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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
7.8.77.8.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.8.8

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Prahlāda Mahārājasince 7.8.7inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

स ईश्वर: काल उरुक्रमोऽसा-

वोज: सह: सत्त्वबलेन्द्रियात्मा ।

स एव विश्वं परम: स्वशक्तिभि:

सृजत्यवत्यत्ति गुणत्रयेश: ॥ ८ ॥

sa īśvaraḥ kāla urukramo ’sāv

ojaḥ sahaḥ sattva-balendriyātmā

sa eva viśvaṁ paramaḥ sva-śaktibhiḥ

sṛjaty avaty atti guṇa-trayeśaḥ

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the supreme controller and time factor, is the power of the senses, the power of the mind, the power of the body, and the vital force of the senses. His influence is unlimited. He is the best of all living entities, the controller of the three modes of material nature. By His own power, He creates this cosmic manifestation, maintains it and annihilates it also.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Supreme Lord Controls Material Nature

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the supreme controller and time factor. He supplies the power of the senses, mind and body.

  2. 2

    His influence is unlimited, and He controls the three modes of material nature that move the material world.

  3. 3

    Because He is the master of these modes, He creates, maintains and destroys the cosmic manifestation by His own power.

Key points from the purport
  • Since the material world is being moved by the three material modes and since the Lord is their master, the Lord can create, maintain and destroy the material world.

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:

Following the instructions of Prahlāda Mahārāja, all the sons of the demons became attached to Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. 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.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.8
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥHe (the Supreme Personality of Godhead)
  2. īśvaraḥthe supreme controller
  3. kālaḥthe time factor
  4. urukramaḥthe Lord, whose every action is uncommon
  5. asauthat one
  6. ojaḥthe strength of the senses
  7. sahaḥthe strength of the mind
  8. sattvasteadiness
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does remembering the Lord’s control change my sense of independence?

Practice

Pause before one task today and acknowledge that the strength of your mind and body comes from the Supreme Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Supreme Lord Controls Material NatureThis 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 7.8.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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