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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
7.5.417.5.43-44

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.5.42

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Prahlāda Mahārājasince 7.5.30inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

प्रयासेऽपहते तस्मिन्दैत्येन्द्र: परिशङ्कित: ।

चकार तद्वधोपायान्निर्बन्धेन युधिष्ठिर ॥ ४२ ॥

prayāse ’pahate tasmin

daityendraḥ pariśaṅkitaḥ

cakāra tad-vadhopāyān

nirbandhena yudhiṣṭhira

Translation

My dear King Yudhiṣṭhira, when all the attempts of the demons to kill Prahlāda Mahārāja were futile, the King of the demons, Hiraṇyakaśipu, being most fearful, began contriving other means to kill him.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

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

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Failed Attacks Lead to Greater Fear

  1. 1

    All the demons’ attempts to kill Prahlāda Mahārāja were futile.

  2. 2

    Hiraṇyakaśipu, the King of the demons, became very fearful.

  3. 3

    Instead of stopping, he began devising other means to kill Prahlāda Mahārāja.

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:

Thus the King of the demons, Hiraṇyakaśipu, being extremely angry, chastised the teachers, Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka, for having wrongly trained Prahlāda Mahārāja. The so-called teachers informed the King that Prahlāda Mahārāja was automatically a devotee and did not listen to their instructions.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.5
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. prayāsewhen the endeavor
  2. apahatefutile
  3. tasminthat
  4. daitya-indraḥthe King of the demons, Hiraṇyakaśipu
  5. pariśaṅkitaḥvery much afraid (considering how the boy was protected)
  6. cakāraexecuted
  7. tat-vadha-upāyānvarious means for killing him
  8. nirbandhenawith determination
  9. yudhiṣṭhiraO King Yudhiṣṭhira
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 7.5

    In this verse: “fearful”

  • 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

When my efforts fail, do I pause to reconsider, or become more determined to oppose someone?

Practice

When frustration arises today, pause before acting and consider whether your response would harm someone.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFailed Attacks Lead to Greater FearThis 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 7.5.42? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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