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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 7.5.46

Who is speaking and story frame

वर्तमानोऽविदूरे वै बालोऽप्यजडधीरयम् ।

न विस्मरति मेऽनार्यं शुन: शेप इव प्रभु: ॥ ४६ ॥

vartamāno ’vidūre vai

bālo ’py ajaḍa-dhīr ayam

na vismarati me ’nāryaṁ

śunaḥ śepa iva prabhuḥ

Translation

Although he is very near to me and is merely a child, he is situated in complete fearlessness. He resembles a dog’s curved tail, which can never be straightened, because he never forgets my misbehavior and his connection with his master, Lord Viṣṇu.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

An Unchanging Connection with Lord Viṣṇu

  1. 1

    Although Prahlāda was merely a child and remained near Hiraṇyakaśipu, he was completely fearless and never forgot his connection with his master, Lord Viṣṇu.

  2. 2

    Hiraṇyakaśipu compared Prahlāda to a dog’s curved tail. The purport explains that however one tries to straighten such a tail, it remains curved.

  3. 3

    The purport also describes Śunaḥ śepa, who took shelter of Viśvāmitra and never left his side. This further illustrates an attachment that does not change.

Key points from the purport
  • The word śunaḥ means “of a dog,” and śepa means “tail.”
  • However one may try to straighten a dog’s tail, it is never straight but always curved.
  • He was sold to Hariścandra, but he later took shelter of Viśvāmitra, Hariścandra’s enemy, and never left his side.

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:

Since Prahlāda was so treacherous that he had become a devotee of Viṣṇu, who had killed his uncle Hiraṇyākṣa, Hiraṇyakaśipu asked his assistants to kill him. The assistants of Hiraṇyakaśipu struck Prahlāda with sharp weapons, threw him under the feet of elephants, subjected him to hellish conditions, threw him from the peak of a mountain and tried to kill him in thousands of other ways, but they were unsuccessful.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.5
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vartamānaḥbeing situated
  2. avidūrenot very far away
  3. vaiindeed
  4. bālaḥa mere child
  5. apialthough
  6. ajaḍa-dhīḥcomplete fearlessness
  7. ayamthis
  8. nanot
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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: “fearlessness”, “fearless”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “child”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 7.5

    In this verse: “shelter”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How steady is my remembrance of my connection with the Lord?

Practice

Take a quiet moment today to remember Lord Viṣṇu as your master and renew your wish to serve Him.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAn Unchanging Connection with Lord ViṣṇuThis 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 7.5.46? Get an answer from the verses themselves.