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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
7.3.17.3.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.3.2

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
A turning point forHiraṇyakaśipu· A quest for invulnerability

स तेपे मन्दरद्रोण्यां तप: परमदारुणम् ।

ऊर्ध्वबाहुर्नभोद‍ृष्टि: पादाङ्गुष्ठाश्रितावनि: ॥ २ ॥

sa tepe mandara-droṇyāṁ

tapaḥ parama-dāruṇam

ūrdhva-bāhur nabho-dṛṣṭiḥ

pādāṅguṣṭhāśritāvaniḥ

Translation

In the valley of Mandara Hill, Hiraṇyakaśipu began performing his austerities by standing with his toes on the ground, keeping his arms upward and looking toward the sky. This position was extremely difficult, but he accepted it as a means to attain perfection.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Difficult Austerity Undertaken for Perfection

  1. 1

    Hiraṇyakaśipu began his austerities in the valley of Mandara Hill.

  2. 2

    He stood with his toes on the ground, held his arms upward, and looked toward the sky.

  3. 3

    This position was extremely difficult. He accepted the difficulty as a means to attain perfection.

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:

With this desire, he entered the valley of Mandara Mountain and began practicing a severe type of austerity and meditation. Seeing Hiraṇyakaśipu engaged in this austerity, the demigods returned to their respective homes, but while Hiraṇyakaśipu was thus engaged, a kind of fire began blazing from his head, disturbing the entire universe and its inhabitants, including the birds, beasts and demigods.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥhe (Hiraṇyakaśipu)
  2. tepeperformed
  3. mandara-droṇyāmin a valley of Mandara Hill
  4. tapaḥausterity
  5. paramamost
  6. dāruṇamdifficult
  7. ūrdhvaraising
  8. bāhuḥarms
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

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What goal makes me willing to accept difficulty?

Practice

Write down the goal behind one difficult effort you are making today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDifficult Austerity Undertaken for PerfectionThis 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 7.3.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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