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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
7.8.457.8.47

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.8.46

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The inhabitants of Vidyādhara-lokasince 7.8.46inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

श्रीविद्याधरा ऊचु:

विद्यां पृथग्धारणयानुराद्धां

न्यषेधदज्ञो बलवीर्यद‍ृप्त: ।

स येन सङ्ख्ये पशुवद्धतस्तं

मायानृसिंहं प्रणता: स्म नित्यम् ॥ ४६ ॥

śrī-vidyādharā ūcuḥ

vidyāṁ pṛthag dhāraṇayānurāddhāṁ

nyaṣedhad ajño bala-vīrya-dṛptaḥ

sa yena saṅkhye paśuvad dhatas taṁ

māyā-nṛsiṁhaṁ praṇatāḥ sma nityam

Translation

The inhabitants of Vidyādhara-loka prayed: Our acquired power to appear and disappear in various ways according to varieties of meditation was banned by that foolish Hiraṇyakaśipu because of his pride in his superior bodily strength and his ability to conquer others. Now the Supreme Personality of Godhead has killed him just as if the demon were an animal. Unto that supreme pastime form of Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, we eternally offer our respectful obeisances.

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.

Bodily Pride Cannot Withstand the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    The inhabitants of Vidyādhara-loka had gained the power to appear and disappear through varieties of meditation.

  2. 2

    Proud of his bodily strength and ability to conquer others, Hiraṇyakaśipu banned the use of their acquired power.

  3. 3

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead killed him as if he were an animal. The inhabitants offered eternal obeisances to the supreme pastime form of Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva.

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-vidyādharāḥ ūcuḥthe inhabitants of Vidyādhara-loka prayed
  2. vidyāmmystic formulas (by which one can appear and disappear)
  3. pṛthakseparately
  4. dhāraṇayāby various meditations within the mind
  5. anurāddhāmattained
  6. nyaṣedhatstopped
  7. ajñaḥthis fool
  8. bala-vīrya-dṛptaḥpuffed up by bodily strength and his ability to conquer anyone
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

  • Dainya · Humility

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

    In this verse: “pride”, “proud”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Does pride in my strength or ability lead me to restrict others?

Practice

Offer one respectful bow to Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva today, acknowledging that bodily strength is not supreme.

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 todayBodily Pride Cannot Withstand the Supreme LordThis 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 7.8.46? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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