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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 5: Prahlāda Mahārāja, the Saintly Son of Hiraṇyakaśipu

7.5.1 7.5.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.5.2

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Nārada Munisince 7.5.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

तौ राज्ञा प्रापितं बालं प्रह्लादं नयकोविदम् ।

पाठयामासतु: पाठ्यानन्यांश्चासुरबालकान् ॥ २ ॥

tau rājñā prāpitaṁ bālaṁ

prahlādaṁ naya-kovidam

pāṭhayām āsatuḥ pāṭhyān

anyāṁś cāsura-bālakān

Translation

Prahlāda Mahārāja was already educated in devotional life, but when his father sent him to those two sons of Śukrācārya to be educated, they accepted him at their school along with the other sons of the asuras.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Prahlāda Was Already Educated in Devotion

1
Prahlāda Mahārāja was already educated in devotional life before entering this school.
2
His father sent him to the two sons of Śukrācārya for education.
3
The teachers accepted Prahlāda along with the other sons of the asuras. His prior education in devotion distinguished his starting point.

How it feels

Threat → Steady faith. A vulnerable child remains inwardly unshaken.

Chapters 5–7 of Canto 7: Prahlāda refuses to abandon his devotion. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Chapter 5: Prahlāda Mahārāja, the Saintly Son of Hiraṇyakaśipu

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Hiraṇyakaśipu’s spiritual master, Śukrācārya, had two sons named Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka, to whom Prahlāda Mahārāja was entrusted for education. Although the teachers tried to educate the boy Prahlāda in politics, economics and other material activities, he did not care for their instructions.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 7.5

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

tauthose two (Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka)
rājñāby the King
prāpitamsent
bālamthe boy
prahlādamnamed Prahlāda
naya-kovidamwho was aware of moral principles
pāṭhayām āsatuḥinstructed
pāṭhyānbooks of material knowledge

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 7.5
In this verse: “devotional”
Vātsalya · Parental affection
Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 7.5
In this verse: “father”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What place does devotional learning have alongside my other studies?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes today to review something you have learned about devotional life.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPrahlāda Was Already Educated in DevotionThis 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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