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Canto 7 · The Science of God · 15 chapters

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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

7.5.49 7.5.51

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.5.50

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

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

इमं तु पाशैर्वरुणस्य बद्ध्वा

निधेहि भीतो न पलायते यथा ।

बुद्धिश्च पुंसो वयसार्यसेवया

यावद्गुरुर्भार्गव आगमिष्यति ॥ ५० ॥

imaṁ tu pāśair varuṇasya baddhvā

nidhehi bhīto na palāyate yathā

buddhiś ca puṁso vayasārya-sevayā

yāvad gurur bhārgava āgamiṣyati

Translation

Until the return of our spiritual master, Śukrācārya, arrest this child with the ropes of Varuṇa so that he will not flee in fear. In any case, by the time he is somewhat grown up and has assimilated our instructions or served our spiritual master, he will change in his intelligence. Thus there need be no cause for anxiety.

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.

The Advisers Plan to Change Prahlāda

1
The advisers proposed binding Prahlāda with the ropes of Varuṇa until their spiritual master, Śukrācārya, returned.
2
They said this would prevent the child from fleeing in fear.
3
They expected his intelligence to change as he grew older, absorbed their instructions, or served their spiritual master. On that basis, they told Hiraṇyakaśipu not to be anxious.

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:

The sons of Hiraṇyakaśipu’s spiritual master, Śukrācārya, began teaching Prahlāda in their own way, but Prahlāda Mahārāja did not accept their instructions. While the teachers were absent from the classroom, Prahlāda Mahārāja began to preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness in the school, and by his instructions all his class friends, the sons of the demons, became devotees like him.

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

imamthis
tubut
pāśaiḥby the ropes
varuṇasyaof the demigod known as Varuṇa
baddhvābinding
nidhehikeep (him)
bhītaḥbeing afraid
nanot

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
Abhaya · Fearlessness
Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 7.5
In this verse: “fear”
Vātsalya · Parental affection
Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 7.5
In this verse: “child”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I assume that someone will eventually think as I do merely through age or instruction?

Practice

Write one sentence distinguishing what the advisers proposed from what they merely expected would happen.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Advisers Plan to Change PrahlādaThis 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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