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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
7.9.407.9.42

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.9.41

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
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

एवं स्वकर्मपतितं भववैतरण्या-

मन्योन्यजन्ममरणाशनभीतभीतम् ।

पश्यञ्जनं स्वपरविग्रहवैरमैत्रं

हन्तेति पारचर पीपृहि मूढमद्य ॥ ४१ ॥

evaṁ sva-karma-patitaṁ bhava-vaitaraṇyām

anyonya-janma-maraṇāśana-bhīta-bhītam

paśyañ janaṁ sva-para-vigraha-vaira-maitraṁ

hanteti pāracara pīpṛhi mūḍham adya

Translation

My dear Lord, You are always transcendentally situated on the other side of the river of death, but because of the reactions of our own activities, we are suffering on this side. Indeed, we have fallen into this river and are repeatedly suffering the pains of birth and death and eating horrible things. Now kindly look upon us — not only upon me but also upon all others who are suffering — and by Your causeless mercy and compassion, deliver us and maintain us.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pray and Serve for Everyone’s Deliverance

  1. 1

    Prahlāda Mahārāja prays not only for himself but for all suffering living entities. He asks the Lord to deliver and maintain them through His causeless mercy.

  2. 2

    Our own activities lead to repeated birth and death and determine the body we receive next. A Vaiṣṇava takes shelter of devotional service to become free from these fearful conditions.

  3. 3

    The goṣṭhy-ānandīs try to elevate others to Kṛṣṇa consciousness rather than seeking only their own benefit. Following this spirit, one should become a sincere servant of Kṛṣṇa and share the teachings of Bhagavad-gītā.

Key points from the purport
  • Prahlāda Mahārāja, a pure Vaiṣṇava, prays to the Lord not only for himself but for all other suffering living entities.
  • The bhajanānandīs worship the Lord only for their own personal benefit, but the goṣṭhy-ānandīs try to elevate all others to Kṛṣṇa consciousness so that they may be saved.
  • Nondevotees, those who are not Kṛṣṇa conscious, must engage in sinful activities, and therefore they are mūḍhas — fools and rascals.

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 7.9.41 quotesBG 4.7

“Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion — at that time I descend Myself.”

The purport of SB 7.9.41 quotesCC Madhya 7.128

Āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa. One should become a guru and spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world, simply by preaching the teachings of Bhagavad-gītā.

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:

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. Therefore, not caring for his own liberation, he always engages in preaching by glorifying the Lord.
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. evamin this way
  2. sva-karma-patitamfallen because of the reactions of one’s own material activities
  3. bhavacompared to the world of nescience (birth, death, old age and disease)
  4. vaitaraṇyāmin the river known as Vaitaraṇī (which lies in front of the doorway of Yamarāja, the superintendent of death)
  5. anyaḥ anyaone after another
  6. janmabirth
  7. maraṇadeath
  8. āśanadifferent types of eating
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

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

    In this verse: “compassion”, “suffering”, “kindly”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 7.9

    In this verse: “mercy”, “causeless”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 7.9

    In this verse: “death”, “fearful”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Does my desire for spiritual progress include concern for others who are suffering?

Practice

Offer a prayer today asking the Lord to help all suffering living beings take shelter of His devotional service.

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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 todayPray and Serve for Everyone’s DeliveranceThis 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 7.9.41? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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