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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

7.8.35 7.8.37-39

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.8.36

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

तदा विमानावलिभिर्नभस्तलं

दिद‍ृक्षतां सङ्कुलमास नाकिनाम् ।

सुरानका दुन्दुभयोऽथ जघ्निरे

गन्धर्वमुख्या ननृतुर्जगु: स्त्रिय: ॥ ३६ ॥

tadā vimānāvalibhir nabhastalaṁ

didṛkṣatāṁ saṅkulam āsa nākinām

surānakā dundubhayo ’tha jaghnire

gandharva-mukhyā nanṛtur jaguḥ striyaḥ

Translation

At that time, the airplanes of the demigods, who desired to see the activities of the Supreme Lord, Nārāyaṇa, crowded the sky. The demigods began beating drums and kettledrums, and upon hearing them the angelic women began to dance, while the chiefs of the Gandharvas sang sweetly.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Celebrating the Supreme Lord’s Activities

1
The demigods desired to see the activities of the Supreme Lord, Nārāyaṇa. Their airplanes crowded the sky.
2
The demigods celebrated by beating drums and kettledrums.
3
Hearing the drums, the angelic women danced, while the chiefs of the Gandharvas sang sweetly.

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:

The Lord performed His pastimes by fighting with the demon for some time, and in the evening, on the border between day and night, the Lord captured the demon, threw him on His lap, and killed him by piercing his abdomen with His nails. The Lord not only killed Hiraṇyakaśipu, the King of the demons, but also killed many of his followers.

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

tadāat that time
vimāna-āvalibhiḥwith different types of airplanes
nabhastalamthe sky
didṛkṣatāmdesirous of seeing
saṅkulamcrowded
āsabecame
nākināmof the demigods
sura-ānakāḥthe drums of the demigods

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”
Prema · Transcendental love
The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 7.8
In this verse: “sweetly”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I make time to hear about and celebrate the Supreme Lord’s activities?

Practice

Read this translation aloud once, giving your attention to the joyful celebration of the Lord.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCelebrating the Supreme Lord’s ActivitiesThis 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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