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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 9: Prahlāda Pacifies Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva with Prayers

7.9.17 7.9.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.9.18

Mukti· Liberation

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

सोऽहं प्रियस्य सुहृद: परदेवताया

लीलाकथास्तव नृसिंह विरिञ्चगीता: ।

अञ्जस्तितर्म्यनुगृणन्गुणविप्रमुक्तो

दुर्गाणि ते पदयुगालयहंससङ्ग: ॥ १८ ॥

so ’haṁ priyasya suhṛdaḥ paradevatāyā

līlā-kathās tava nṛsiṁha viriñca-gītāḥ

añjas titarmy anugṛṇan guṇa-vipramukto

durgāṇi te pada-yugālaya-haṁsa-saṅgaḥ

Translation

O my Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, by engaging in Your transcendental loving service in the association of devotees who are liberated souls [haṁsas], I shall become completely uncontaminated by the association of the three modes of material nature and be able to chant the glories of Your Lordship, who are so dear to me. I shall chant Your glories, following exactly in the footsteps of Lord Brahmā and his disciplic succession. In this way I shall undoubtedly be able to cross the ocean of nescience.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Follow the Ācāryas in Hearing and Chanting

1
Hearing and chanting the Supreme Lord’s holy name and activities free one from material contamination. This glorification is central to a devotee’s life and duty.
2
One should chant genuine songs and narrations received through disciplic succession rather than inventing new methods. Following the previous ācāryas makes God realization and self-realization easy.
3
Following the ācāryas’ instructions brings association with liberated devotees and helps one cross the ocean of ignorance. Real happiness comes through Kṛṣṇa consciousness, not material attempts to remove suffering.

Key points from the purport

By following this easy method, one is liberated from the contamination of the material modes of nature, and thus one can certainly cross the ocean of nescience, in which there are many miserable conditions.
By following in the footsteps of the great ācāryas, one associates with the haṁsas or paramahaṁsas, those who are completely freed from material contamination.
Indeed, by following the instructions of the ācāryas one is always freed from all material contamination, and thus one’s life becomes successful, for one reaches the goal of life.

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

Chapter 9: Prahlāda Pacifies Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva with Prayers

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Even if a nondevotee is a brāhmaṇa qualified with the twelve brahminical symptoms, he cannot be very dear to the Lord, whereas if a person born in a family of dog-eaters is a devotee, the Lord can accept his prayers. The Lord does not need anyone’s prayers, but if a devotee offers his prayers to the Lord, the devotee benefits greatly.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 7.9

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

saḥthat
ahamI (Prahlāda Mahārāja)
priyasyaof the dearmost
suhṛdaḥwell-wisher
paradevatāyāḥof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
līlā-kathāḥnarrations of the pastimes
tavaYour
nṛsiṁhaO my Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva

Key ideas in this verse

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

Mukti · Liberation
What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10
Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting
Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 7.9
In this verse: “chant”, “chanting”, “hearing”
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 7.9
In this verse: “devotees”, “devotee’s”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 7.9
In this verse: “material”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can you make your devotional practice more firmly guided by the previous ācāryas?

Practice

Read aloud this prayer of Prahlāda Mahārāja, attending carefully to its words of loving service.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

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

1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

SB 7.9.1825 Feb 1976 · MayapurListen

Live this todayFollow the Ācāryas in Hearing and ChantingThis 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 7.9.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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