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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 7.4.5-7

Who is speaking and story frame

स विजित्य दिश: सर्वा लोकांश्च त्रीन् महासुर: ।

देवासुरमनुष्येन्द्रगन्धर्वगरुडोरगान् ॥ ५ ॥

सिद्धचारणविद्याध्रानृषीन् पितृपतीन्मनून् ।

यक्षरक्ष:पिशाचेशान् प्रेतभूतपतीनपि ॥ ६ ॥

सर्वसत्त्वपतीञ्जित्वा वशमानीय विश्वजित् ।

जहार लोकपालानां स्थानानि सह तेजसा ॥ ७ ॥

sa vijitya diśaḥ sarvā

lokāṁś ca trīn mahāsuraḥ

devāsura-manuṣyendra-

gandharva-garuḍoragān

siddha-cāraṇa-vidyādhrān

ṛṣīn pitṛ-patīn manūn

yakṣa-rakṣaḥ-piśāceśān

preta-bhūta-patīn api

sarva-sattva-patīñ jitvā

vaśam ānīya viśva-jit

jahāra loka-pālānāṁ

sthānāni saha tejasā

Translation

Hiraṇyakaśipu became the conqueror of the entire universe. Indeed, that great demon conquered all the planets in the three worlds — upper, middle and lower — including the planets of the human beings, the Gandharvas, the Garuḍas, the great serpents, the Siddhas, Cāraṇas and Vidyādharas, the great saints, Yamarāja, the Manus, the Yakṣas, the Rākṣasas, the Piśācas and their masters, and the masters of the ghosts and Bhūtas. He defeated the rulers of all the other planets where there are living entities and brought them under his control. Conquering the abodes of all, he seized their power and influence.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Conquest Across an Inhabited Universe

  1. 1

    Hiraṇyakaśipu conquered the upper, middle and lower worlds. He brought their rulers under his control and seized their power and influence.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that garuḍa indicates planets of great birds like Garuḍa, while uraga indicates planets of enormous serpents.

  3. 3

    The Vedic description presents many planets as inhabited. Śrīla Prabhupāda rejects the claim that only the earth contains living entities.

Key points from the purport
  • The word garuḍa in this verse indicates that there are planets of great birds like Garuḍa.
  • These scientists claim to have launched excursions to the moon, where they have found no living entities but only big craters full of dust and stone, although in fact the moon is so brilliant that it acts like the sun in illuminating the entire universe.
  • Nonetheless, we are not very much impressed by the words of scientists who say that all other planets are vacant and that only the earth is full of living entities.

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

Further reading

Chapter 4: Hiraṇyakaśipu Terrorizes the Universe

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Hiraṇyakaśipu conquered everyone in the ten directions and the three worlds and brought all living entities, both demigods and asuras, under his control. Becoming the master of all places, including the residence of Indra, whom he had driven out, he began enjoying life in great luxury and thus became mad.
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. saḥhe (Hiraṇyakaśipu)
  2. vijityaconquering
  3. diśaḥthe directions
  4. sarvāḥall
  5. lokānplanetary systems
  6. caand
  7. trīnthree (upper, lower and middle)
  8. mahā-asuraḥthe great demon
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 7.4

    In this verse: “rulers”

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

How does this description broaden my understanding of the universe presented in Vedic literature?

Practice

Reread the translation and note three kinds of inhabitants mentioned there.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayConquest Across an Inhabited UniverseThis 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 7.4.5-7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.