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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 7.4.31-32

Who is speaking and story frame

ब्रह्मण्य: शीलसम्पन्न: सत्यसन्धो जितेन्द्रिय: ।

आत्मवत्सर्वभूतानामेकप्रियसुहृत्तम: ।

दासवत्सन्नतार्याङ्‌घ्रि: पितृवद्दीनवत्सल: ॥ ३१ ॥

भ्रातृवत्सद‍ृशे स्निग्धो गुरुष्वीश्वरभावन: ।

विद्यार्थरूपजन्माढ्यो मानस्तम्भविवर्जित: ॥ ३२ ॥

brahmaṇyaḥ śīla-sampannaḥ

satya-sandho jitendriyaḥ

ātmavat sarva-bhūtānām

eka-priya-suhṛttamaḥ

dāsavat sannatāryāṅghriḥ

pitṛvad dīna-vatsalaḥ

bhrātṛvat sadṛśe snigdho

guruṣv īśvara-bhāvanaḥ

vidyārtha-rūpa-janmāḍhyo

māna-stambha-vivarjitaḥ

Translation

[The qualities of Mahārāja Prahlāda, the son of Hiraṇyakaśipu, are described herewith.] He was completely cultured as a qualified brāhmaṇa, having very good character and being determined to understand the Absolute Truth. He had full control of his senses and mind. Like the Supersoul, he was kind to every living entity and was the best friend of everyone. To respectable persons he acted exactly like a menial servant, to the poor he was like a father, to his equals he was attached like a sympathetic brother, and he considered his teachers, spiritual masters and older Godbrothers to be as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He was completely free from unnatural pride that might have arisen from his good education, riches, beauty, aristocracy and so on.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

A Devotee Is Everyone's Well-Wisher

  1. 1

    A perfect Vaiṣṇava has the qualities of a perfect brāhmaṇa, including peacefulness, purity, tolerance and honesty. Understanding the Absolute Truth requires control of the senses and mind.

  2. 2

    A Vaiṣṇava acts for everyone's welfare, regardless of position. Prahlāda was kind to the poor, affectionate to his equals and humble toward respectable persons.

  3. 3

    Prahlāda was free from pride in education, wealth and beauty, and deeply respected his teachers. A Vaiṣṇava obeys the spiritual master, who guides the disciple in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Key points from the purport
  • A Vaiṣṇava is always determined to understand the Absolute Truth, and to understand the Absolute Truth one needs to have full control over his senses and mind.
  • A Vaiṣṇava is always a well-wisher to everyone.
  • Therefore a Vaiṣṇava is always obedient to the spiritual master (ārya).

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 7.4.31-32 quotesBG 18.42

“Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, wisdom, knowledge, and religiousness — these are the qualities by which the brāhmaṇas work.”

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 4: Hiraṇyakaśipu Terrorizes the Universe

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Finally, Nārada Muni describes the characteristics of Prahlāda Mahārāja, the son of Hiraṇyakaśipu, and describes how his father envied his own qualified son. In this way the chapter ends.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.4
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. brahmaṇyaḥcultured as a good brāhmaṇa
  2. śīla-sampannaḥpossessing all good qualities
  3. satya-sandhaḥdetermined to understand the Absolute Truth
  4. jita-indriyaḥfully controlling the senses and mind
  5. ātma-vatlike the Supersoul
  6. sarva-bhūtānāmof all living entities
  7. eka-priyathe one beloved
  8. suhṛt-tamaḥthe best friend
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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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 7.4

    In this verse: “absolute truth”, “understand”, “understanding”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 7.4

    In this verse: “attached”, “wealth”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 7.4

    In this verse: “pride”, “humble”

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

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Whom might I overlook because of their position, and how can I become their well-wisher?

Practice

Offer one concrete kindness today to someone you might ordinarily overlook.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayA Devotee Is Everyone's Well-WisherThis 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 7.4.31-32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.