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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

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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

7.3.3 7.3.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.3.4

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

तस्य मूर्ध्न: समुद्भ‍ूत: सधूमोऽग्निस्तपोमय: ।

तीर्यगूर्ध्वमधोलोकान् प्रातपद्विष्वगीरित: ॥ ४ ॥

tasya mūrdhnaḥ samudbhūtaḥ

sadhūmo ’gnis tapomayaḥ

tīryag ūrdhvam adho lokān

prātapad viṣvag īritaḥ

Translation

Because of Hiraṇyakaśipu’s severe austerities, fire came from his head, and this fire and its smoke spread throughout the sky, encompassing the upper and lower planets, which all became extremely hot.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

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

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Austerities Whose Heat Reached Every Planet

1
Because of Hiraṇyakaśipu’s severe austerities, fire came from his head.
2
The fire and its smoke spread throughout the sky, encompassing the upper and lower planets.
3
All these planets became extremely hot. The effects of his austerities extended far beyond his own body.

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.

tasyahis
mūrdhnaḥfrom the head
samudbhūtaḥgenerated
sa-dhūmaḥwith smoke
agniḥfire
tapaḥ-mayaḥbecause of severe austerities
tīryaksideways
ūrdhvamupward

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does this description draw my attention to the effects one person’s actions can have on others?

Practice

Pause before one demanding activity today and consider how it may affect those around you.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAusterities Whose Heat Reached Every PlanetThis 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 7.3.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories