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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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

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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 3: Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Plan to Become Immortal

7.3.12 7.3.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.3.13

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty

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

तवासनं द्विजगवां पारमेष्ठ्यं जगत्पते ।

भवाय श्रेयसे भूत्यै क्षेमाय विजयाय च ॥ १३ ॥

tavāsanaṁ dvija-gavāṁ

pārameṣṭhyaṁ jagat-pate

bhavāya śreyase bhūtyai

kṣemāya vijayāya ca

Translation

O Lord Brahmā, your position within this universe is certainly most auspicious for everyone, especially the cows and brāhmaṇas. Brahminical culture and the protection of cows can be increasingly glorified, and thus all kinds of material happiness, opulence and good fortune will automatically increase. But unfortunately, if Hiraṇyakaśipu occupies your seat, everything will be lost.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Protection and Leadership Under Kṛṣṇa

1
The welfare of cows and brāhmaṇas is essential in Vedic culture. The demigods feared that Hiraṇyakaśipu’s rule would destroy these foundations of good fortune.
2
Lord Kṛṣṇa is the original proprietor of everything, and Brahmā acts on His behalf. Proper rulers should represent Brahmā’s arrangement rather than undermine it.
3
Śreyase points to ultimately returning home, back to Godhead. Opulence accompanying a devotee’s spiritual advancement is a special gift from the Lord, not ordinary material wealth.

Key points from the purport

Hiraṇyakaśipu was a well-known demon, and the demigods knew that if demons and Rākṣasas were to occupy the supreme post, brahminical culture and protection of cows would come to an end.
Therefore, if a Rākṣasa, or demon, were situated in Brahmā’s post, then the entire arrangement of the universe, especially the protection of the brahminical culture and cows, would be ruined.
Therefore there is no protection of brahminical culture and cows, which are the basic prerequisites for all kinds of good fortune.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 2

The purport of SB 7.3.13 quotesBG 5.29

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (5.29), the original proprietor of everything is Lord Kṛṣṇa (bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram).

The purport of SB 7.3.13 quotesBG 10.41

Kṛṣṇa confirms this in Bhagavad-gītā (10.41). Yad yad vibhūtimat sattvaṁ … mama tejo-’ṁśa-sambhavam: if a devotee advances in spiritual consciousness and thus becomes materially opulent also, his position is a special gift from the Lord.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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 3: Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Plan to Become Immortal

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

This chapter describes how Hiraṇyakaśipu performed a severe type of austerity for material benefit, thus causing great distress throughout the universe. Even Lord Brahmā, the chief personality within this universe, became somewhat disturbed and personally went to see why Hiraṇyakaśipu was engaged in such a severe austerity.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 7.3

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

tavayour
āsanamposition on the throne
dvijaof the brahminical culture or the brāhmaṇas
gavāmof the cows
pārameṣṭhyamsupreme
jagat-pateO master of the whole universe
bhavāyafor improvement
śreyasefor the ultimate happiness

Key ideas in this verse

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

Manvantara · The change of Manus
What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 7.3
In this verse: “material”, “wealth”
Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting
Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 7.3
In this verse: “glorified”
Rakṣā · Divine protection
Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 7.3
In this verse: “protection”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I judge good fortune only by wealth, or also by progress toward returning to Godhead?

Practice

Write down one way you can support cow protection or respect brahminical culture today.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayProtection and Leadership Under KṛṣṇaThis 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 7.3.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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