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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

7.9.23 7.9.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.9.24

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

तस्मादमूस्तनुभृतामहमाशिषोऽज्ञ

आयु: श्रियं विभवमैन्द्रियमाविरिञ्‍च्यात् ।

नेच्छामि ते विलुलितानुरुविक्रमेण

कालात्मनोपनय मां निजभृत्यपार्श्वम् ॥ २४ ॥

tasmād amūs tanu-bhṛtām aham āśiṣo ’jña

āyuḥ śriyaṁ vibhavam aindriyam āviriñcyāt

necchāmi te vilulitān uruvikrameṇa

kālātmanopanaya māṁ nija-bhṛtya-pārśvam

Translation

My dear Lord, now I have complete experience concerning the worldly opulence, mystic power, longevity and other material pleasures enjoyed by all living entities, from Lord Brahmā down to the ant. As powerful time, You destroy them all. Therefore, because of my experience, I do not wish to possess them. My dear Lord, I request You to place me in touch with Your pure devotee and let me serve him as a sincere servant.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seek Service, Not Material Opulence

1
Studying Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam helps us understand that material opulence and the body may perish at any time. The soul is eternal, so an intelligent person cares for the happiness of the spirit soul.
2
To understand Kṛṣṇa in truth, one must serve a pure devotee. Prahlāda asks for this association and service rather than the wealth left by his father.
3
Prahlāda rejects sense enjoyment, becoming one with the Supreme and mystic perfections. He simply wants to learn devotional service under the guidance of a pure devotee.

Key points from the purport

By following in the footsteps of Prahlāda Mahārāja, one should gain thorough experience that all material opulence is perishable at every moment.
Thus Prahlāda Mahārāja prays that Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva place him in touch with a pure devotee and servant instead of awarding him material opulence.
Every intelligent man within this material world must follow Prahlāda Mahārāja.

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 7.9.24 quotesBG 4.9

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (4.9), janma karma ca me divyam evaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ.

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

Chapter 9: Prahlāda Pacifies Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva with Prayers

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

One cannot please the Supreme Personality of Godhead simply by dint of high parentage or great opulence, learning, austerity, penance or mystic power. Indeed, these are never pleasing to the Supreme Lord, for nothing can please Him but pure devotional service.

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

tasmāttherefore
amūḥall those (opulences)
tanu-bhṛtāmwith reference to living entities possessing material bodies
ahamI
āśiṣaḥ ajñaḥknowing well the results of such benedictions
āyuḥa long duration of life
śriyammaterial opulences
vibhavaminfluence and glories

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
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 7.9
In this verse: “devotee”, “devotional service”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 7.9
In this verse: “material”, “wealth”
Jñāna · Spiritual insight
Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 7.9
In this verse: “spirit soul”, “understand”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I seek spiritual guidance mainly for personal rewards, or to become a sincere servant?

Practice

Pray today to be placed in touch with a pure devotee and to receive the willingness to serve sincerely.

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 7.9.242 Mar 1976 · MayapurListen

Live this todaySeek Service, Not Material OpulenceThis 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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