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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

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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 4: Hiraṇyakaśipu Terrorizes the Universe

7.4.25-26 7.4.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.4.27

Ūti· What drives us to act

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

यदा देवेषु वेदेषु गोषु विप्रेषु साधुषु ।

धर्मे मयि च विद्वेष: स वा आशु विनश्यति ॥ २७ ॥

yadā deveṣu vedeṣu

goṣu vipreṣu sādhuṣu

dharme mayi ca vidveṣaḥ

sa vā āśu vinaśyati

Translation

When one is envious of the demigods, who represent the Supreme Personality of Godhead, of the Vedas, which give all knowledge, of the cows, brāhmaṇas, Vaiṣṇavas and religious principles, and ultimately of Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he and his civilization will be vanquished without delay.

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.

Envy Leads to Destruction

1
The demigods represent the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the Vedas give all knowledge. The Lord warns against envy toward them.
2
The warning also includes envy toward cows, brāhmaṇas, Vaiṣṇavas and religious principles, and ultimately toward the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself.
3
The Lord declares that a person with such envy, along with his civilization, will be vanquished without delay.

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 4: Hiraṇyakaśipu Terrorizes the Universe

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Since Hiraṇyakaśipu was the oppressor of all the demigods, the followers of the Vedas, the cows, the brāhmaṇas and the religious, saintly persons, and since he was envious of the Supreme Lord, he would naturally be killed very soon. Hiraṇyakaśipu’s last exploit would be to torment his own son Prahlāda, who was a mahā-bhāgavata, an exalted Vaiṣṇava.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 7.4

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

yadāwhen
deveṣuunto the demigods
vedeṣuunto the Vedic scriptures
goṣuunto the cows
vipreṣuunto the brāhmaṇas
sādhuṣuunto the saintly persons
dharmeunto religious principles
mayiunto Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

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
Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct
Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 7.4
In this verse: “religious”, “principles”
Jñāna · Spiritual insight
Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 7.4
In this verse: “knowledge”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I notice envy or disrespect in my attitude toward those the Lord names here?

Practice

Notice one disrespectful thought toward someone or something named in this verse, and consciously set it aside.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayEnvy Leads to DestructionThis 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.

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