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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.
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Canto 7 · Chapter 10: Prahlāda, the Best Among Exalted Devotees
7.10.317.10.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.10.32

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 7.10.31inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

तत: सम्पूज्य शिरसा ववन्दे परमेष्ठिनम् ।

भवं प्रजापतीन्देवान्प्रह्रादो भगवत्कला: ॥ ३२ ॥

tataḥ sampūjya śirasā

vavande parameṣṭhinam

bhavaṁ prajāpatīn devān

prahrādo bhagavat-kalāḥ

Translation

Prahlāda Mahārāja then worshiped and offered prayers to all the demigods, such as Brahmā, Śiva and the prajāpatis, who are all parts of the Lord.

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.

Honor the Demigods as the Lord’s Parts

  1. 1

    Prahlāda Mahārāja worshiped the demigods and offered prayers to them.

  2. 2

    Those he honored included Brahmā, Śiva and the prajāpatis.

  3. 3

    The demigods are all parts of the Lord. Prahlāda’s respect for them is presented in this relationship.

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:

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. The Lord advised Lord Brahmā not to offer benedictions to asuras as he had to Hiraṇyakaśipu, for such benedictions indulge them.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.10
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tataḥthereafter
  2. sampūjyaworshiping
  3. śirasāby bowing the head
  4. vavandeoffered prayers
  5. parameṣṭhinamto Lord Brahmā
  6. bhavamto Lord Śiva
  7. prajāpatīnto the great demigods entrusted with increasing the population
  8. devānto all the great demigods
  9. prahrādaḥPrahlāda Mahārāja
  10. bhagavat-kalāḥinfluential parts of the Lord
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 7.10

    In this verse: “worshiped”

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

How does seeing the demigods as parts of the Lord shape my respect for them?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer of respect to the demigods, remembering their relationship with the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHonor the Demigods as the Lord’s PartsThis 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 7.10.32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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