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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.9.35

Who is speaking and story frame

स त्वात्मयोनिरतिविस्मित आश्रितोऽब्जं

कालेन तीव्रतपसा परिशुद्धभाव: ।

त्वामात्मनीश भुवि गन्धमिवातिसूक्ष्मं

भूतेन्द्रियाशयमये विततं ददर्श ॥ ३५ ॥

sa tv ātma-yonir ativismita āśrito ’bjaṁ

kālena tīvra-tapasā pariśuddha-bhāvaḥ

tvām ātmanīśa bhuvi gandham ivātisūkṣmaṁ

bhūtendriyāśayamaye vitataṁ dadarśa

Translation

Lord Brahmā, who is celebrated as ātma-yoni, having been born without a mother, was struck with wonder. Thus he took shelter of the lotus flower, and when he had been purified after undergoing severe austerities for many hundreds of years, he could see that the cause of all causes, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, was spread throughout his own body and senses, just as aroma, although very subtle, is perceived in the earth.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Self-Realization Means Belonging to the Lord

  1. 1

    After becoming purified through severe austerities, Brahmā perceived the Supreme Lord throughout his body and senses. The purport says this realization is possible for everyone.

  2. 2

    Ahaṁ brahmāsmi does not mean that the individual soul is the Supreme Lord. It means realizing that the soul is His part and the body is made of His energy, while He remains different from the individual.

  3. 3

    As aromas and colors are present in the earth though unseen, the Lord spreads everywhere through His energies. Brahmā realized this through austerity, and we should receive knowledge from him.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus the Supreme Lord extends everywhere, even throughout our bodies, because our bodies are made of material energy, which is the Lord’s separated energy.
  • One should realize that since the Supreme Lord spreads throughout one’s body and since the individual soul is a part of the Supreme Lord, everything is Brahman (sarvaṁ khalv idaṁ brahma).
  • Yet although the Supreme Lord is spread everywhere, He is different from me.”

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:

Although being silent, observing austerities and penances, learning the Vedic literature, undergoing ritualistic ceremonies, living in a solitary place and performing japa and transcendental meditation are approved means of liberation, they are meant for nondevotees or for cheaters who want to live at the expense of others. A pure devotee, however, being freed from all such deceptive activities, is able to see the Lord face to face.
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. saḥhe (Lord Brahmā)
  2. tubut
  3. ātma-yoniḥwho is born without a mother (directly begotten by the father, Lord Viṣṇu)
  4. ati-vismitaḥvery much surprised (not finding the source of his birth)
  5. āśritaḥsituated on
  6. abjamthe lotus
  7. kālenain due course of time
  8. tīvra-tapasāby severe austerities
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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

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

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

    In this verse: “shelter”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 7.9

    In this verse: “mother”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 7.9

    In this verse: “purified”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does knowing that you belong to the Lord differ from thinking that you are the Lord?

Practice

Pause today and reflect: “I am part of the Supreme Lord; my body is made of His energy, yet He is different from me.”

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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.

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

Live this todaySelf-Realization Means Belonging to the LordThis 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 7.9.35? Get an answer from the verses themselves.