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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 ›
Canto 7 · Chapter 4: Hiraṇyakaśipu Terrorizes the Universe
7.4.357.4.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.4.36

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 7.4.29inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

गुणैरलमसङ्ख्येयैर्माहात्म्यं तस्य सूच्यते ।

वासुदेवे भगवति यस्य नैसर्गिकी रति: ॥ ३६ ॥

guṇair alam asaṅkhyeyair

māhātmyaṁ tasya sūcyate

vāsudeve bhagavati

yasya naisargikī ratiḥ

Translation

Who could list the innumerable transcendental qualities of Prahlāda Mahārāja? He had unflinching faith in Vāsudeva, Lord Kṛṣṇa [the son of Vasudeva], and unalloyed devotion to Him. His attachment to Lord Kṛṣṇa was natural because of his previous devotional service. Although his good qualities cannot be enumerated, they prove that he was a great soul [mahātmā].

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Greatness Is Unflinching Devotion to Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Prahlāda's transcendental qualities were innumerable. His unflinching faith and unalloyed devotion to Kṛṣṇa showed that he was a great soul.

  2. 2

    Lord Nṛsiṁha is Kṛṣṇa Himself. Thus Prahlāda's attachment to Nṛsiṁhadeva was attachment to Kṛṣṇa, Vāsudeva, the son of Vasudeva.

  3. 3

    A great soul surrenders to Kṛṣṇa, knowing Him as the cause of all causes. Prahlāda's heart was always filled with thoughts of Kṛṣṇa, making him an ideal devotee.

Key points from the purport
  • Prahlāda Mahārāja was a devotee of Lord Nṛsiṁha, who is Keśava, Kṛṣṇa Himself.
  • Therefore when this verse says vāsudeve bhagavati, one should understand that Prahlāda Mahārāja’s attachment for Nṛsiṁhadeva was attachment for Kṛṣṇa, Vāsudeva, the son of Vasudeva.
  • Therefore Prahlāda Mahārāja is the ideal devotee in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

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 7.4.36 quotesBG 7.19

As the Lord Himself confirms in Bhagavad-gītā (7.19): “After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. guṇaiḥwith spiritual qualities
  2. alamwhat need
  3. asaṅkhyeyaiḥwhich are innumerable
  4. māhātmyamthe greatness
  5. tasyaof him (Prahlāda Mahārāja)
  6. sūcyateis indicated
  7. vāsudeveto Lord Kṛṣṇa, the son of Vasudeva
  8. bhagavatithe Supreme Personality of Godhead
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: “devotional service”, “devotion”, “devotee”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “attachment”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 7.4

    In this verse: “surrenders”

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 place does remembrance of Kṛṣṇa have in my understanding of spiritual greatness?

Practice

Set aside one minute today to think of Kṛṣṇa as the cause of all causes and offer Him your devotion.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

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

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

Live this todayGreatness Is Unflinching Devotion to KṛṣṇaThis 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 7.4.36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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