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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
7.10.387.10.40

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.10.39

Mukti· Liberation
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

एन: पूर्वकृतं यत् तद् राजान: कृष्णवैरिण: ।

जहुस्तेऽन्ते तदात्मान: कीट: पेशस्कृतो यथा ॥ ३९ ॥

enaḥ pūrva-kṛtaṁ yat tad

rājānaḥ kṛṣṇa-vairiṇaḥ

jahus te ’nte tad-ātmānaḥ

kīṭaḥ peśaskṛto yathā

Translation

Not only Śiśupāla and Dantavakra but also many, many other kings who acted as enemies of Kṛṣṇa attained salvation at the time of death. Because they thought of the Lord, they received spiritual bodies and forms the same as His, just as worms captured by a black drone obtain the same type of body as the drone.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Practice Thinking of the Lord

  1. 1

    Real yogīs always meditate on the form of Viṣṇu within their hearts. Thinking of Him at death, they attain Vaikuṇṭhaloka and receive bodily features like His.

  2. 2

    One who practices thinking of Viṣṇu and is fully absorbed in Him at death returns home, back to Godhead.

  3. 3

    Even enemies of Kṛṣṇa who thought of Him in fear, such as King Kaṁsa, received spiritual bodies similar to the Lord’s.

Key points from the purport
  • Consequently, at the time of death they give up their bodies while thinking of the form of Viṣṇu and thus attain Viṣṇuloka, Vaikuṇṭhaloka, where they receive bodily features the same as those of the Lord.
  • Therefore, we may conclude that if one practices thinking of Viṣṇu and is fully absorbed in thinking of Him at the time of death, one returns home, back to Godhead.
  • Even enemies of Kṛṣṇa who thought of Kṛṣṇa in fear (bhaya), such as King Kaṁsa, received bodies in a spiritual identity similar to that of the Lord.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. enaḥthis sinful activity (of blaspheming the Supreme Lord)
  2. pūrva-kṛtamexecuted in previous births
  3. yatwhich
  4. tatthat
  5. rājānaḥkings
  6. kṛṣṇa-vairiṇaḥalways acting as enemies of Kṛṣṇa
  7. jahuḥgave up
  8. teall of them
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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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “death”, “fear”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 7.10

    In this verse: “kings”, “king”

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 daily opportunity could help me practice remembering the Lord?

Practice

Take one quiet minute today to meditate on the form of Viṣṇu within your heart.

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 todayPractice Thinking of the LordThis 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 7.10.39? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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