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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 2: Hiraṇyakaśipu, King of the Demons

7.2.15 7.2.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.2.16

Ūti· What drives us to act

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Nārada Munisince 7.2.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

एवं विप्रकृते लोके दैत्येन्द्रानुचरैर्मुहु: ।

दिवं देवा: परित्यज्य भुवि चेरुरलक्षिता: ॥ १६ ॥

evaṁ viprakṛte loke

daityendrānucarair muhuḥ

divaṁ devāḥ parityajya

bhuvi cerur alakṣitāḥ

Translation

Thus disturbed again and again by the unnatural occurrences caused by the followers of Hiraṇyakaśipu, all the people had to cease the activities of Vedic culture. Not receiving the results of yajña, the demigods also became disturbed. They left their residential quarters in the heavenly planets and, unobserved by the demons, began wandering on the planet earth to see the disasters.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Yajña Supports Humans and Demigods

1
Repeated disturbances by Hiraṇyakaśipu’s followers forced people to stop their activities of Vedic culture.
2
The performance of yajña brings reciprocal good fortune to human beings and demigods. Without its results, the demigods were hindered in their duties.
3
The demigods left their heavenly residences and wandered unseen on earth. They came to observe the disturbances and consider what to do.

Key points from the purport

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā, the performance of yajña brings reciprocal good fortune for both the human beings and the demigods.
When the performances of yajña were stopped by the disturbances of the demons, the demigods were naturally bereft of the results of yajña and hampered in executing their respective duties.
Therefore they came down to the planet earth to see how people had become disturbed and to consider what to do.

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

Pride and rage → Oppression. The ruler's power intensifies his insecurity.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 7: Hiraṇyakaśipu's ascent and intimidation. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Chapter 2: Hiraṇyakaśipu, King of the Demons

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

For want of the performance of yajña, sacrifice, the demigods began wandering unseen on earth. After finishing the ritualistic funeral ceremonies of his brother, Hiraṇyakaśipu began speaking to his nephews, quoting from the śāstras about the truth of life.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 7.2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

evamthus
viprakṛtebeing disturbed
lokewhen all the people
daitya-indra-anucaraiḥby the followers of Hiraṇyakaśipu, the King of the Daityas
muhuḥagain and again
divamthe heavenly planets
devāḥthe demigods
parityajyagiving up

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
Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct
Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 7.2
In this verse: “duties”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does this verse show me about the wider effects of disrupting religious practice?

Practice

Avoid interrupting someone’s religious observance today.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayYajña Supports Humans and DemigodsThis 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 7.2.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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