1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 7 · The Science of God · 15 chapters

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 7.8.37-39

Who is speaking and story frame

तत्रोपव्रज्य विबुधा ब्रह्मेन्द्रगिरिशादय: ।

ऋषय: पितर: सिद्धा विद्याधरमहोरगा: ॥ ३७ ॥

मनव: प्रजानां पतयो गन्धर्वाप्सरचारणा: ।

यक्षा: किम्पुरुषास्तात वेताला: सहकिन्नरा: ॥ ३८ ॥

ते विष्णुपार्षदा: सर्वे सुनन्दकुमुदादय: ।

मूर्ध्नि बद्धाञ्जलिपुटा आसीनं तीव्रतेजसम् ।

ईडिरे नरशार्दुलं नातिदूरचरा: पृथक् ॥ ३९ ॥

tatropavrajya vibudhā

brahmendra-giriśādayaḥ

ṛṣayaḥ pitaraḥ siddhā

vidyādhara-mahoragāḥ

manavaḥ prajānāṁ patayo

gandharvāpsara-cāraṇāḥ

yakṣāḥ kimpuruṣās tāta

vetālāḥ saha-kinnarāḥ

te viṣṇu-pārṣadāḥ sarve

sunanda-kumudādayaḥ

mūrdhni baddhāñjali-puṭā

āsīnaṁ tīvra-tejasam

īḍire nara-śārdulaṁ

nātidūracarāḥ pṛthak

Translation

My dear King Yudhiṣṭhira, the demigods then approached the Lord. They were headed by Lord Brahmā, King Indra and Lord Śiva and included great saintly persons and the residents of Pitṛloka, Siddhaloka, Vidyādhara-loka and the planet of the snakes. The Manus approached, and so did the chiefs of various other planets. The angelic dancers approached, as did the Gandharvas, the Cāraṇas, the Yakṣas, the inhabitants of Kinnaraloka, the Vetālas, the inhabitants of Kimpuruṣa-loka, and the personal servants of Viṣṇu like Sunanda and Kumuda. All of them came near the Lord, who glowed with intense light. They individually offered their obeisances and prayers, their hands folded at their heads.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

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

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Approaching the Lord With Reverence

  1. 1

    Lord Brahmā, King Indra and Lord Śiva headed the demigods who approached the Lord. Great saintly persons and residents of many planets also came.

  2. 2

    The personal servants of Viṣṇu, including Sunanda and Kumuda, joined those approaching the Lord, who glowed with intense light.

  3. 3

    Each offered obeisances and prayers, with hands folded at the head.

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:

These included the great saintly persons, the Pitās, the Siddhas, the Vidyādharas, the Nāgas, the Manus, the prajāpatis, the Gandharvas, the Cāraṇas, the Yakṣas, the Kimpuruṣas, the Vaitālikas, the Kinnaras and also many other varieties of beings in human form. All of them stood not far from the Supreme Personality of Godhead and began offering their prayers unto the Lord, whose spiritual effulgence was brilliant as He sat on the throne.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.8
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tatrathere (in the sky)
  2. upavrajyacoming (in their respective airplanes)
  3. vibudhāḥall the different demigods
  4. brahma-indra-giriśa-ādayaḥheaded by Lord Brahmā, King Indra and Lord Śiva
  5. ṛṣayaḥthe great saintly sages
  6. pitaraḥthe inhabitants of Pitṛloka
  7. siddhāḥthe residents of Siddhaloka
  8. vidyādharathe residents of Vidyādharaloka
3

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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 7.8

    In this verse: “king”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What can I learn from the reverence shown by all those who approached the Lord?

Practice

Fold your hands and offer one simple, respectful prayer to the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

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

Quoted in 1 lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 lecture

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 todayApproaching the Lord With ReverenceThis 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 7.8.37-39? Get an answer from the verses themselves.