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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
7.10.297.10.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.10.30

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Personality of Godheadsince 7.10.30inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

श्रीभगवानुवाच

मैवं विभोऽसुराणां ते प्रदेय: पद्मसम्भव ।

वर: क्रूरनिसर्गाणामहीनाममृतं यथा ॥ ३० ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

maivaṁ vibho ’surāṇāṁ te

pradeyaḥ padma-sambhava

varaḥ krūra-nisargāṇām

ahīnām amṛtaṁ yathā

Translation

The Personality of Godhead replied: My dear Lord Brahmā, O great lord born from the lotus flower, just as it is dangerous to feed milk to a snake, so it is dangerous to give benedictions to demons, who are by nature ferocious and jealous. I warn you not to give such benedictions to any demon again.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Do Not Strengthen Cruelty and Jealousy

  1. 1

    The Personality of Godhead warns Lord Brahmā against giving benedictions to demons.

  2. 2

    He describes these demons as ferocious and jealous by nature.

  3. 3

    Giving them benedictions is compared to feeding milk to a snake. The Lord instructs Brahmā not to give such benedictions again.

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 Supreme Personality of Godhead was greatly pleased with Prahlāda Mahārāja for his unalloyed devotion, yet the Lord provided him one material benediction — that he would be perfectly happy in this world and live his next life in Vaikuṇṭha.
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-bhagavān uvācathe Supreme Personality of Godhead replied (to Brahmā)
  2. mādo not
  3. evamthus
  4. vibhoO great person
  5. asurāṇāmunto the demons
  6. teby you
  7. pradeyaḥbestow benedictions
  8. padma-sambhavaO Lord Brahmā, born from the lotus flower
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “dangerous”

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

Could something I give or encourage strengthen another person’s cruelty or jealousy?

Practice

Before offering help today, pause to consider whether it would enable harmful behavior.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDo Not Strengthen Cruelty and JealousyThis 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 7.10.30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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