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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 ›
Canto 7 · Chapter 5: Prahlāda Mahārāja, the Saintly Son of Hiraṇyakaśipu
7.5.207.5.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.5.21

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 7.5.21inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

आरोप्याङ्कमवघ्राय मूर्धन्यश्रुकलाम्बुभि: ।

आसिञ्चन् विकसद्वक्त्रमिदमाह युधिष्ठिर ॥ २१ ॥

āropyāṅkam avaghrāya

mūrdhany aśru-kalāmbubhiḥ

āsiñcan vikasad-vaktram

idam āha yudhiṣṭhira

Translation

Nārada Muni continued: My dear King Yudhiṣṭhira, Hiraṇyakaśipu seated Prahlāda Mahārāja on his lap and began smelling his head. With affectionate tears gliding down from his eyes and moistening the child’s smiling face, he spoke to his son as follows.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Respect Is Met With Affection

  1. 1

    Hiraṇyakaśipu seated Prahlāda Mahārāja on his lap and smelled his head.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that a father or spiritual master responds by smelling the head when a child or disciple falls at his feet.

  3. 3

    Hiraṇyakaśipu’s affectionate tears moistened Prahlāda’s smiling face. In this tender moment, he began speaking to his son.

Key points from the purport
  • If a child or disciple falls at the feet of the father or spiritual master, the superior responds by smelling the head of the subordinate.

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

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

Further reading

Chapter 5: Prahlāda Mahārāja, the Saintly Son of Hiraṇyakaśipu

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Instead, he continued to be a pure devotee. Prahlāda Mahārāja never liked the idea of discriminating between one’s friends and enemies.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.5
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. āropyaplacing
  2. aṅkamon the lap
  3. avaghrāya mūrdhanismelling his head
  4. aśruof tears
  5. kalā-ambubhiḥwith water from drops
  6. āsiñcanmoistening
  7. vikasat-vaktramhis smiling face
  8. idamthis
  9. āhasaid
  10. yudhiṣṭhiraO Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira
3

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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 7.5

    In this verse: “child’s”, “father”, “child”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 7.5

    In this verse: “king”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I receive another person’s respect with genuine warmth?

Practice

When someone shows you respect today, respond with a warm word of appreciation.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRespect Is Met With AffectionThis 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 7.5.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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