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

123456789101112131415

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 ›
Canto 7 · Chapter 8: Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva Slays the King of the Demons
7.8.497.8.51

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.8.50

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The inhabitants of Gandharvalokasince 7.8.50inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

श्रीगन्धर्वा ऊचु:

वयं विभो ते नटनाट्यगायका

येनात्मसाद्वीर्यबलौजसा कृता: ।

स एष नीतो भवता दशामिमां

किमुत्पथस्थ: कुशलाय कल्पते ॥ ५० ॥

śrī-gandharvā ūcuḥ

vayaṁ vibho te naṭa-nāṭya-gāyakā

yenātmasād vīrya-balaujasā kṛtāḥ

sa eṣa nīto bhavatā daśām imāṁ

kim utpathasthaḥ kuśalāya kalpate

Translation

The inhabitants of Gandharvaloka prayed: Your Lordship, we ever engage in Your service by dancing and singing in dramatic performances, but this Hiraṇyakaśipu, by the influence of his bodily strength and valor, brought us under his subjugation. Now he has been brought to this low condition by Your Lordship. What benefit can result from the activities of such an upstart as Hiraṇyakaśipu?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Lasting Strength Comes From Serving the Lord

  1. 1

    The inhabitants of Gandharvaloka serve the Lord through dancing and singing in dramatic performances. Hiraṇyakaśipu had brought them under his control by strength and valor.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that an obedient servant of the Supreme Lord becomes powerful in bodily strength, influence and effulgence. Demoniac upstarts may be powerful temporarily, but ultimately fall.

  3. 3

    The Lord's obedient servants remain powerful by His grace. Their victory over Hiraṇyakaśipu's influence depends on the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • By being a very obedient servant of the Supreme Lord, one becomes extremely powerful in bodily strength, influence and effulgence, whereas the fate of demoniac upstarts is ultimately to fall down like Hiraṇyakaśipu.
  • Hiraṇyakaśipu and persons like him may be very powerful for some time, but the obedient servants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead like the demigods remain powerful always.
  • They are victorious over the influence of Hiraṇyakaśipu by the grace of the Supreme Lord.

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 entire universe was thus relieved of the rule of Hiraṇyakaśipu, and everyone was jubilant in transcendental bliss. Then all the demigods, headed by Lord Brahmā, approached the Lord.
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-gandharvāḥ ūcuḥthe inhabitants of Gandharvaloka (who are usually engaged as musicians of the heavenly planets) said
  2. vayamwe
  3. vibhoO Lord
  4. teYour
  5. naṭa-nāṭya-gāyakāḥdancers and singers in dramatic performances
  6. yenaby whom
  7. ātmasātunder subjection
  8. vīryaof his valor
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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 7.8

    In this verse: “grace”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I placing more trust in personal strength or in obedient service to the Lord?

Practice

Spend a few minutes singing the Lord's glories as an offering of service.

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 todayLasting Strength Comes From Serving the 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 7.8.50? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories