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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 2: Hiraṇyakaśipu, King of the Demons
7.2.7-87.2.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.2.9

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

तस्मिन् कूटेऽहिते नष्टे कृत्तमूले वनस्पतौ ।

विटपा इव शुष्यन्ति विष्णुप्राणा दिवौकस: ॥ ९ ॥

tasmin kūṭe ’hite naṣṭe

kṛtta-mūle vanas-patau

viṭapā iva śuṣyanti

viṣṇu-prāṇā divaukasaḥ

Translation

When the root of a tree is cut and the tree falls down, its branches and twigs automatically dry up. Similarly, when I have killed this diplomatic Viṣṇu, the demigods, for whom Lord Viṣṇu is the life and soul, will lose the source of their life and wither away.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Depend Fully on the Lord’s Mercy

  1. 1

    Hiraṇyakaśipu compared the demigods to branches that dry up when a tree’s root is cut. He imagined that killing Viṣṇu would remove their source of life.

  2. 2

    The demigods follow the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The demons instead plan to disturb or kill Him.

  3. 3

    Even demons sometimes appreciate the demigods’ full dependence on the Lord’s mercy. Hiraṇyakaśipu’s words therefore indirectly glorified the demigods.

Key points from the purport
  • The difference between the demigods and the demons is here explained.
  • Nevertheless, sometimes the demons very much appreciate the full dependence of the demigods upon the mercy of the Lord.
  • This is indirect glorification of the demigods by the demons.

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. tasminwhen He
  2. kūṭethe most deceitful
  3. ahiteenemy
  4. naṣṭeis finished
  5. kṛtta-mūlehaving its roots cut off
  6. vanas-pataua tree
  7. viṭapāḥthe branches and leaves
  8. ivalike
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 7.2

    In this verse: “glorified”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 7.2

    In this verse: “mercy”

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 would it mean for me to depend more consciously on the Lord’s mercy?

Practice

Pause once today to acknowledge the Lord as your source of life and remember your dependence on His mercy.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDepend Fully on the Lord’s MercyThis 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 7.2.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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