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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 3: Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Plan to Become Immortal
7.2.617.3.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.3.1

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 7.3.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

श्रीनारद उवाच

हिरण्यकशिपू राजन्नजेयमजरामरम् ।

आत्मानमप्रतिद्वन्द्वमेकराजं व्यधित्सत ॥ १ ॥

śrī-nārada uvāca

hiraṇyakaśipū rājann

ajeyam ajarāmaram

ātmānam apratidvandvam

eka-rājaṁ vyadhitsata

Translation

Nārada Muni said to Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira: The demoniac king Hiraṇyakaśipu wanted to be unconquerable and free from old age and dwindling of the body. He wanted to gain all the yogic perfections like aṇimā and laghimā, to be deathless, and to be the only king of the entire universe, including Brahmaloka.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seek Service, Not the Lord’s Position

  1. 1

    Hiraṇyakaśipu wanted freedom from old age and death, all yogic perfections, and unrivaled rule over the universe. His austerities served these self-interested goals.

  2. 2

    Self-interested persons may use a benediction against even their benefactor. The Vaiṣṇava instead wants to remain an ever-existing servant of the Lord, never to occupy His position.

  3. 3

    Through sāyujya-mukti, generally demanded by asuras, one merges into the Lord’s existence. The purport explains that one falls down again to struggle in material existence.

Key points from the purport
  • Hiraṇyakaśipu wanted to receive a benediction from Lord Brahmā so that in the future he would be able to conquer Lord Brahmā’s abode.
  • Thus self-interested persons, by demoniac austerity, want to kill even their benedictors, whereas the Vaiṣṇava wants to remain an ever-existing servant of the Lord and never to occupy the post of the Lord.
  • Through sāyujya-mukti, which is generally demanded by asuras, one merges into the existence of the Lord, but although one sometimes thus achieves the goal of the theory of monism, one falls down again to struggle in material existence.

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 3: Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Plan to Become Immortal

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

He further prayed for supremacy over the entire universe and requested the eight yogic perfections, such as aṇimā and laghimā.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-nāradaḥ uvācaNārada Muni said
  2. hiraṇyakaśipuḥthe demoniac king Hiraṇyakaśipu
  3. rājanO King Yudhiṣṭhira
  4. ajeyamunconquerable by any enemy
  5. ajarawithout old age or disease
  6. amaramimmortal
  7. ātmānamhimself
  8. apratidvandvamwithout any rival or opponent
  9. eka-rājamthe one king of the universe
  10. vyadhitsatadesired to become
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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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 7.3

    In this verse: “deathless”, “death”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 7.3

    In this verse: “free from”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 7.3

    In this verse: “king”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I seek spiritual progress to gain power, or to remain a servant of the Lord?

Practice

Before one act of devotional service today, pause and consciously choose service rather than personal recognition.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeek Service, Not the Lord’s PositionThis 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 7.3.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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