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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

7.4.41 7.4.43

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.4.42

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

स उत्तमश्लोकपदारविन्दयो-

र्निषेवयाकिञ्चनसङ्गलब्धया ।

तन्वन् परां निर्वृतिमात्मनो मुहु-

र्दु:सङ्गदीनस्य मन: शमं व्यधात् ॥ ४२ ॥

sa uttama-śloka-padāravindayor

niṣevayākiñcana-saṅga-labdhayā

tanvan parāṁ nirvṛtim ātmano muhur

duḥsaṅga-dīnasya manaḥ śamaṁ vyadhāt

Translation

Because of his association with perfect, unalloyed devotees who had nothing to do with anything material, Prahlāda Mahārāja constantly engaged in the service of the Lord’s lotus feet. By seeing his bodily features when he was in perfect ecstasy, persons very poor in spiritual understanding became purified. In other words, Prahlāda Mahārāja bestowed upon them transcendental bliss.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pure Devotion Uplifts Others

1
Through association with perfect, unalloyed devotees, Prahlāda Mahārāja constantly served the Lord’s lotus feet.
2
Because bhakti is unconditional, Prahlāda was not disturbed by Hiraṇyakaśipu’s torments. His devotional love remained untouched by those material conditions.
3
Prahlāda’s ecstatic love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead cleansed the minds of his friends. Seeing a pure devotee’s behavior can help others become spiritually advanced and blissful.

Key points from the purport

Apparently Prahlāda Mahārāja was placed in circumstances in which he was always tortured by his father.
In such material conditions, one cannot have an undisturbed mind, but since bhakti is unconditional (ahaituky apratihatā), Prahlāda Mahārāja was never disturbed by the chastisements of Hiraṇyakaśipu.
A devotee is never contaminated by material conditions, but persons subjected to material conditions can become spiritually advanced and blissful upon seeing the behavior of a pure devotee.

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

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 summary Back to this verse in chapter 7.4

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

saḥhe (Prahlāda Mahārāja)
uttama-śloka-pada-aravindayoḥto the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is worshiped by transcendental prayers
niṣevayāby constant service
akiñcanaof devotees who have nothing to do with the material world
saṅgain the association
labdhayāobtained
tanvanexpanding
parāmhighest

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: “devotees”, “devotional”, “bhakti”
Prema · Transcendental love
The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 7.4
In this verse: “ecstasy”, “love”, “ecstatic”
Śuddhi · Inner transformation
The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 7.4
In this verse: “purified”, “cleansed”

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 might association with devoted people help you remain steady in service?

Practice

Spend a few minutes today reading about Prahlāda’s steady devotional behavior.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPure Devotion Uplifts OthersThis 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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