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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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 10: Prahlāda, the Best Among Exalted Devotees

7.10.11 7.10.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.10.12

Mukti· Liberation

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 7.10.11inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

कथा मदीया जुषमाण: प्रियास्त्व-

मावेश्य मामात्मनि सन्तमेकम् ।

सर्वेषु भूतेष्वधियज्ञमीशं

यजस्व योगेन च कर्म हिन्वन् ॥ १२ ॥

kathā madīyā juṣamāṇaḥ priyās tvam

āveśya mām ātmani santam ekam

sarveṣu bhūteṣv adhiyajñam īśaṁ

yajasva yogena ca karma hinvan

Translation

It does not matter that you are in the material world. You should always, continuously, hear the instructions and messages given by Me and always be absorbed in thought of Me, for I am the Supersoul existing in the core of everyone’s heart. Therefore, give up fruitive activities and worship Me.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Use Your Resources to Serve the Lord

1
The Lord instructs Prahlāda to keep hearing His messages and remain absorbed in thought of Him. He is the Supersoul within everyone’s heart.
2
A devotee uses material opulence to expand the Lord’s glories and service. Such wealth should not be viewed simply as enjoyment of the results of fruitive activities.
3
A devotee is not interested in fruitive activities or speculation about the Supreme Lord. The goal is favorable service to the Lord through devotional activities.

Key points from the purport

When a devotee becomes materially very opulent, one should not think that he is enjoying the results of his fruitive activities.
A devotee in this material world uses all material opulences for the service of the Lord because he is planning how to serve the Lord with these opulences, as advised by the Lord Himself.
Therefore a devotee is never interested in karma-kāṇḍa or jñāna-kāṇḍa, but is simply interested in favorable service to the Lord (ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānuśīlanam), or cultivation of spiritual activities in devotional service.

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

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

Chapter 10: Prahlāda, the Best Among Exalted Devotees

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Prahlāda Mahārāja, therefore, did not ask anything from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Rather, he said that if the Lord wanted to give him a benediction, he wanted the Lord to assure him that he would never be induced to take any benedictions for the sake of material desires.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 7.10

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

kathāḥmessages or instructions
madīyāḥgiven by Me
juṣamāṇaḥalways hearing or contemplating
priyāḥextremely pleasing
tvamyourself
āveśyabeing fully absorbed in
māmMe
ātmaniwithin the core of your heart

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 7.10
In this verse: “worship”, “devotional”, “devotee”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 7.10
In this verse: “material”, “wealth”
Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment
Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 7.10
In this verse: “give up”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which resource in my possession could I use for the Lord’s service?

Practice

Use one resource you already have to hear or share the Lord’s messages today.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUse Your Resources to 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 7.10.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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