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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

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

7.10.42 7.10.45

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 7.10.43-44

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

प्रह्रादस्यानुचरितं महाभागवतस्य च ।

भक्तिर्ज्ञानं विरक्तिश्च याथार्थ्यं चास्य वै हरे: ॥ ४३ ॥

सर्गस्थित्यप्ययेशस्य गुणकर्मानुवर्णनम् ।

परावरेषां स्थानानां कालेन व्यत्ययो महान् ॥ ४४ ॥

prahrādasyānucaritaṁ

mahā-bhāgavatasya ca

bhaktir jñānaṁ viraktiś ca

yāthārthyaṁ cāsya vai hareḥ

sarga-sthity-apyayeśasya

guṇa-karmānuvarṇanam

parāvareṣāṁ sthānānāṁ

kālena vyatyayo mahān

Translation

This narration describes the characteristics of the great and exalted devotee Prahlāda Mahārāja, his staunch devotional service, his perfect knowledge, and his perfect detachment from material contamination. It also describes the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the cause of creation, maintenance and annihilation. Prahlāda Mahārāja, in his prayers, has described the transcendental qualities of the Lord and has also described how the various abodes of the demigods and demons, regardless of how materially opulent, are destroyed by the mere direction of the Lord.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Understand the Lord and His Devotees

1
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam describes the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His devotees. Prahlāda Mahārāja exemplifies staunch devotional service, perfect knowledge and detachment.
2
Studying Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam under a bona fide spiritual master reveals the science of Kṛṣṇa, the material and spiritual worlds, and the aim of life.
3
The Lord is the cause of creation, maintenance and annihilation. Even materially opulent abodes are temporary and are destroyed by His direction.

Key points from the purport

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is filled with descriptions of the characteristics of various devotees, with reference to the service of the Lord.
By studying Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam under the direction of the bona fide spiritual master, one can perfectly understand the science of Kṛṣṇa, the nature of the material and spiritual worlds, and the aim of life.
Therefore, simply by understanding Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, one can understand the science of the activities of the devotees, the activities of the demons, the permanent abode and the temporary abode.

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

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 summary Back to this verse in chapter 7.10

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

prahrādasyaof Prahlāda Mahārāja
anucaritamcharacteristics (understood by reading or describing his activities)
mahā-bhāgavatasyaof the great and exalted devotee
caalso
bhaktiḥdevotional service unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead
jñānamcomplete knowledge of the Transcendence (Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān)
viraktiḥrenunciation of material existence
caalso

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: “devotional service”, “devotee”, “devotees”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 7.10
In this verse: “material”
Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting
Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 7.10
In this verse: “narration”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the temporary nature of material opulence affect what I value?

Practice

Write down one quality of Prahlāda Mahārāja described in this passage that you want to develop.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUnderstand the Lord and His DevoteesThis 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 7.10.43-44? Get an answer from the verses themselves.