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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
7.10.537.10.56

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 7.10.54-55

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 7.10.53inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

स निर्माय पुरस्तिस्रो हैमीरौप्यायसीर्विभु: ।

दुर्लक्ष्यापायसंयोगा दुर्वितर्क्यपरिच्छदा: ॥ ५४ ॥

ताभिस्तेऽसुरसेनान्यो लोकांस्त्रीन् सेश्वरान्नृप ।

स्मरन्तो नाशयां चक्रु: पूर्ववैरमलक्षिता: ॥ ५५ ॥

sa nirmāya puras tisro

haimī-raupyāyasīr vibhuḥ

durlakṣyāpāya-saṁyogā

durvitarkya-paricchadāḥ

tābhis te ’sura-senānyo

lokāṁs trīn seśvarān nṛpa

smaranto nāśayāṁ cakruḥ

pūrva-vairam alakṣitāḥ

Translation

Maya Dānava, the great leader of the demons, prepared three invisible residences and gave them to the demons. These dwellings resembled airplanes made of gold, silver and iron, and they contained uncommon paraphernalia. My dear King Yudhiṣṭhira, because of these three dwellings the commanders of the demons remained invisible to the demigods. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the demons, remembering their former enmity, began to vanquish the three worlds — the upper, middle and lower planetary systems.

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.

Power Misused Through Remembered Enmity

  1. 1

    Maya Dānava prepared three invisible residences for the demons. They resembled airplanes made of gold, silver and iron and contained uncommon paraphernalia.

  2. 2

    These dwellings allowed the commanders of the demons to remain invisible to the demigods.

  3. 3

    Remembering their former enmity, the demons used this opportunity to begin vanquishing the upper, middle and lower planetary systems.

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:

Later, Nārada Muni described how the demon Maya Dānava constructed Tripura for the demons, who became very powerful and defeated the demigods. Because of this defeat, Lord Rudra, Śiva, dismantled Tripura; thus he became famous as Tripurāri.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.10
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥthat (great demon Maya Dānava)
  2. nirmāyaconstructing
  3. puraḥbig residences
  4. tisraḥthree
  5. haimīmade of gold
  6. raupyāmade of silver
  7. āyasīḥmade of iron
  8. vibhuḥvery great, powerful
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 7.10

    In this verse: “maya”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 7.10

    In this verse: “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

Does remembering an old grievance influence how you use your opportunities?

Practice

Notice one old grievance today and choose not to act on it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPower Misused Through Remembered EnmityThis 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 7.10.54-55? Get an answer from the verses themselves.