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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
7.10.237.10.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.10.24

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 7.10.24inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

श्रीनारद उवाच

प्रह्रादोऽपि तथा चक्रे पितुर्यत्साम्परायिकम् ।

यथाह भगवान् राजन्नभिषिक्तो द्विजातिभि: ॥ २४ ॥

śrī-nārada uvāca

prahrādo ’pi tathā cakre

pitur yat sāmparāyikam

yathāha bhagavān rājann

abhiṣikto dvijātibhiḥ

Translation

Śrī Nārada Muni continued: Thus, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead ordered, Prahlāda Mahārāja performed the ritualistic ceremonies for his father. O King Yudhiṣṭhira, he was then enthroned in the kingdom of Hiraṇyakaśipu, as directed by the brāhmaṇas.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Accept Guidance Toward Returning to Godhead

  1. 1

    Prahlāda performed his father’s ceremonies as the Supreme Personality of Godhead ordered. He was then enthroned under the direction of the brāhmaṇas.

  2. 2

    The purport describes four social groups: brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras. Although perfect in every respect, Prahlāda still followed the brāhmaṇas’ instructions.

  3. 3

    Society needs intelligent leaders well versed in Vedic knowledge. Their guidance should help people follow Vedic principles and become eligible to return home, back to Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • It is essential that society be divided into four groups of men — brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras.
  • Here we see that although Prahlāda was perfect in every respect, he nonetheless followed the instructions of the brāhmaṇas who performed the Vedic rituals.
  • Therefore in society there must be a very intelligent class of leaders who are well versed in the Vedic knowledge so that they can guide the entire populace to follow the Vedic principles and thus gradually become most perfect and eligible to return home, back to Godhead.

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:

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 summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.10
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-nāradaḥ uvācaNārada Muni said
  2. prahrādaḥPrahlāda Mahārāja
  3. apialso
  4. tathāin that way
  5. cakreexecuted
  6. pituḥof his father
  7. yatwhatever
  8. sāmparāyikamritualistic ceremonies performed after death
3

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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 7.10

    In this verse: “king”, “kingdom”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 7.10

    In this verse: “father”, “father’s”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 7.10

    In this verse: “principles”

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

Am I willing to receive spiritual guidance even when I feel capable on my own?

Practice

Identify one instruction from your study of Vedic teachings and make a small effort to follow it today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

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

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

Live this todayAccept Guidance Toward Returning to GodheadThis 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 7.10.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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