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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 6: Prahlāda Instructs His Demoniac Schoolmates

7.6.28 7.7.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 7.6.29-30

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:The sons of the demonssince 7.6.29-30inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja YudhiṣṭhiraPrahlāda Mahārāja → his schoolmates

श्रीदैत्यपुत्रा ऊचु:

प्रह्राद त्वं वयं चापि नर्तेऽन्यं विद्महे गुरुम् ।

एताभ्यां गुरुपुत्राभ्यां बालानामपि हीश्वरौ ॥ २९ ॥

बालस्यान्त:पुरस्थस्य महत्सङ्गो दुरन्वय: ।

छिन्धि न: संशयं सौम्य स्याच्चेद्विस्रम्भकारणम् ॥ ३० ॥

śrī-daitya-putrā ūcuḥ

prahrāda tvaṁ vayaṁ cāpi

narte ’nyaṁ vidmahe gurum

etābhyāṁ guru-putrābhyāṁ

bālānām api hīśvarau

bālasyāntaḥpura-sthasya

mahat-saṅgo duranvayaḥ

chindhi naḥ saṁśayaṁ saumya

syāc ced visrambha-kāraṇam

Translation

The sons of the demons replied: Dear Prahlāda, neither you nor we know any teacher or spiritual master other than Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka, the sons of Śukrācārya. After all, we are children and they our controllers. For you especially, who always remain within the palace, it is very difficult to associate with a great personality. Dear friend, most gentle one, would you kindly explain how it was possible for you to hear Nārada? Kindly dispel our doubts in this regard.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Ask Respectfully to Dispel Doubts

1
Prahlāda’s schoolmates knew no teachers other than Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka, the sons of Śukrācārya. As children, they were under these teachers’ control.
2
They thought it very difficult for Prahlāda to associate with a great personality because he always remained within the palace. They wanted to understand how he could have heard Nārada.
3
The boys addressed Prahlāda as their dear friend and gentle one. They respectfully asked him to explain and dispel their doubts.

Key points from the purport

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Seventh Canto, Sixth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Prahlāda Instructs His Demoniac Schoolmates.”

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

Chapter 6: Prahlāda Instructs His Demoniac Schoolmates

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

In speaking to his friends, who were all sons of demons, Prahlāda Mahārāja stressed that every living entity, especially in human society, must be interested in spiritual realization from the very beginning of life. When human beings are children, they should be taught that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the worshipable Deity for everyone.

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

śrī-daitya-putrāḥ ūcuḥthe sons of the demons said
prahrādaO dear friend Prahlāda
tvamyou
vayamwe
caand
apialso
nanot
ṛteexcept

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
Karuṇā · Compassion
Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 7.6
In this verse: “kindly”
Sakhya · Sacred friendship
The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 7.6
In this verse: “friend”
Vātsalya · Parental affection
Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 7.6
In this verse: “children”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When I have a doubt about what I hear, can I ask for clarification with the same gentleness?

Practice

Write one sincere question about a spiritual teaching you find unclear, phrasing it respectfully rather than as an accusation.

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. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayAsk Respectfully to Dispel DoubtsThis 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 7.6.29-30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.