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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
7.9.47.9.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.9.5

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 7.9.4inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

स्वपादमूले पतितं तमर्भकं

विलोक्य देव: कृपया परिप्लुत: ।

उत्थाप्य तच्छीर्ष्ण्यदधात्कराम्बुजं

कालाहिवित्रस्तधियां कृताभयम् ॥ ५ ॥

sva-pāda-mūle patitaṁ tam arbhakaṁ

vilokya devaḥ kṛpayā pariplutaḥ

utthāpya tac-chīrṣṇy adadhāt karāmbujaṁ

kālāhi-vitrasta-dhiyāṁ kṛtābhayam

Translation

When Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva saw the small boy Prahlāda Mahārāja prostrated at the soles of His lotus feet, He became most ecstatic in affection toward His devotee. Raising Prahlāda, the Lord placed His lotus hand upon the boy’s head because His hand is always ready to create fearlessness in all of His devotees.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Remembering the Lord Removes Fear

  1. 1

    Seeing Prahlāda at His lotus feet, Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva became ecstatic with affection. He raised the boy and placed His lotus hand upon his head.

  2. 2

    The Lord’s hand is always ready to create fearlessness in His devotees. The purport teaches that Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the means to become fearless in this fearful material world.

  3. 3

    A devotee’s hope of becoming fearless is to chant Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva’s holy name. Wherever we go, we should remember Him.

Key points from the purport
  • When Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva appeared, all the devotees became fearless.
  • The devotee’s hope of becoming fearless is to chant the holy name of Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva.
  • Thus there will be no fear for the devotee of the Lord.

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:

Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, being very much affectionate toward Prahlāda Mahārāja, put His hand on Prahlāda’s head, and because of being personally touched by the Lord, Prahlāda Mahārāja immediately achieved brahma-jñāna, spiritual knowledge. Thus he offered his prayers to the Lord in full spiritual knowledge and full devotional ecstasy.
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. sva-pāda-mūleat His lotus feet
  2. patitamfallen
  3. tamhim (Prahlāda Mahārāja)
  4. arbhakamonly a little boy
  5. vilokyaseeing
  6. devaḥLord Nṛsiṁhadeva
  7. kṛpayāout of His causeless mercy
  8. pariplutaḥvery much afflicted (in ecstasy)
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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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 7.9

    In this verse: “devotee”, “devotees”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “fearlessness”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 7.9

    In this verse: “chant”, “holy name”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When fear arises, how can I turn my attention toward Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva?

Practice

Chant the holy name of Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva for one minute today, remembering His affectionate protection.

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.

2 lectures 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 todayRemembering the Lord Removes FearThis 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 7.9.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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