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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 · Text 7.4.8

Who is speaking and story frame

देवोद्यानश्रिया जुष्टमध्यास्ते स्म त्रिपिष्टपम् ।

महेन्द्रभवनं साक्षान्निर्मितं विश्वकर्मणा ।

त्रैलोक्यलक्ष्म्यायतनमध्युवासाखिलर्द्धिमत् ॥ ८ ॥

devodyāna-śriyā juṣṭam

adhyāste sma tri-piṣṭapam

mahendra-bhavanaṁ sākṣān

nirmitaṁ viśvakarmaṇā

trailokya-lakṣmy-āyatanam

adhyuvāsākhilarddhimat

Translation

Hiraṇyakaśipu, who possessed all opulence, began residing in heaven, with its famous Nandana garden, which is enjoyed by the demigods. In fact, he resided in the most opulent palace of Indra, the King of heaven. The palace had been directly constructed by the demigod architect Viśvakarmā and was as beautifully made as if the goddess of fortune of the entire universe resided there.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Learning Heavenly Opulence Through Scripture

  1. 1

    Hiraṇyakaśipu lived in Indra’s magnificent palace, constructed by Viśvakarmā, in heaven with its famous Nandana garden.

  2. 2

    The purport describes the heavenly planets as thousands upon thousands of times more opulent than the lower planetary system where we live.

  3. 3

    Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that imperfect instruments cannot fully appraise the upper planets. He accepts direct information from Vedic literature as perfect.

Key points from the purport
  • From this description it appears that all the heavenly planets of the upper planetary system are thousands upon thousands of times more opulent than the lower planetary system in which we live.
  • Viśvakarmā, the famous heavenly architect, is known as the constructor of many wonderful buildings in the upper planets, where there are not only beautiful buildings, but also many opulent gardens and parks, which are described as nandana-devodyāna, gardens quite fit to be enjoyed by the demigods.
  • Therefore the upper planets cannot be appraised by imperfect men using imperfect man-made instruments.

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:

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. All the demigods but Lord Viṣṇu, Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva came under his control and began serving him, but despite all his material power he was dissatisfied because he was always puffed up, proud of transgressing the Vedic regulations.
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. deva-udyānaof the famous garden of the demigods
  2. śriyāby the opulences
  3. juṣṭamenriched
  4. adhyāste smaremained in
  5. tri-piṣṭapamthe higher planetary system, where various demigods live
  6. mahendra-bhavanamthe palace of Indra, the King of heaven
  7. sākṣātdirectly
  8. nirmitamconstructed
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Sthāna · Planetary systems

    How is the universe arranged, and what is our right place in it? · Subject 3 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 7.4

    In this verse: “king”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 7.4

    In this verse: “nandana”

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 role does authoritative scripture play in my understanding of what I cannot directly see?

Practice

Read the palace description slowly and identify one detail learned here through scripture.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLearning Heavenly Opulence Through ScriptureThis 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 7.4.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.