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 · Text 7.8.43

Who is speaking and story frame

श्रीऋषय ऊचु:

त्वं नस्तप: परममात्थ यदात्मतेजो

येनेदमादिपुरुषात्मगतं ससर्क्थ ।

तद्विप्रलुप्तममुनाद्य शरण्यपाल

रक्षागृहीतवपुषा पुनरन्वमंस्था: ॥ ४३ ॥

śrī-ṛṣaya ūcuḥ

tvaṁ nas tapaḥ paramam āttha yad ātma-tejo

yenedam ādi-puruṣātma-gataṁ sasarktha

tad vipraluptam amunādya śaraṇya-pāla

rakṣā-gṛhīta-vapuṣā punar anvamaṁsthāḥ

Translation

All the saintly persons present offered their prayers in this way: O Lord, O supreme maintainer of those sheltered at Your lotus feet, O original Personality of Godhead, the process of austerity and penance, in which You instructed us before, is the spiritual power of Your very self. It is by austerity that You create the material world, which lies dormant within You. This austerity was almost stopped by the activities of this demon, but now, by Yourself appearing in the form of Nṛsiṁhadeva, which is meant just to give us protection, and by killing this demon, You have again approved the process of austerity.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Human Life Is Meant for Self-Realization

  1. 1

    Among the many forms of life, human life offers an opportunity for self-realization. Its main duty is tapasya, or austerity.

  2. 2

    Austerity is necessary to purify our material existence. Under demoniac influence, people forget this duty and gradually become demoniac themselves.

  3. 3

    By appearing as Nṛsiṁhadeva and killing Hiraṇyakaśipu, the Lord protected the saintly persons. He reaffirmed that human life is meant for austerity for self-realization.

Key points from the purport
  • In the higher statuses of life, beginning from human life, the main duty is tapasya, or austerity.
  • All the saintly persons, who were generally engaged in austerity, felt relieved when Hiraṇyakaśipu was killed by the Lord in the form of Nṛsiṁhadeva.
  • They realized that the original instruction concerning human life — that it is meant for tapasya for self-realization — was reaffirmed by the Lord when He killed Hiraṇyakaśipu.

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:

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. śrī-ṛṣayaḥ ūcuḥthe great sages said
  2. tvamYou
  3. naḥour
  4. tapaḥausterity
  5. paramamtopmost
  6. ātthainstructed
  7. yatwhich
  8. ātma-tejaḥYour spiritual power
3

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

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

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

    In this verse: “protection”, “protected”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 7.8

    In this verse: “sheltered”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I using my human life for self-realization, or only for comfort?

Practice

Give up one small comfort today and use that time to reflect on self-realization.

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.

Live this todayHuman Life Is Meant for Self-RealizationThis 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 7.8.43? Get an answer from the verses themselves.