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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
7.3.87.3.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 7.3.9-10

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

सृष्ट्वा चराचरमिदं तपोयोगसमाधिना ।

अध्यास्ते सर्वधिष्ण्येभ्य: परमेष्ठी निजासनम् ॥ ९ ॥

तदहं वर्धमानेन तपोयोगसमाधिना ।

कालात्मनोश्च नित्यत्वात्साधयिष्ये तथात्मन: ॥ १० ॥

sṛṣṭvā carācaram idaṁ

tapo-yoga-samādhinā

adhyāste sarva-dhiṣṇyebhyaḥ

parameṣṭhī nijāsanam

tad ahaṁ vardhamānena

tapo-yoga-samādhinā

kālātmanoś ca nityatvāt

sādhayiṣye tathātmanaḥ

Translation

“The supreme person within this universe, Lord Brahmā, has gotten his exalted post by dint of severe austerities, mystic power and trance. Consequently, after creating the universe, he has become the most worshipable demigod within it. Since I am eternal and time is eternal, I shall endeavor for such austerity, mystic power and trance for many, many births, and thus I shall occupy the same post occupied by Lord Brahmā.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Eternal Existence Turned Toward Exalted Position

  1. 1

    Hiraṇyakaśipu wanted to occupy Lord Brahmā’s post through severe austerities, mystic power, and trance.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that this was impossible because Brahmā’s life is extremely long. One thousand yugas equals one day of Brahmā.

  3. 3

    Hiraṇyakaśipu reasoned that the self, ātmā, and time are eternal. He therefore resolved to continue his austerities life after life until he could attain that post.

Key points from the purport
  • Hiraṇyakaśipu’s determination was to occupy the post of Lord Brahmā, but this was impossible because Brahmā has a long duration of life.
  • The duration of Brahmā’s life is extremely great, and consequently it was impossible for Hiraṇyakaśipu to occupy that post.
  • Nonetheless, his decision was that since the self (ātmā) and time are both eternal, if he could not occupy that post in one lifetime he would continue to execute austerities life after life so that sometime he would be able to do 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.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 7.3.9-10 quotesBG 8.17

As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (8.17), sahasra-yuga-paryantam ahar yad brahmaṇo viduḥ: one thousand yugas equals one day of Brahmā.

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

Further reading

Chapter 3: Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Plan to Become Immortal

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

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. Hiraṇyakaśipu wanted to become immortal.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sṛṣṭvācreating
  2. caramoving
  3. acaramand not moving
  4. idamthis
  5. tapaḥof austerity
  6. yogaand mystic power
  7. samādhināby practicing the trance
  8. adhyāsteis situated in
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 7.3

    In this verse: “worshipable”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Is my determination centered on attaining an exalted position?

Practice

Examine one long-term ambition today and write down whether gaining a position is its main purpose.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayEternal Existence Turned Toward Exalted PositionThis 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 7.3.9-10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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