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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
7.8.447.8.46

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.8.45

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The inhabitants of Siddhalokasince 7.8.45inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

श्रीसिद्धा ऊचु:

यो नो गतिं योगसिद्धामसाधु-

रहार्षीद् योगतपोबलेन ।

नाना दर्पं तं नखैर्विददार

तस्मै तुभ्यं प्रणता: स्मो नृसिंह ॥ ४५ ॥

śrī-siddhā ūcuḥ

yo no gatiṁ yoga-siddhām asādhur

ahārṣīd yoga-tapo-balena

nānā darpaṁ taṁ nakhair vidadāra

tasmai tubhyaṁ praṇatāḥ smo nṛsiṁha

Translation

The inhabitants of Siddhaloka prayed: O Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, because we belong to Siddhaloka, we automatically achieve perfection in all eight kinds of mystic power. Yet Hiraṇyakaśipu was so dishonest that by the strength of his power and austerity, he took away our powers. Thus he became very proud of his mystic strength. Now, because this rogue has been killed by Your nails, we offer our respectful obeisances unto You.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Mystic Power Cannot Replace the Lord’s Protection

  1. 1

    The inhabitants of Siddhaloka naturally possess all eight kinds of mystic perfection. Through laghimā-siddhi, they can become very light and fly between planets without airplanes.

  2. 2

    By severe austerity, Hiraṇyakaśipu surpassed their powers and disturbed them. His mystic strength made him proud.

  3. 3

    Even these powerful residents felt relief when the Lord killed Hiraṇyakaśipu. They bowed respectfully to Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva.

Key points from the purport
  • On earth there are many yogīs who can exhibit some feeble mystic power by manufacturing pieces of gold like magic, but the inhabitants of the planet Siddhaloka are actually extremely powerful in mysticism.
  • By a severe type of austerity, however, Hiraṇyakaśipu excelled all the inhabitants of Siddhaloka and created disturbances for them.
  • Now that Hiraṇyakaśipu had been killed by the Lord, the inhabitants of Siddhaloka also felt relieved.

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-siddhāḥ ūcuḥthe inhabitants of Siddhaloka said
  2. yaḥthe person who
  3. naḥour
  4. gatimperfection
  5. yoga-siddhāmachieved by mystic yoga
  6. asādhuḥmost uncivilized and dishonest
  7. ahārṣītstole away
  8. yogaof mysticism
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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

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 7.8

    In this verse: “proud”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I rely proudly on my abilities, or remember my need for the Lord’s protection?

Practice

Pause after using one of your abilities today and offer a respectful prayer to Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva.

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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 todayMystic Power Cannot Replace the Lord’s ProtectionThis 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 7.8.45? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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