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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

7.4.43 7.4.45

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.4.44

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhirasince 7.4.44inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

श्रीयुधिष्ठिर उवाच

देवर्ष एतदिच्छामो वेदितुं तव सुव्रत ।

यदात्मजाय शुद्धाय पितादात् साधवे ह्यघम् ॥ ४४ ॥

śrī-yudhiṣṭhira uvāca

devarṣa etad icchāmo

vedituṁ tava suvrata

yad ātmajāya śuddhāya

pitādāt sādhave hy agham

Translation

Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira said: O best of the saints among the demigods, O best of spiritual leaders, how did Hiraṇyakaśipu give so much trouble to Prahlāda Mahārāja, the pure and exalted saint, although Prahlāda was his own son? I wish to know about this subject from you.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Understand Kṛṣṇa Through Devotees

1
Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira wanted to understand why Hiraṇyakaśipu troubled his pure and saintly son. He therefore inquired from an authoritative spiritual teacher.
2
One must learn about the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His pure devotees from authorities like Devarṣi Nārada. Academic knowledge alone does not give spiritual understanding.
3
Kṛṣṇa is understood through devotional service and from a devotee. Association with devotees enables authoritative understanding of the Lord and His devotees.

Key points from the purport

To know about the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the characteristics of His pure devotee, one must inquire from authorities like Devarṣi Nārada.
As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (18.55), bhaktyā mām abhijānāti: one must try to understand Kṛṣṇa by devotional service and from a devotee.
Therefore Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja was quite right in wanting to learn further about Prahlāda Mahārāja from Śrī Nārada Muni.

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· 2

The purport of SB 7.4.44 quotesSB 3.25.25

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.25.25), satāṁ prasaṅgān mama vīrya-saṁvido bhavanti hṛt-karṇa-rasāyanāḥ kathāḥ: only by association with devotees can one authoritatively understand the position of the Lord and His devotees.

The purport of SB 7.4.44 quotesBG 18.55

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (18.55), bhaktyā mām abhijānāti: one must try to understand Kṛṣṇa by devotional service and from a devotee.

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:

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.

śrī-yudhiṣṭhiraḥ uvācaMahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira inquired
deva-ṛṣeO best saintly person among the demigods
etatthis
icchāmaḥwe wish
veditumto know
tavafrom you
su-vratahaving the determination for spiritual advancement
yatbecause

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: “knowledge”, “inquired”, “understand”
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 7.4
In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Whom do you turn to for understanding Kṛṣṇa and devotional service?

Practice

Write down one question about devotional service to ask a knowledgeable devotee.

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 3.25.25

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

Live this todayUnderstand Kṛṣṇa Through 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 7.4.44? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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