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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
7.8.407.8.42

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.8.41

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Śivasince 7.8.41inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

श्रीरुद्र उवाच

कोपकालो युगान्तस्ते हतोऽयमसुरोऽल्पक: ।

तत्सुतं पाह्युपसृतं भक्तं ते भक्तवत्सल ॥ ४१ ॥

śrī-rudra uvāca

kopa-kālo yugāntas te

hato ’yam asuro ’lpakaḥ

tat-sutaṁ pāhy upasṛtaṁ

bhaktaṁ te bhakta-vatsala

Translation

Lord Śiva said: The end of the millennium is the time for Your anger. Now that this insignificant demon Hiraṇyakaśipu has been killed, O my Lord, who are naturally affectionate to Your devotee, kindly protect his son Prahlāda Mahārāja, who is standing nearby as Your fully surrendered devotee.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Always Affectionate Toward His Devotees

  1. 1

    At the time of annihilation, Lord Śiva plays the part of the Supreme Lord’s anger and is therefore called Rudra.

  2. 2

    Although others were afraid, Lord Śiva understood that the Lord’s anger was also His līlā. Even when appearing angry, the Lord remains affectionate toward His devotees.

  3. 3

    Lord Śiva asked the Lord to protect Prahlāda Mahārāja like an affectionate father. Prahlāda stood nearby as an exalted, fully surrendered devotee.

Key points from the purport
  • During the period of annihilation, at the end of each millennium, the Lord becomes angry, and the part of anger is played by Lord Śiva, who is therefore called Rudra.
  • Lord Śiva knew that he would have to play the part of anger for the Lord.
  • Therefore Lord Śiva reminded the Lord to act like an affectionate father toward Prahlāda Mahārāja, who was standing by the Lord’s side as an exalted, fully surrendered devotee.

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:

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 summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.8
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-rudraḥ uvācaLord Śiva offered his prayer
  2. kopa-kālaḥthe right time for Your anger (for the purpose of annihilating the universe)
  3. yuga-antaḥthe end of the millennium
  4. teby You
  5. hataḥkilled
  6. ayamthis
  7. asuraḥgreat demon
  8. alpakaḥvery insignificant
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Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 7.8

    In this verse: “devotee”, “devotees”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 7.8

    In this verse: “kindly”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 7.8

    In this verse: “protect”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the Lord’s unfailing affection encourage me to take shelter of Him?

Practice

Offer a short prayer asking for shelter, remembering the Lord’s affection for His devotees.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

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 todayAlways Affectionate Toward His DevoteesThis 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 7.8.41? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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