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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

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

7.4.27 7.4.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.4.28

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection

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

निर्वैराय प्रशान्ताय स्वसुताय महात्मने ।

प्रह्रादाय यदा द्रुह्येद्धनिष्येऽपि वरोर्जितम् ॥ २८ ॥

nirvairāya praśāntāya

sva-sutāya mahātmane

prahrādāya yadā druhyed

dhaniṣye ’pi varorjitam

Translation

When Hiraṇyakaśipu teases the great devotee Prahlāda, his own son, who is peaceful and sober and who has no enemy, I shall kill Hiraṇyakaśipu immediately, despite the benedictions of Brahmā.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Carefully Guard Against Offending Devotees

1
An offense to a pure devotee, or Vaiṣṇava, is the most severe sinful activity. Like a mad elephant destroying a garden, it can uproot one's auspicious activities.
2
Prahlāda Mahārāja was peaceful and had no enemies. A devotee does not create enmity with anyone.
3
The Lord declared that Brahmā's benedictions would not protect Hiraṇyakaśipu if he harmed Prahlāda. Wealth, education, beauty and long life cannot protect someone who offends a Vaiṣṇava.

Key points from the purport

If one is an offender at the lotus feet of a brāhmaṇa or Vaiṣṇava, his offenses uproot all his auspicious activities.
Here the Lord clearly says that although Hiraṇyakaśipu had received benedictions from Lord Brahmā, these benedictions would be null and void as soon as he committed an offense at the lotus feet of Prahlāda Mahārāja, his own son.
Despite whatever one possesses, if one offends the lotus feet of a Vaiṣṇava he will be vanquished.

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 7.4.28 quotesSB 3.25.21

Elsewhere in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.25.21) it is said, ajāta-śatravaḥ śāntāḥ sādhavaḥ sādhu-bhūṣaṇāḥ: a devotee has no enemies, he is peaceful, he abides by the scriptures, and all his characteristics are sublime.

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

Chapter 4: Hiraṇyakaśipu Terrorizes the Universe

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

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. All the brāhmaṇas were dissatisfied with him, and they cursed him with determination.

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

nirvairāyawho is without enemies
praśāntāyavery sober and peaceful
sva-sutāyaunto his own son
mahā-ātmanewho is a great devotee
prahrādāyaPrahlāda Mahārāja
yadāwhen
druhyetwill commit violence
haniṣyeI shall kill
apialthough
vara-ūrjitamblessed by the boons of Lord Brahmā

Key ideas in this verse

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

Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord
How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10
Dainya · Humility
Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 7.4
In this verse: “offense”, “offends”
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 7.4
In this verse: “devotee”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 7.4
In this verse: “wealth”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I be more careful and respectful in the way I speak about devotees?

Practice

Before speaking about a devotee today, pause and avoid words that express hostility or disrespect.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 3.25.21

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 7.4's connections

Live this todayCarefully Guard Against Offending DevoteesThis 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 7.4.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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