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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
7.8.517.8.53

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.8.52

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The inhabitants of Yakṣalokasince 7.8.52inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

श्रीयक्षा ऊचु:

वयमनुचरमुख्या: कर्मभिस्ते मनोज्ञै-

स्त इह दितिसुतेन प्रापिता वाहकत्वम् ।

स तु जनपरितापं तत्कृतं जानता ते

नरहर उपनीत: पञ्चतां पञ्चविंश ॥ ५२ ॥

śrī-yakṣā ūcuḥ

vayam anucara-mukhyāḥ karmabhis te mano-jñais

ta iha diti-sutena prāpitā vāhakatvam

sa tu jana-paritāpaṁ tat-kṛtaṁ jānatā te

narahara upanītaḥ pañcatāṁ pañca-viṁśa

Translation

The inhabitants of Yakṣaloka prayed: O controller of the twenty-four elements, we are considered the best servants of Your Lordship because of rendering services pleasing to You, yet we engaged as palanquin carriers by the order of Hiraṇyakaśipu, the son of Diti. O Lord in the form of Nṛsiṁhadeva, You know how this demon gave trouble to everyone, but now You have killed him, and his body is mixing with the five material elements.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Freedom to Resume Pleasing Service

  1. 1

    The Supreme Lord controls the senses, material elements, sense objects, mind, intelligence, false ego and soul. The purport therefore explains His address as pañca-viṁśa, the twenty-fifth element.

  2. 2

    Although the Yakṣas rendered pleasing service to the Lord, Hiraṇyakaśipu forced them to carry his palanquin. His oppression troubled the entire universe.

  3. 3

    After his death, his body returned to earth, water, fire, air and sky. The Yakṣas resumed their original service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and gratefully offered prayers.

Key points from the purport
  • The Supreme Lord is the controller of the ten senses, the five material elements, the five sense objects, the mind, the intelligence, the false ego and the soul.
  • The inhabitants of the Yakṣa planet are supposed to be the best of all servants, but Hiraṇyakaśipu engaged them as palanquin carriers.
  • The entire universe was in trouble because of Hiraṇyakaśipu, but now that Hiraṇyakaśipu’s body was mixing with the five material elements — earth, water, fire, air and sky — everyone felt relief.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-yakṣāḥ ūcuḥthe inhabitants of the Yakṣa planet prayed
  2. vayamwe
  3. anucara-mukhyāḥthe chief among Your many servants
  4. karmabhiḥby services
  5. teunto You
  6. mano-jñaiḥvery pleasing
  7. tethey
  8. ihaat the present moment
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “death”

  • Dainya · Humility

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

    In this verse: “false ego”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I value the opportunity to render service that pleases the Lord?

Practice

Offer a short prayer thanking the Lord for the opportunity to serve Him today.

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 todayFreedom to Resume Pleasing ServiceThis 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 7.8.52? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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