वभावकृतया वर्तमानः स्वकर्मकृत् हित्वा स्वभावजं कर्म शनैर्निर्गुणतामियात्
vṛttyā svabhāvakṛtayā vartamānaḥ svakarmakṛt hitvā svabhāvajaṃ karma śanairnirguṇatāmiyāt
Living by the livelihood determined by his own nature and performing his own proper work, he would, by giving up the action born of that nature, gradually reach the state free of the guṇas.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 7 11.33
उप्यमानं मुहुः क्षेत्रं स्वयं निर्वीर्यतामियात् न कल्पते पुनः सूत्यै उप्तं बीजं च नश्यति
upyamānaṃ muhuḥ kṣetraṃ svayaṃ nirvīryatāmiyāt na kalpate punaḥ sūtyai uptaṃ bījaṃ ca naśyati
A field that is sown again and again becomes of itself devoid of potency, and is no longer fit to bring forth; and the seed sown in it perishes.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 7 11.34
एवं कामाशयं चित्तं कामानामतिसेवया विरज्येत यथा राजन्नग्निवत् कामबिन्दुभिः
evaṃ kāmāśayaṃ cittaṃ kāmānāmatisevayā virajyeta yathā rājannagnivat kāmabindubhiḥ
So too a mind that is a seat of desire would, through excessive indulgence in desires, become free of attachment, O king — as a fire (is quenched) by drops of what feeds desire.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SB 7 11.35
यस्य यल् लक्षणं प्रोक्तं पुंसो वर्णाभिव्यञ्जकम् यदन्यत्रापि दृश्येत तत् तेनैव विनिर्दिशेत्
yasya yal lakṣaṇaṃ proktaṃ puṃso varṇābhivyañjakam yadanyatrāpi dṛśyeta tat tenaiva vinirdiśet
Whatever mark has been stated of a man as revealing his varṇa — if that same mark should be seen also in another, one should designate him by that very (varṇa).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition