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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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

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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

7.10.22 7.10.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.10.23

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 7.10.18inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

पित्र्यं च स्थानमातिष्ठ यथोक्तं ब्रह्मवादिभि: ।

मय्यावेश्य मनस्तात कुरु कर्माणि मत्पर: ॥ २३ ॥

pitryaṁ ca sthānam ātiṣṭha

yathoktaṁ brahmavādibhiḥ

mayy āveśya manas tāta

kuru karmāṇi mat-paraḥ

Translation

After performing the ritualistic ceremonies, take charge of your father’s kingdom. Sit upon the throne and do not be disturbed by materialistic activities. Please keep your mind fixed upon Me. Without transgressing the injunctions of the Vedas, as a matter of formality you may perform your particular duties.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Perform Duties With the Lord in Mind

1
One who has fully surrendered to the Lord’s lotus feet is no longer a debtor to forefathers, sages, society or other living beings.
2
Nonetheless, Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva instructed Prahlāda to follow the regulative principles because others would follow his example as king.
3
A devotee may perform worldly duties without attachment, keeping the mind fixed on the Lord. Prahlāda’s political duties were to help people become the Lord’s devotees.

Key points from the purport

When one becomes a devotee, he no longer has any duty to the Vedic regulative principles.
One has many duties to perform, but if one becomes fully devoted to the Lord, he no longer has any such obligations.
Thus Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva advised Prahlāda Mahārāja to engage in his political duties so that people would become the Lord’s devotees.

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· 2

The purport of SB 7.10.23 quotesSB 11.5.41

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.41): One who has fully surrendered to the lotus feet of the Lord is no longer a debtor to his forefathers, the great sages, human society, the common man or any living entity.

The purport of SB 7.10.23 quotesBG 3.21

And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.”

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

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:

The Lord also asked Prahlāda to perform the ritualistic ceremonies appropriate after his father’s death. Then Lord Brahmā, who was also present, offered many prayers to the Lord, expressing his obligation to the Lord for having offered benedictions to Prahlāda Mahārāja.

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

pitryampaternal
caalso
sthānamplace, throne
ātiṣṭhasit upon
yathā-uktamas described
brahmavādibhiḥby the followers of Vedic civilization
mayiunto Me
āveśyabeing fully absorbed

Key ideas in this verse

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

Manvantara · The change of Manus
What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 7.10
In this verse: “materialistic”, “attachment”
Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct
Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 7.10
In this verse: “duties”, “principles”
Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership
Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 7.10
In this verse: “kingdom”, “king”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What example does the way I perform my duties give to others?

Practice

Before one duty today, pause and remember the Lord; then perform it carefully without seeking personal recognition.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 11.5.41

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 7.10's connections

Live this todayPerform Duties With the Lord in MindThis 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 7.10.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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