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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 10: Prahlāda, the Best Among Exalted Devotees
7.10.17.10.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.10.2

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Prahlāda Mahārājasince 7.10.2inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

श्रीप्रह्राद उवाच

मा मां प्रलोभयोत्पत्त्या सक्तं कामेषु तैर्वरै: ।

तत्सङ्गभीतो निर्विण्णो मुमुक्षुस्त्वामुपाश्रित: ॥ २ ॥

śrī-prahrāda uvāca

mā māṁ pralobhayotpattyā

saktaṁ kāmeṣu tair varaiḥ

tat-saṅga-bhīto nirviṇṇo

mumukṣus tvām upāśritaḥ

Translation

Prahlāda Mahārāja said: My dear Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, because I was born in an atheistic family I am naturally attached to material enjoyment. Therefore, kindly do not tempt me with these illusions. I am very much afraid of material conditions, and I desire to be liberated from materialistic life. It is for this reason that I have taken shelter of Your lotus feet.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Take Shelter Beyond Material Enjoyment

  1. 1

    Materialistic life means attachment to the body and everything related to it. Excessive attachment to material enjoyment deprives one of knowledge.

  2. 2

    Although born in a materialistic family, Prahlāda Mahārāja was detached from material enjoyment. He carefully refused temptation and took shelter of Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva’s lotus feet.

  3. 3

    Release from birth, death, old age and disease requires shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Material opulence cannot provide this freedom.

Key points from the purport
  • Prahlāda Mahārāja, however, was detached from all material enjoyment.
  • Atheistic men are very much attached to material enjoyment.
  • Therefore if they get some opportunity to achieve more and more material enjoyment, they take it.

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

Further reading

Chapter 10: Prahlāda, the Best Among Exalted Devotees

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Instead, he fully surrendered at the Lord’s lotus feet. He said: “If anyone engaged in the devotional service of the Lord prays for personal sense gratification, he cannot be called a pure devotee or even a devotee.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.10
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-prahrādaḥ uvācaPrahlāda Mahārāja said (to the Supreme Personality of Godhead)
  2. māplease do not
  3. māmme
  4. pralobhayaallure
  5. utpattyābecause of my birth (in a demoniac family)
  6. saktam(I am already) attached
  7. kāmeṣuto material enjoyment
  8. taiḥby all those
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 7.10

    In this verse: “attached”, “illusions”, “material”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 7.10

    In this verse: “afraid”, “death”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 7.10

    In this verse: “kindly”

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

What attachment makes it harder for me to seek the Lord’s shelter?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer to Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva for shelter from material temptation, rather than asking for more enjoyment.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTake Shelter Beyond Material 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 7.10.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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