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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
7.9.147.9.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.9.15

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Prahlāda Mahārājasince 7.9.9inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

नाहं बिभेम्यजित तेऽतिभयानकास्य-

जिह्वार्कनेत्रभ्रुकुटीरभसोग्रदंष्ट्रात् ।

आन्त्रस्रज: क्षतजकेशरशङ्कुकर्णा-

न्निर्ह्रादभीतदिगिभादरिभिन्नखाग्रात् ॥ १५ ॥

nāhaṁ bibhemy ajita te ’tibhayānakāsya-

jihvārka-netra-bhrukuṭī-rabhasogra-daṁṣṭrāt

āntra-srajaḥ-kṣataja-keśara-śaṅku-karṇān

nirhrāda-bhīta-digibhād ari-bhin-nakhāgrāt

Translation

My Lord, who are never conquered by anyone, I am certainly not afraid of Your ferocious mouth and tongue, Your eyes bright like the sun or Your frowning eyebrows. I do not fear Your sharp, pinching teeth, Your garland of intestines, Your mane soaked with blood, or Your high, wedgelike ears. Nor do I fear Your tumultuous roaring, which makes elephants flee to distant places, or Your nails, which are meant to kill Your enemies.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotees Worship Even the Lord’s Fierce Form

  1. 1

    Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva’s fierce appearance was dangerous for nondevotees, but it did not disturb Prahlāda Mahārāja. He was not afraid of the Lord’s teeth, roaring or nails.

  2. 2

    A lion’s cubs do not fear the lion, and a small fish is unafraid within the ocean. These examples show the security of taking shelter.

  3. 3

    The Lord sometimes assumes a fierce form to destroy wrongdoers, yet His devotees worship Him. They take pleasure in glorifying Him in both pleasing and fierce forms.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva’s fierce appearance was certainly most dangerous for the nondevotees, but for Prahlāda Mahārāja such a fearful appearance was not at all disturbing.
  • Therefore although the Lord sometimes assumes a fierce appearance to kill the duṣkṛtīs, the devotees worship Him.
  • The devotee always takes pleasure in worshiping the Lord and glorifying the Lord in any form, either pleasing or fierce.

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 9: Prahlāda Pacifies Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva with Prayers

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Fear of material existence is due to false ego. Therefore the ultimate goal of life for every living entity is to attain the position of being servant of the servant of the Lord.
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. nanot
  2. ahamI
  3. bibhemiam afraid
  4. ajitaO supreme victorious person, who are never conquered by anyone
  5. teYour
  6. ativery much
  7. bhayānakafearful
  8. āsyamouth
3

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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 7.9

    In this verse: “fear”, “afraid”, “dangerous”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 7.9

    In this verse: “devotees”, “worship”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 7.9

    In this verse: “shelter”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does Prahlāda’s lack of fear teach you about taking shelter of the Lord?

Practice

Offer one sentence of praise to Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, remembering Prahlāda’s confidence in Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

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

1 lecture given on it · quoted in 2 more lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 2 other lectures

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayDevotees Worship Even the Lord’s Fierce FormThis 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 7.9.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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