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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
7.3.217.3.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.3.22

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 7.3.22inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

श्रीनारद उवाच

इत्युक्त्वादिभवो देवो भक्षिताङ्गं पिपीलिकै: ।

कमण्डलुजलेनौक्षद्दिव्येनामोघराधसा ॥ २२ ॥

śrī-nārada uvāca

ity uktvādi-bhavo devo

bhakṣitāṅgaṁ pipīlikaiḥ

kamaṇḍalu-jalenaukṣad

divyenāmogha-rādhasā

Translation

Śrī Nārada Muni continued: After speaking these words to Hiraṇyakaśipu, Lord Brahmā, the original being of this universe, who is extremely powerful, sprinkled transcendental, infallible, spiritual water from his kamaṇḍalu upon Hiraṇyakaśipu’s body, which had been eaten away by ants and moths. Thus he enlivened Hiraṇyakaśipu.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Brahmā’s Power Comes From the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    Brahmā is the first created being in the universe and is empowered by the Supreme Lord to create.

  2. 2

    With no one else to teach him, Brahmā received knowledge from the Supreme Personality of Godhead within his heart.

  3. 3

    Especially empowered by the Lord, Brahmā restored Hiraṇyakaśipu’s original body by sprinkling transcendental water from his kamaṇḍalu. The water’s power was infallible.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Brahmā is the first created being within this universe and is empowered by the Supreme Lord to create.
  • Lord Brahmā, being especially empowered, is infallible in doing whatever he wants.
  • He desired to restore Hiraṇyakaśipu’s original body, and therefore, by sprinkling transcendental water from his waterpot, he immediately did so.

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 then sprinkled water from his kamaṇḍalu, a type of waterpot, upon Hiraṇyakaśipu’s head. Hiraṇyakaśipu, the King of the Daityas, bowed down before Lord Brahmā, the creator of this universe, offering respectful obeisances again and again and offering prayers.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.3
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-nāradaḥ uvācaŚrī Nārada Muni said
  2. itithus
  3. uktvāsaying
  4. ādi-bhavaḥLord Brahmā, the original living creature within this universe
  5. devaḥthe principal demigod
  6. bhakṣita-aṅgamHiraṇyakaśipu’s body, which had been almost completely eaten
  7. pipīlikaiḥby the ants
  8. kamaṇḍalufrom the special waterpot in the hands of Lord Brahmā
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 7.3

    In this verse: “knowledge”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does recognizing the source of Brahmā’s power deepen my respect for the Supreme Lord?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer of gratitude to the Supreme Lord as the source of knowledge and power.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBrahmā’s Power Comes From the Supreme LordThis 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.

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