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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 8: Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva Slays the King of the Demons
7.8.97.8.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.8.10

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Prahlāda Mahārājasince 7.8.9inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

दस्यून्पुरा षण् न विजित्य लुम्पतो

मन्यन्त एके स्वजिता दिशो दश ।

जितात्मनो ज्ञस्य समस्य देहिनां

साधो: स्वमोहप्रभवा: कुत: परे ॥ १० ॥

dasyūn purā ṣaṇ na vijitya lumpato

manyanta eke sva-jitā diśo daśa

jitātmano jñasya samasya dehināṁ

sādhoḥ sva-moha-prabhavāḥ kutaḥ pare

Translation

In former times there were many fools like you who did not conquer the six enemies that steal away the wealth of the body. These fools were very proud, thinking, “I have conquered all enemies in all the ten directions.” But if a person is victorious over the six enemies and is equipoised toward all living entities, for him there are no enemies. Enemies are merely imagined by one in ignorance.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Conquer the Enemies Within

  1. 1

    People may proudly think they have conquered all enemies while remaining controlled by their own mind and five senses. These are the six enemies described here.

  2. 2

    Everyone is originally a servant of Kṛṣṇa. Forgetting this, one serves māyā through lusty desires, anger, greed, illusion, madness and jealousy.

  3. 3

    One who is in Kṛṣṇa consciousness recognizes the uncontrolled mind and senses as the enemies within. One who has conquered them and is equal toward all living entities has no enemies.

Key points from the purport
  • In this material world, everyone thinks that he has conquered his enemies, not understanding that his enemies are his uncontrolled mind and five senses (manaḥ ṣaṣṭhānīndriyāṇi prakṛti-sthāni karṣati).
  • Everyone is actually dependent on the reactions of material laws, but still one thinks himself independent and thinks that he has conquered all directions.
  • In conclusion, one who thinks that he has many enemies is an ignorant man, whereas one who is in Kṛṣṇa consciousness knows that there are no enemies but those within oneself — the uncontrolled mind and senses.

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

Terror and divine fury → Protection and compassion. The crisis resolves through relationship rather than domination.

Chapters 8–10 of Canto 7: Nṛsiṁhadeva appears; Prahlāda pacifies Him. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 8: Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva Slays the King of the Demons

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

In a helpless condition, they approached Hiraṇyakaśipu and described in detail the effect of Prahlāda’s preaching. After hearing of this, Hiraṇyakaśipu decided to kill his son Prahlāda.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.8
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dasyūnplunderers
  2. purāin the beginning
  3. ṣaṭsix
  4. nanot
  5. vijityaconquering
  6. lumpataḥstealing all one’s possessions
  7. manyanteconsider
  8. ekesome
3

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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 7.8

    In this verse: “wealth”, “illusion”, “māyā”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 7.8

    In this verse: “proud”, “proudly”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which demand of my mind or senses most often distracts me from serving Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Notice one urge driven by anger, greed or jealousy today, and pause to remember that you are a servant of Kṛṣṇa before acting.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayConquer the Enemies WithinThis 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 7.8.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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