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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 8 · Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations · 24 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.
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Canto 8 · Chapter 1: The Manus, Administrators of the Universe
8.1.298.1.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.1.30

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.1.17inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तत्रापि जज्ञे भगवान्हरिण्यां हरिमेधस: ।

हरिरित्याहृतो येन गजेन्द्रो मोचितो ग्रहात् ॥ ३० ॥

tatrāpi jajñe bhagavān

hariṇyāṁ harimedhasaḥ

harir ity āhṛto yena

gajendro mocito grahāt

Translation

Also in this manvantara, the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu, took birth from the womb of Hariṇī, the wife of Harimedhā, and He was known as Hari. Hari saved His devotee Gajendra, the King of the elephants, from the mouth of a crocodile.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hari Saves His Devotee

  1. 1

    In this manvantara, the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu, appeared as Hari.

  2. 2

    He took birth from the womb of Hariṇī, the wife of Harimedhā.

  3. 3

    Hari saved His devotee Gajendra, the King of the elephants, from the mouth of a crocodile.

How it feels

Helplessness → Surrender and rescue. A mighty animal finally realizes the limits of strength.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 8: Gajendra's struggle and prayers. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 1: The Manus, Administrators of the Universe

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Harimedhā begot a son named Hari in the womb of his wife Hariṇī. This Hari, an incarnation of God, saved the devotee Gajendra.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.1
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tatrāpiin that period
  2. jajñeappeared
  3. bhagavānthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  4. hariṇyāmin the womb of Hariṇī
  5. harimedhasaḥbegotten by Harimedhā
  6. hariḥHari
  7. itithus
  8. āhṛtaḥcalled
3

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

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 8.1

    In this verse: “saved”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 8.1

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 8.1

    In this verse: “king”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does Hari’s rescue of His devotee invite me to reflect on?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute remembering Hari saving His devotee Gajendra.

Live this todayHari Saves His DevoteeThis 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.

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