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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

7.8.52 7.8.54

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.8.53

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:The inhabitants of Kimpuruṣa-lokasince 7.8.53inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

श्रीकिम्पुरुषा ऊचु:

वयं किम्पुरुषास्त्वं तु महापुरुष ईश्वर: ।

अयं कुपुरुषो नष्टो धिक्कृत: साधुभिर्यदा ॥ ५३ ॥

śrī-kimpuruṣā ūcuḥ

vayaṁ kimpuruṣās tvaṁ tu

mahā-puruṣa īśvaraḥ

ayaṁ kupuruṣo naṣṭo

dhik-kṛtaḥ sādhubhir yadā

Translation

The inhabitants of Kimpuruṣa-loka said: We are insignificant living entities, and You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the supreme controller. Therefore how can we offer suitable prayers unto You? When this demon was condemned by devotees because they were disgusted with him, he was then killed by You.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Remain Steady in Devotional Service

1
The inhabitants of Kimpuruṣa-loka humbly call themselves insignificant living entities. They recognize the Lord as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and supreme controller.
2
The Lord appears to protect devotees, destroy miscreants and reestablish religious principles. When demons greatly disturb His devotees, He appears in different incarnations to protect them.
3
Devotees following Prahlāda Mahārāja should remain sincere servants rather than be disturbed by opposition. They can be assured that demoniac activities cannot stop their devotional service.

Key points from the purport

The Lord appears in order to execute two kinds of activities — to kill the demons and to protect the devotees.
When the devotees are too disturbed by the demons, the Lord certainly appears in different incarnations to give the devotees protection.
The devotees following in the footsteps of Prahlāda Mahārāja should not be disturbed by the demoniac activities of the nondevotees.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 7.8.53 quotesBG 4.7

The cause of the Supreme Lord’s appearance upon this earth is stated in Bhagavad-gītā (4.7-8) by the Lord Himself:

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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

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 summary Back to this verse in chapter 7.8

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

śrī-kimpuruṣāḥ ūcuḥthe inhabitants of Kimpuruṣa-loka said
vayamwe
kimpuruṣāḥthe inhabitants of Kimpuruṣa-loka, or insignificant living entities
tvamYour Lordship
tuhowever
mahā-puruṣaḥthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
īśvaraḥthe supreme controller
ayamthis

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

Īśānukathā · The science of God
Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 7.8
In this verse: “devotees”, “devotional service”
Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct
Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 7.8
In this verse: “religious”, “principles”
Rakṣā · Divine protection
Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 7.8
In this verse: “protect”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What helps me stay sincere in devotional service when I encounter opposition?

Practice

Keep one small commitment to devotional service today, even if you feel discouraged.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRemain Steady in Devotional 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.

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