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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
7.9.387.9.40

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.9.39

Ūti· What drives us to act
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

नैतन्मनस्तव कथासु विकुण्ठनाथ

सम्प्रीयते दुरितदुष्टमसाधु तीव्रम् ।

कामातुरं हर्षशोकभयैषणार्तं

तस्मिन्कथं तव गतिं विमृशामि दीन: ॥ ३९ ॥

naitan manas tava kathāsu vikuṇṭha-nātha

samprīyate durita-duṣṭam asādhu tīvram

kāmāturaṁ harṣa-śoka-bhayaiṣaṇārtaṁ

tasmin kathaṁ tava gatiṁ vimṛśāmi dīnaḥ

Translation

My dear Lord of the Vaikuṇṭha planets, where there is no anxiety, my mind is extremely sinful and lusty, being sometimes so-called happy and sometimes so-called distressed. My mind is full of lamentation and fear, and it always seeks more and more money. Thus it has become most polluted and is never satisfied in topics concerning You. I am therefore most fallen and poor. In such a status of life, how shall I be able to discuss Your activities?

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Chanting Cleanses the Disturbed Mind

  1. 1

    Prahlāda Mahārāja speaks on behalf of fallen souls, not because he is materially contaminated. He asks how a mind disturbed by material desires can understand the Lord’s activities.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, relieves those who surrender to Him of sinful reactions. Activities disconnected from Kṛṣṇa consciousness pollute the mind.

  3. 3

    In this Age of Kali, chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra is the only method for cleansing the sinful mind. Absorption in thought of Kṛṣṇa purifies us and enables us to understand Him and His activities.

Key points from the purport
  • The mind becomes sinful because we are always engaged in sinful activities.
  • Therefore, especially in this Age of Kali, the mind must be cleansed, and this is possible only by the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.
  • In this age, the process of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra is the only method by which to cleanse the sinful mind.

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· 2

The purport of SB 7.9.39 quotesBG 18.66

Indeed, Kṛṣṇa demands in Bhagavad-gītā (18.66): “Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me.

The purport of SB 7.9.39 quotesBG 7.15

This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (7.15): Therefore, especially in this Age of Kali, the mind must be cleansed, and this is possible only by the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.

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:

Anyone engaged in glorifying the Lord’s activities is always unafraid of this material world, whereas one who cannot glorify the Lord in that way is subjected to all lamentation. Those interested in silently worshiping the Lord in solitary places may be eligible for liberation themselves, but a pure devotee is always aggrieved to see others suffering.
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. nacertainly not
  2. etatthis
  3. manaḥmind
  4. tavaYour
  5. kathāsuin transcendental topics
  6. vikuṇṭha-nāthaO Lord of Vaikuṇṭha, where there is no anxiety
  7. samprīyateis pacified or interested in
  8. duritaby sinful activities
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

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

    In this verse: “sinful”, “purifies”, “cleansing”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “lusty”, “materially”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 7.9

    In this verse: “distressed”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which recurring desire or fear distracts me from hearing about Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra for a few minutes today, gently returning your attention to the holy name when your mind wanders.

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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 · quoted in 1 more lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 other lecture

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 todayChanting Cleanses the Disturbed MindThis 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 7.9.39? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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