1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 7 · The Science of God · 15 chapters

123456789101112131415

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 4: Hiraṇyakaśipu Terrorizes the Universe
7.4.217.4.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 7.4.22-23

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
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

तस्यै नमोऽस्तु काष्ठायै यत्रात्मा हरिरीश्वर: ।

यद्गत्वा न निवर्तन्ते शान्ता: संन्यासिनोऽमला: ॥ २२ ॥

इति ते संयतात्मान: समाहितधियोऽमला: ।

उपतस्थुर्हृषीकेशं विनिद्रा वायुभोजना: ॥ २३ ॥

tasyai namo ’stu kāṣṭhāyai

yatrātmā harir īśvaraḥ

yad gatvā na nivartante

śāntāḥ sannyāsino ’malāḥ

iti te saṁyatātmānaḥ

samāhita-dhiyo ’malāḥ

upatasthur hṛṣīkeśaṁ

vinidrā vāyu-bhojanāḥ

Translation

“Let us offer our respectful obeisances unto that direction where the Supreme Personality of Godhead is situated, where those purified souls in the renounced order of life, the great saintly persons, go, and from which, having gone, they never return.” Without sleep, fully controlling their minds, and living on only their breath, the predominating deities of the various planets began worshiping Hṛṣīkeśa with this meditation.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Abode Supports Worship

  1. 1

    The planetary deities worshiped Hṛṣīkeśa with controlled minds and steady meditation. They offered obeisances toward the Lord’s abode, from which purified saintly persons never return.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is present everywhere as Brahman and Paramātmā. Yet Hiraṇyakaśipu could not extend his influence into the places of the Lord’s pastimes.

  3. 3

    Places such as Vṛndāvana and Ayodhyā are called dhāmas. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that taking shelter of a dhāma makes worship easier and spiritual advancement quicker.

Key points from the purport
  • Everywhere, in every direction, in every heart and in every atom, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is situated in His features as Brahman and Paramātmā.
  • Then what is the purpose of saying tasyai kāṣṭhāyai — “in that direction where Hari is situated”?
  • During Hiraṇyakaśipu’s time, his influence was everywhere, but he could not force his influence into the places where the Supreme Personality of Godhead had His pastimes.

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 4: Hiraṇyakaśipu Terrorizes the Universe

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

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. All the demigods but Lord Viṣṇu, Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva came under his control and began serving him, but despite all his material power he was dissatisfied because he was always puffed up, proud of transgressing the Vedic regulations.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.4
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasyaiunto that
  2. namaḥour respectful obeisances
  3. astulet there be
  4. kāṣṭhāyaidirection
  5. yatrawherein
  6. ātmāthe Supersoul
  7. hariḥthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  8. īśvaraḥthe supreme controller
3

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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 7.4

    In this verse: “worshiping”, “worshiped”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 7.4

    In this verse: “renounced”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 7.4

    In this verse: “purified”

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

What draws me to the shelter of a place dedicated to the Lord’s pastimes?

Practice

Take a quiet moment to offer respectful obeisances to the Lord, remembering His dhāmas, Vṛndāvana and Ayodhyā.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Abode Supports WorshipThis 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 7.4.22-23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
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