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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.10.63

Who is speaking and story frame

तेऽसुरा ह्यपि पश्यन्तो न न्यषेधन्विमोहिता: ।

तद्विज्ञाय महायोगी रसपालानिदं जगौ ।

स्मयन्विशोक: शोकार्तान्स्मरन्दैवगतिं च ताम् ॥ ६३ ॥

te ’surā hy api paśyanto

na nyaṣedhan vimohitāḥ

tad vijñāya mahā-yogī

rasa-pālān idaṁ jagau

smayan viśokaḥ śokārtān

smaran daiva-gatiṁ ca tām

Translation

The demons could see the calf and cow, but because of the illusion created by the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the demons could not forbid them. The great mystic Maya Dānava became aware that the calf and cow were drinking the nectar, and he could understand this to be the unseen power of providence. Thus he spoke to the demons, who were grievously lamenting.

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.

The Supreme Lord’s Energy Bewilders the Demons

  1. 1

    The demons could see the calf and cow drinking the nectar, but the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s energy bewildered them. They could not stop the animals.

  2. 2

    The great mystic Maya Dānava became aware that the nectar was being drunk. He recognized the unseen power of providence.

  3. 3

    While the demons were grievously lamenting, Maya Dānava spoke to them with this understanding.

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. tethose
  2. asurāḥdemons
  3. hiindeed
  4. apialthough
  5. paśyantaḥseeing (the calf and cow drinking the nectar)
  6. nanot
  7. nyaṣedhanforbade them
  8. vimohitāḥbeing bewildered by illusion
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “illusion”, “maya”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 7.10

    In this verse: “understand”, “understanding”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 7.10

    In this verse: “lamenting”

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 does the demons’ inability to act show me about the power of the Supreme Lord’s energy?

Practice

Read the translation once slowly and note the difference between what the demons saw and what they could control.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Supreme Lord’s Energy Bewilders the DemonsThis 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 7.10.63? Get an answer from the verses themselves.