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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
7.9.327.9.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.9.33

Sarga· Creation
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

तस्यैव ते वपुरिदं निजकालशक्त्या

सञ्चोदितप्रकृतिधर्मण आत्मगूढम् ।

अम्भस्यनन्तशयनाद्विरमत्समाधे-

र्नाभेरभूत् स्वकणिकावटवन्महाब्जम् ॥ ३३ ॥

tasyaiva te vapur idaṁ nija-kāla-śaktyā

sañcodita-prakṛti-dharmaṇa ātma-gūḍham

ambhasy ananta-śayanād viramat-samādher

nābher abhūt sva-kaṇikā-vaṭavan-mahābjam

Translation

This cosmic manifestation, the material world, is also Your body. This total lump of matter is agitated by Your potent energy known as kāla-śakti, and thus the three modes of material nature are manifested. You awaken from the bed of Śeṣa, Ananta, and from Your navel a small transcendental seed is generated. It is from this seed that the lotus flower of the gigantic universe is manifested, exactly as a banyan tree grows from a small seed.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Is the Cause of All Causes

  1. 1

    The Lord’s time energy agitates matter, manifesting the three modes of material nature. From His navel comes the seed of the great lotus, just as a banyan tree grows from a small seed.

  2. 2

    The forms of Viṣṇu are the origin of creation and maintenance. Kṛṣṇa is ultimately the cause of all causes, and everything spiritual and material emanates from Him.

  3. 3

    Both the material and spiritual worlds are considered the Supreme Lord’s body. By taking up spiritual activities, one’s material body becomes spiritualized; in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one lives in the spiritual world.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus Mahā-Viṣṇu is the original cause of Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, and from Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu comes the lotus flower from which Lord Brahmā is manifested.
  • The conclusion is that both the material world and spiritual world are considered to be the body of the Supreme Lord.
  • Thus when one takes up spiritual activities, one’s entire material body is spiritualized.

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 7.9.33 quotesBG 10.8

This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (10.8), wherein Kṛṣṇa says, ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate: “I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds.

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:

Although the entire cosmic manifestation is nondifferent, the material world is nonetheless different from the spiritual world. Only by the mercy of the Supreme Lord can one understand how the wonderful material nature acts.
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. tasyaof that Supreme Personality of Godhead
  2. evacertainly
  3. teof You
  4. vapuḥthe cosmic body
  5. idamthis (universe)
  6. nija-kāla-śaktyāby the potent time factor
  7. sañcoditaagitated
  8. prakṛti-dharmaṇaḥof Him, by whom the three guṇas, or qualities of material nature
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Sarga · The creation of the universe

    Where does the universe come from? · Subject 1 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 7.9

    In this verse: “material”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How might seeing your body in relation to the Lord change the way you use it?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes today to read about Kṛṣṇa, consciously engaging your body and attention in spiritual activity.

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. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Is the Cause of All CausesThis 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 7.9.33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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