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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
7.5.557.6.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 7.5.56-57

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

ते तु तद्गौरवात्सर्वे त्यक्तक्रीडापरिच्छदा: ।

बाला अदूषितधियो द्वन्द्वारामेरितेहितै: ॥ ५६ ॥

पर्युपासत राजेन्द्र तन्न्यस्तहृदयेक्षणा: ।

तानाह करुणो मैत्रो महाभागवतोऽसुर: ॥ ५७ ॥

te tu tad-gauravāt sarve

tyakta-krīḍā-paricchadāḥ

bālā adūṣita-dhiyo

dvandvārāmeritehitaiḥ

paryupāsata rājendra

tan-nyasta-hṛdayekṣaṇāḥ

tān āha karuṇo maitro

mahā-bhāgavato ’suraḥ

Translation

My dear King Yudhiṣṭhira, all the children were very much affectionate and respectful to Prahlāda Mahārāja, and because of their tender age they were not so polluted by the instructions and actions of their teachers, who were attached to condemned duality and bodily comfort. Thus the boys surrounded Prahlāda Mahārāja, giving up their playthings, and sat down to hear him. Their hearts and eyes being fixed upon him, they looked at him with great earnestness. Prahlāda Mahārāja, although born in a demon family, was an exalted devotee, and he desired their welfare. Thus he began instructing them about the futility of materialistic life.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Begin Spiritual Learning Early and Listen Earnestly

  1. 1

    Because of their tender age, the children were less affected by materialistic instruction than their fathers. Prahlāda Mahārāja used this opportunity to teach them the importance of spiritual life.

  2. 2

    With affection and respect, the boys put aside their playthings and listened attentively. Prahlāda, an exalted devotee despite his birth in a demon family, sincerely desired their welfare.

  3. 3

    The gurukula teaches Kṛṣṇa consciousness from childhood. Such education helps children become steady in their hearts and less likely to be overcome by the modes of material nature later.

Key points from the purport
  • Prahlāda Mahārāja, therefore, taking advantage of the innocence of his class friends, began teaching them about the importance of spiritual life and the insignificance of materialistic life.
  • Although the teachers Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka were instructing all the boys in the materialistic life of religion, economic development and sense gratification, the boys were not much polluted.
  • Therefore, with great attention they wanted to hear from Prahlāda Mahārāja about Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

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:

Prahlāda Mahārāja replied that those who are attached to family life do not develop Kṛṣṇa consciousness, either personally or collectively. Instead, they suffer repeated birth and death in this material world and continue simply chewing the chewed.
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. tethey
  2. tuindeed
  3. tat-gauravātfrom great respect for the words of Prahlāda Mahārāja (due to his being a devotee)
  4. sarveall of them
  5. tyaktahaving given up
  6. krīḍā-paricchadāḥtoys for playing
  7. bālāḥthe boys
  8. adūṣita-dhiyaḥwhose intelligence was not as polluted (as that of their fathers)
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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: “attached”, “materialistic”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “children”, “fathers”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 7.5

    In this verse: “devotee”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What can I put aside so that I can hear spiritual instruction with greater attention?

Practice

Put aside one distraction and spend five minutes attentively reading these teachings on Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBegin Spiritual Learning Early and Listen EarnestlyThis 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 7.5.56-57? Get an answer from the verses themselves.