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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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

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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 6: Prahlāda Instructs His Demoniac Schoolmates

7.6.20-23 7.6.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.6.24

Mukti· Liberation

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Prahlāda Mahārājasince 7.6.3inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja YudhiṣṭhiraPrahlāda Mahārāja → his schoolmates

तस्मात्सर्वेषु भूतेषु दयां कुरुत सौहृदम् ।

भावमासुरमुन्मुच्य यया तुष्यत्यधोक्षज: ॥ २४ ॥

tasmāt sarveṣu bhūteṣu

dayāṁ kuruta sauhṛdam

bhāvam āsuram unmucya

yayā tuṣyaty adhokṣajaḥ

Translation

Therefore, my dear young friends born of demons, please act in such a way that the Supreme Lord, who is beyond the conception of material knowledge, will be satisfied. Give up your demoniac nature and act without enmity or duality. Show mercy to all living entities by enlightening them in devotional service, thus becoming their well-wishers.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Please the Lord by Becoming Everyone’s Well-Wisher

1
One can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead only through devotional service. Sincerely spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness pleases the Lord, even when one is imperfectly educated.
2
Being a true well-wisher means teaching Kṛṣṇa consciousness without discriminating between friends and enemies. This service fulfills life’s mission and brings peace and tranquillity.
3
A preacher should understand that the Supreme Lord is the supreme enjoyer, the proprietor of everything and everyone’s best friend. Because Viṣṇu lives in everyone’s heart, every body is His temple.

Key points from the purport

The Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (18.55), bhaktyā mām abhijānāti yāvān yaś cāsmi tattvataḥ: “One can understand the Supreme Personality as He is only by devotional service.”
Prahlāda Mahārāja ultimately instructed his class friends, the sons of the demons, to accept the process of devotional service by preaching the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness to everyone.
Preaching is the best service to the Lord.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 2

The purport of SB 7.6.24 quotesBG 18.55

The Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (18.55), bhaktyā mām abhijānāti yāvān yaś cāsmi tattvataḥ: “One can understand the Supreme Personality as He is only by devotional service.”

The purport of SB 7.6.24 quotesBG 18.69

This is confirmed by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gītā (18.69).

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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 6: Prahlāda Instructs His Demoniac Schoolmates

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Therefore, from the very beginning of life, one should engage in devotional service ( śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ). This is the duty of all living entities.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 7.6

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

tasmāttherefore
sarveṣuto all
bhūteṣuliving entities
dayāmmercy
kurutashow
sauhṛdamfriendliness
bhāvamthe attitude
āsuramof the demons (who separate friends and enemies)

Key ideas in this verse

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

Mukti · Liberation
What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10
Jñāna · Spiritual insight
Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 7.6
In this verse: “knowledge”, “understand”
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 7.6
In this verse: “devotional service”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 7.6
In this verse: “material”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I willing to wish spiritual good for someone I consider an enemy?

Practice

Gently share with one willing person this teaching: Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Lord and the best well-wisher of everyone.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

2 lectures given on it · quoted in 2 more lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 2 other lectures

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayPlease the Lord by Becoming Everyone’s Well-WisherThis 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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