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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 1: The Supreme Lord Is Equal to Everyone
7.1.327.1.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.1.33

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 7.1.33inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

मातृष्वस्रेयो वश्चैद्यो दन्तवक्रश्च पाण्डव ।

पार्षदप्रवरौ विष्णोर्विप्रशापात्पदच्युतौ ॥ ३३ ॥

mātṛ-ṣvasreyo vaś caidyo

dantavakraś ca pāṇḍava

pārṣada-pravarau viṣṇor

vipra-śāpāt pada-cyutau

Translation

Nārada Muni continued: O best of the Pāṇḍavas, your two cousins Śiśupāla and Dantavakra, the sons of your maternal aunt, were formerly associates of Lord Viṣṇu, but because they were cursed by brāhmaṇas, they fell from Vaikuṇṭha to this material world.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

An Apparent Fall Can Serve the Lord

  1. 1

    Nārada Muni explains that Śiśupāla and Dantavakra were formerly associates of Lord Viṣṇu. They came to the material world following a curse by brāhmaṇas.

  2. 2

    They were not ordinary demons, but former personal associates of the Lord. Their fall was only apparent.

  3. 3

    They actually came to assist the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Their presence helped nourish His pastimes within this world.

Key points from the purport
  • Śiśupāla and Dantavakra were not ordinary demons, but were formerly personal associates of Lord Viṣṇu.
  • They apparently fell to this material world, but actually they came to assist the Supreme Personality of Godhead by nourishing His pastimes within this world.

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

Pride and rage → Oppression. The ruler's power intensifies his insecurity.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 7: Hiraṇyakaśipu's ascent and intimidation. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 1: The Supreme Lord Is Equal to Everyone

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Śukadeva Gosvāmī explains that because of their offenses at the feet of devotees, two attendants of the Lord in Vaikuṇṭha named Jaya and Vijaya became Hiraṇyakaśipu and Hiraṇyākṣa in Satya-yuga, Rāvaṇa and Kumbhakarṇa in the next yuga, Tretā-yuga, and Śiśupāla and Dantavakra at the end of Dvāpara-yuga. Because of their fruitive acts, Jaya and Vijaya agreed to become the Lord’s enemies, and when killed in that mentality, they attained salvation in oneness.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.1
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mātṛ-svasreyaḥthe son of the mother’s sister (Śiśupāla)
  2. vaḥyour
  3. caidyaḥKing Śiśupāla
  4. dantavakraḥDantavakra
  5. caand
  6. pāṇḍavaO Pāṇḍava
  7. pārṣada-pravarautwo exalted attendants
  8. viṣṇoḥof Viṣṇu
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 7.1

    In this verse: “material”

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 does their purpose of serving the Lord change my understanding of their apparent fall?

Practice

Write one sentence explaining the difference between their apparent fall and their actual purpose.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAn Apparent Fall Can Serve the LordThis 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 7.1.33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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