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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 7.5.54

Who is speaking and story frame

यदाचार्य: परावृत्तो गृहमेधीयकर्मसु ।

वयस्यैर्बालकैस्तत्र सोपहूत: कृतक्षणै: ॥ ५४ ॥

yadācāryaḥ parāvṛtto

gṛhamedhīya-karmasu

vayasyair bālakais tatra

sopahūtaḥ kṛta-kṣaṇaiḥ

Translation

When the teachers went home to attend to their household affairs, the students of the same age as Prahlāda Mahārāja would call him to take the opportunity of leisure hours for play.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Use Free Moments for Kṛṣṇa Consciousness

  1. 1

    When the teachers left to attend to household duties, Prahlāda Mahārāja’s classmates invited him to play. Their leisure hours provided an opportunity to be together.

  2. 2

    Prahlāda was not very interested in playing. He wanted to use every moment to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

  3. 3

    Prahlāda recognized an opportunity to speak about Kṛṣṇa consciousness. He used the available time for that purpose.

Key points from the purport
  • In tiffin hours, the hours when the teachers were absent from the classroom, the students called Prahlāda Mahārāja, wanting to play with him.
  • As will be seen from the following verses, however, Prahlāda Mahārāja was not very much interested in playing.
  • Therefore, as indicated in this verse by the word kṛta-kṣaṇaiḥ, at the opportune moment when it was possible to preach about Kṛṣṇa consciousness, Prahlāda Mahārāja used the time as follows.

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:

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 summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.5
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yadāwhen
  2. ācāryaḥthe teachers
  3. parāvṛttaḥbecame engaged
  4. gṛha-medhīyaof household life
  5. karmasuin duties
  6. vayasyaiḥby his friends of the same age
  7. bālakaiḥboys
  8. tatrathere
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 7.5

    In this verse: “household”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 7.5

    In this verse: “duties”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Where is there a small opportunity for Kṛṣṇa consciousness in my leisure time?

Practice

Use one break today to share a teaching about Kṛṣṇa consciousness with someone willing to hear.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUse Free Moments for Kṛṣṇa ConsciousnessThis 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 7.5.54? Get an answer from the verses themselves.