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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
7.9.547.10.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.9.55

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 7.9.55inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

श्रीनारद उवाच

एवं प्रलोभ्यमानोऽपि वरैर्लोकप्रलोभनै: ।

एकान्तित्वाद् भगवति नैच्छत्तानसुरोत्तम: ॥ ५५ ॥

śrī-nārada uvāca

evaṁ pralobhyamāno ’pi

varair loka-pralobhanaiḥ

ekāntitvād bhagavati

naicchat tān asurottamaḥ

Translation

Nārada Muni said: Prahlāda Mahārāja was the best person in the family of asuras, who always aspire for material happiness. Nonetheless, although allured by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who offered him all benedictions for material happiness, because of his unalloyed Kṛṣṇa consciousness he did not want to take any material benefit for sense gratification.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Choose Pure Service Over Material Benefits

  1. 1

    Although offered all benedictions for material happiness, Prahlāda Mahārāja wanted no benefit for sense gratification. His Kṛṣṇa consciousness was unalloyed.

  2. 2

    Pure devotees do not aspire for material benefits at any stage of devotional service. Dhruva Mahārāja also declined such benefits when the Lord stood before him.

  3. 3

    Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu taught us not to pray for wealth, popularity or beauty. The pure desire is to serve the Supreme Lord as the servant of His servant.

Key points from the purport
  • Pure devotees like Prahlāda Mahārāja and Dhruva Mahārāja do not aspire for any material benefit at any stage of devotional service.
  • When the Lord was present before Dhruva Mahārāja, Dhruva did not want to take any material benefit from the Lord: svāmin kṛtārtho ’smi varaṁ na yāce.
  • As a pure devotee, he could not ask the Lord for any material benefit.

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 was pacified by Prahlāda Mahārāja’s prayers and wanted to give him benedictions by which Prahlāda could procure all kinds of material facilities. Prahlāda Mahārāja, however, was not misled by material facilities.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.9
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-nāradaḥ uvācathe great saint Nārada said
  2. evamthus
  3. pralobhyamānaḥbeing allured or induced
  4. apialthough
  5. varaiḥby benedictions
  6. lokaof the world
  7. pralobhanaiḥby different kinds of allurements
  8. ekāntitvātbecause of being solely surrendered
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “sense gratification”, “material”, “wealth”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I seek devotional service itself, or the material benefits I hope it will bring?

Practice

Offer one prayer asking only for service to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, without requesting a material reward.

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.

7

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 7.9's connections

Live this todayChoose Pure Service Over Material BenefitsThis 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 7.9.55? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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