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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

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 8: Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva Slays the King of the Demons

7.8.15 7.8.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.8.16

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Hiraṇyakaśipusince 7.8.11inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

स विक्रमन् पुत्रवधेप्सुरोजसा

निशम्य निर्ह्रादमपूर्वमद्भ‍ुतम् ।

अन्त:सभायां न ददर्श तत्पदं

वितत्रसुर्येन सुरारियूथपा: ॥ १६ ॥

sa vikraman putra-vadhepsur ojasā

niśamya nirhrādam apūrvam adbhutam

antaḥ-sabhāyāṁ na dadarśa tat-padaṁ

vitatrasur yena surāri-yūtha-pāḥ

Translation

While showing his extraordinary prowess, Hiraṇyakaśipu, who desired to kill his own son, heard that wonderful, tumultuous sound, which had never before been heard. Upon hearing the sound, the other leaders of the demons were afraid. None of them could find the origin of that sound in the assembly.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Reveals His Presence Through Sound

1
Kṛṣṇa explains that He is the sound in ether. Here the tumultuous sound was proof of the Lord’s presence.
2
Hiraṇyakaśipu and the other demon leaders became extremely afraid, although they could not trace the sound’s source.
3
However powerful a person may be, a thunderbolt can cause fear. Through this sound, the demons could realize the supreme ruling power of the Lord.

Key points from the purport

Here the Lord exhibited His presence everywhere by the tumultuous sound in the sky (śabdaḥ khe).
The demons like Hiraṇyakaśipu could now realize the supreme ruling power of the Lord, and thus Hiraṇyakaśipu became afraid.
Similarly, Hiraṇyakaśipu and all the demons who were his associates were extremely afraid because of the presence of the Supreme Lord in the form of sound, although they could not trace out the source of the sound.

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· 1

The purport of SB 7.8.16 quotesBG 7.8

In Bhagavad-gītā (7.8) , Kṛṣṇa explains Himself by saying: “O son of Kuntī [Arjuna], I am the taste of water, the light of the sun and the moon, the syllable om in the Vedic mantras; I am the sound in ether and ability in man.”

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

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

Chapter 8: Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva Slays the King of the Demons

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

After hearing of this, Hiraṇyakaśipu decided to kill his son Prahlāda. Hiraṇyakaśipu was so angry that Prahlāda Mahārāja fell down at his feet and said many things just to pacify him, but he was unsuccessful in satisfying his demoniac father.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 7.8

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

saḥhe (Hiraṇyakaśipu)
vikramanexhibiting his prowess
putra-vadha-īpsuḥdesirous of killing his own son
ojasāwith great strength
niśamyahearing
nirhrādamthe fierce sound
apūrvamnever heard before
adbhutamvery wonderful

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
Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting
Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 7.8
In this verse: “hearing”, “heard”
Abhaya · Fearlessness
Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 7.8
In this verse: “afraid”, “fear”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I remember the Lord’s supreme power when I feel confident in my own abilities?

Practice

When you notice a sound today, briefly remember Kṛṣṇa’s statement that He is the sound in ether.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 7.8's connections

Live this todayThe Lord Reveals His Presence Through SoundThis 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 7.8.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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