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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
7.8.57.8.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.8.6

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Hiraṇyakaśipusince 7.8.5inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

क्रुद्धस्य यस्य कम्पन्ते त्रयो लोका: सहेश्वरा: ।

तस्य मेऽभीतवन्मूढ शासनं किं बलोऽत्यगा: ॥ ६ ॥

kruddhasya yasya kampante

trayo lokāḥ saheśvarāḥ

tasya me ’bhītavan mūḍha

śāsanaṁ kiṁ balo ’tyagāḥ

Translation

My son Prahlāda, you rascal, you know that when I am angry all the planets of the three worlds tremble, along with their chief rulers. By whose power has a rascal like you become so impudent that you appear fearless and overstep my power to rule you?

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Fearlessness Comes From Surrender to Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    A pure devotee does not claim personal power, but fully surrenders to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, confident in His protection.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa asked Arjuna to declare that His devotee never perishes. The relationship between the devotee and the Supreme Personality of Godhead is deeply relishable.

  3. 3

    Hiraṇyakaśipu could not understand his young son’s fearlessness. Prahlāda’s obedience belonged to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, not to commands opposing Him.

Key points from the purport
  • A devotee never claims to be very powerful himself; instead, he fully surrenders to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, being confident that in all dangerous conditions Kṛṣṇa will protect His devotee.
  • The Lord requested Arjuna to declare this instead of declaring it Himself because sometimes Kṛṣṇa changes His view and therefore people might not believe Him.
  • Thus Kṛṣṇa asked Arjuna to declare that a devotee of the Lord is never vanquished.

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 7.8.6 quotesBG 9.31

Kṛṣṇa Himself says in Bhagavad-gītā (9.31), kaunteya pratijānīhi na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati: “O son of Kuntī, declare boldly that My devotee never perishes.”

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

Further reading

Chapter 8: Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva Slays the King of the Demons

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

When this attachment became pronounced, their teachers, Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka, were very much afraid that the boys would become more and more devoted to the Lord. In a helpless condition, they approached Hiraṇyakaśipu and described in detail the effect of Prahlāda’s preaching.
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. kruddhasyawhen angered
  2. yasyahe who
  3. kampantetremble
  4. trayaḥ lokāḥthe three worlds
  5. saha-īśvarāḥwith their leaders
  6. tasyaof that
  7. meof me (Hiraṇyakaśipu)
  8. abhīta-vatwithout fear
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “fearless”, “fearlessness”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 7.8

    In this verse: “rulers”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 7.8

    In this verse: “devotee”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When I feel afraid, do I rely only on my own strength or remember Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Take one minute to pray to Kṛṣṇa for shelter and the strength to follow His instructions.

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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 todayFearlessness Comes From Surrender to KṛṣṇaThis 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 7.8.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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