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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.
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Canto 7 · Chapter 4: Hiraṇyakaśipu Terrorizes the Universe
7.4.157.4.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.4.16

Sthāna· The universe in order
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 7.4.2inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

अकृष्टपच्या तस्यासीत् सप्तद्वीपवती मही ।

तथा कामदुघा गावो नानाश्चर्यपदं नभ: ॥ १६ ॥

akṛṣṭa-pacyā tasyāsīt

sapta-dvīpavatī mahī

tathā kāma-dughā gāvo

nānāścarya-padaṁ nabhaḥ

Translation

As if in fear of Hiraṇyakaśipu, the planet earth, which consists of seven islands, delivered food grains without being plowed. Thus it resembled cows like the surabhi of the spiritual world or the kāma-dughā of heaven. The earth yielded sufficient food grains, the cows supplied abundant milk, and outer space was beautifully decorated with wonderful phenomena.

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.

Abundance Under Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Rule

  1. 1

    The earth, consisting of seven islands, produced food grains without being plowed, as if in fear of Hiraṇyakaśipu.

  2. 2

    The earth yielded sufficient grains, and the cows supplied abundant milk. This abundance resembled that of the surabhi cows of the spiritual world or the kāma-dughā cows of heaven.

  3. 3

    Outer space was beautifully decorated with wonderful phenomena. The description shows the extraordinary abundance during Hiraṇyakaśipu’s rule.

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 4: Hiraṇyakaśipu Terrorizes the Universe

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Hiraṇyakaśipu conquered everyone in the ten directions and the three worlds and brought all living entities, both demigods and asuras, under his control. Becoming the master of all places, including the residence of Indra, whom he had driven out, he began enjoying life in great luxury and thus became mad.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.4
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. akṛṣṭa-pacyābearing grains without being cultivated or plowed
  2. tasyaof Hiraṇyakaśipu
  3. āsītwas
  4. sapta-dvīpa-vatīconsisting of seven islands
  5. mahīthe earth
  6. tathāso much so
  7. kāma-dughāḥwhich can deliver as much milk as one desires
  8. gāvaḥcows
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Sthāna · Planetary systems

    How is the universe arranged, and what is our right place in it? · Subject 3 of 10

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 7.4

    In this verse: “fear”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which detail in this description helps you appreciate the abundance supplied by the earth and cows?

Practice

At one meal today, pause to notice the food supplied by the earth.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAbundance Under Hiraṇyakaśipu’s RuleThis 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 7.4.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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