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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
7.3.367.4.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 7.3.37-38

Ūti· What drives us to act
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

व्यसुभिर्वासुमद्भ‍िर्वा सुरासुरमहोरगै: ।

अप्रतिद्वन्द्वतां युद्धे ऐकपत्यं च देहिनाम् ॥ ३७ ॥

सर्वेषां लोकपालानां महिमानं यथात्मन: ।

तपोयोगप्रभावाणां यन्न रिष्यति कर्हिचित् ॥ ३८ ॥

vyasubhir vāsumadbhir vā

surāsura-mahoragaiḥ

apratidvandvatāṁ yuddhe

aika-patyaṁ ca dehinām

sarveṣāṁ loka-pālānāṁ

mahimānaṁ yathātmanaḥ

tapo-yoga-prabhāvāṇāṁ

yan na riṣyati karhicit

Translation

Grant me that I not meet death from any entity, living or nonliving. Grant me, further, that I not be killed by any demigod or demon or by any great snake from the lower planets. Since no one can kill you in the battlefield, you have no competitor. Therefore, grant me the benediction that I too may have no rival. Give me sole lordship over all the living entities and presiding deities, and give me all the glories obtained by that position. Furthermore, give me all the mystic powers attained by long austerities and the practice of yoga, for these cannot be lost at any time.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Mercy Gives Lasting Power

  1. 1

    Hiraṇyakaśipu requested protection from living and nonliving entities, demigods, demons and great snakes. He also wanted no rival and sole lordship over living entities and presiding deities.

  2. 2

    Lord Brahmā had obtained his supreme position through long austerities, penances, mystic yoga and meditation. Hiraṇyakaśipu wanted a similar position, with its glories and powers.

  3. 3

    Ordinary powers gained through mystic yoga, austerities and other processes may be vanquished. Powers obtained by the Lord’s mercy are never vanquished, so Hiraṇyakaśipu wanted a benediction that would never be lost.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Brahmā obtained his supreme position due to long austerities and penances, mystic yoga, meditation and so on.
  • The ordinary powers achieved by mystic yoga, austerities and other processes are sometimes vanquished, but the powers obtained by the mercy of the Lord are never vanquished.
  • Hiraṇyakaśipu, therefore, wanted a benediction that would never be vanquished.

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:

When Lord Brahmā agreed to give him benedictions, he prayed not be killed by any living entity, not to be killed in any place, covered or uncovered, not to die in the daytime or at night, not to be killed by any weapon, on land or in the air, and not to be killed by any human being, animal, demigod or any other entity, living or nonliving.
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. vyasubhiḥby things that have no life
  2. vāor
  3. asumadbhiḥby entities that have life
  4. vāor
  5. suraby the demigods
  6. asurathe demons
  7. mahā-uragaiḥby the great serpents who live on the lower planets
  8. apratidvandvatāmwithout a rival
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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: “death”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 7.3

    In this verse: “mercy”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 7.3

    In this verse: “protection”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What difference does the purport draw between powers gained through effort and powers obtained by the Lord’s mercy?

Practice

Pause today to acknowledge the Lord’s mercy rather than taking sole credit for your abilities.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Mercy Gives Lasting PowerThis 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 7.3.37-38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.