1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 7 · The Science of God · 15 chapters

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 7.2.40

Who is speaking and story frame

पथि च्युतं तिष्ठति दिष्टरक्षितं

गृहे स्थितं तद्विहतं विनश्यति ।

जीवत्यनाथोऽपि तदीक्षितो वने

गृहेऽभिगुप्तोऽस्य हतो न जीवति ॥ ४० ॥

pathi cyutaṁ tiṣṭhati diṣṭa-rakṣitaṁ

gṛhe sthitaṁ tad-vihataṁ vinaśyati

jīvaty anātho ’pi tad-īkṣito vane

gṛhe ’bhigupto ’sya hato na jīvati

Translation

Sometimes one loses his money on a public street, where everyone can see it, and yet his money is protected by destiny and not seen by others. Thus the man who lost it gets it back. On the other hand, if the Lord does not give protection, even money maintained very securely at home is lost. If the Supreme Lord gives one protection, even though one has no protector and is in the jungle, one remains alive, whereas a person well protected at home by relatives and others sometimes dies, no one being able to protect him.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seek the Supreme Lord’s Protection

  1. 1

    Money lost openly on a road may remain safe, while money carefully kept at home may disappear. These examples show that security ultimately depends on the Lord’s will.

  2. 2

    Someone without a protector may survive in a forest, while someone surrounded by relatives may die at home. Even good medicine and an experienced physician cannot guarantee survival.

  3. 3

    Our plans cannot determine the final outcome; everything depends on the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Our duty is to surrender unto Him and seek His protection.

Key points from the purport
  • These are examples of the supremacy of the Lord.
  • Everyone has had such practical experiences, and there are also many other clear examples.
  • Therefore, since everything is dependent on the free will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, our only duty is to surrender unto Him and seek His protection.

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

Further reading

Chapter 2: Hiraṇyakaśipu, King of the Demons

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

In anger, he accused the Supreme Personality of Godhead of being partial to His devotees and derided the Lord’s appearance as Varāha to kill his brother. He began to agitate all the demons and Rākṣasas and disturb the ritualistic ceremonies of the peaceful sages and other inhabitants of earth.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pathion the public road
  2. cyutamsome possession dropped
  3. tiṣṭhatiit remains
  4. diṣṭa-rakṣitamprotected by destiny
  5. gṛheat home
  6. sthitamalthough situated
  7. tat-vihatamstruck by the will of the Supreme
  8. vinaśyatiit is lost
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 7.2

    In this verse: “protected”, “protector”, “safe”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 7.2

    In this verse: “duty”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 7.2

    In this verse: “surrender”

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 do I rely on as though it could guarantee my protection?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer seeking the Supreme Lord’s protection and acknowledging the limits of your own plans.

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.

Live this todaySeek the Supreme Lord’s ProtectionThis 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 7.2.40? Get an answer from the verses themselves.