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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
7.8.437.8.45

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.8.44

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The inhabitants of Pitṛlokasince 7.8.44inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

श्रीपितर ऊचु:

श्राद्धानि नोऽधिबुभुजे प्रसभं तनूजै-

र्दत्तानि तीर्थसमयेऽप्यपिबत्तिलाम्बु ।

तस्योदरान्नखविदीर्णवपाद्य आर्च्छत्

तस्मै नमो नृहरयेऽखिलधर्मगोप्त्रे ॥ ४४ ॥

śrī-pitara ūcuḥ

śrāddhāni no ’dhibubhuje prasabhaṁ tanūjair

dattāni tīrtha-samaye ’py apibat tilāmbu

tasyodarān nakha-vidīrṇa-vapād ya ārcchat

tasmai namo nṛharaye ’khila-dharma-goptre

Translation

The inhabitants of Pitṛloka prayed: Let us offer our respectful obeisances unto Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, the maintainer of the religious principles of the universe. He has killed Hiraṇyakaśipu, the demon who by force enjoyed all the offerings of the śrāddha ceremonies performed by our sons and grandsons on the anniversaries of our death and who drank the water with sesame seeds offered in holy places of pilgrimage. By killing this demon, O Lord, You have taken back all this stolen property from his abdomen by piercing it with Your nails. We therefore wish to offer our respectful obeisances unto You.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Maintains Religious Principles

  1. 1

    Householders have a duty to offer food grains respectfully to their departed forefathers. Hiraṇyakaśipu disrupted this process and forcibly enjoyed the offerings.

  2. 2

    Under demoniac rule, Vedic principles are turned upside down. Sacrifices stop, their resources are taken away, and society becomes chaotic.

  3. 3

    The inhabitants of Pitṛloka offered obeisances to Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva as the maintainer of religious principles. His removal of the demon brought relief across the planets.

Key points from the purport
  • It is the duty of all householders to offer food grains to all their departed forefathers, but during the time of Hiraṇyakaśipu this process was stopped; no one would offer śrāddha oblations of food grains to the forefathers with great respect.
  • Thus when there is a demoniac rule, everything concerning the Vedic principles is turned upside down, all the religious ceremonies of yajña are stopped, the resources meant to be spent for yajña are taken away by the demoniac government, everything becomes chaotic, and consequently the entire world becomes hell itself.
  • When the demons are killed by the presence of Nṛsiṁhadeva, everyone feels comfortable, irrespective of the planet upon which he lives.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-pitaraḥ ūcuḥthe inhabitants of Pitṛloka said
  2. śrāddhānithe performances of the śrāddha ceremony (offering of food grains to dead forefathers by a particular process)
  3. naḥour
  4. adhibubhujeenjoyed
  5. prasabhamby force
  6. tanūjaiḥby our sons and grandsons
  7. dattānioffered
  8. tīrtha-samayeat the time of bathing in the holy places
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 7.8

    In this verse: “religious”, “principles”, “duty”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 7.8

    In this verse: “death”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “householders”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I treat religious duties and the resources meant for them with respect?

Practice

Offer respectful obeisances to Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, remembering Him as the maintainer of religious principles.

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 todayThe Lord Maintains Religious PrinciplesThis 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 7.8.44? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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