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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 9: Prahlāda Pacifies Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva with Prayers
7.8.567.9.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.9.1

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 7.9.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

श्रीनारद उवाच

एवं सुरादय: सर्वे ब्रह्मरुद्रपुर: सरा: ।

नोपैतुमशकन्मन्युसंरम्भं सुदुरासदम् ॥ १ ॥

śrī-nārada uvāca

evaṁ surādayaḥ sarve

brahma-rudra-puraḥ sarāḥ

nopaitum aśakan manyu-

saṁrambhaṁ sudurāsadam

Translation

The great saint Nārada Muni continued: The demigods, headed by Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and other great demigods, dared not come forward before the Lord, who at that time was extremely angry.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Protects His Devotees

  1. 1

    The Lord cannot tolerate blasphemy of a devotee, and a devotee cannot tolerate blasphemy of the Lord or His devotees. The purport explains that even anger has a proper use in their service.

  2. 2

    Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva was so angry that even Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and the goddess of fortune could not pacify Him with prayers.

  3. 3

    The Lord wished to show His affection for Prahlāda Mahārāja. Therefore those present urged Prahlāda forward to pacify Him.

Key points from the purport
  • A devotee of the Lord cannot tolerate blasphemy of the Lord or His other devotees, and the Lord also cannot tolerate blasphemy of a devotee.
  • Thus Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva was so very angry that the great demigods like Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva and even the goddess of fortune, who is the Lord’s constant companion, could not pacify Him, even after offering prayers of glorification and praise.
  • No one was able to pacify the Lord in His anger, but because the Lord was willing to exhibit His affection for Prahlāda Mahārāja, all the demigods and the others present before the Lord pushed Prahlāda Mahārāja forward to pacify Him.

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

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 8.6

This verse was composed by Śrīdhara Svāmī in his commentary on the Seventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.9.1).

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 9: Prahlāda Pacifies Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva with Prayers

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

After Hiraṇyakaśipu was killed, the Lord continued to be very angry, and the demigods, headed by Lord Brahmā, could not pacify Him. Even mother Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune, the constant companion of Nārāyaṇa, could not dare come before Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.9
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-nāradaḥ uvācathe great saintly sage Nārada Muni said
  2. evamthus
  3. sura-ādayaḥthe groups of demigods
  4. sarveall
  5. brahma-rudra-puraḥ sarāḥrepresented by Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva
  6. nanot
  7. upaitumto go before the Lord
  8. aśakanable
  9. manyu-saṁrambhamin a completely angry mood
  10. su-durāsadamvery difficult to approach (Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva)
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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 7.9

    In this verse: “devotee”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the Lord’s concern for His devotees deepen my trust in Him?

Practice

Today, refrain from speaking disrespectfully of a devotee, remembering the Lord’s affection for His devotees.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

2 lectures given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayThe Lord Protects His DevoteesThis 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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