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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 8 · Chapter 1: The Manus, Administrators of the Universe
8.1.318.1.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.1.32

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Parīkṣitsince 8.1.31inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तत्कथासु महत् पुण्यं धन्यं स्वस्त्ययनं शुभम् ।

यत्र यत्रोत्तमश्लोको भगवान्गीयते हरि: ॥ ३२ ॥

tat-kathāsu mahat puṇyaṁ

dhanyaṁ svastyayanaṁ śubham

yatra yatrottamaśloko

bhagavān gīyate hariḥ

Translation

Any literature or narration in which the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Uttamaśloka, is described and glorified is certainly great, pure, glorious, auspicious and all good.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Glorifying Kṛṣṇa Creates Auspiciousness

  1. 1

    Literature and narration that describe and glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Uttamaśloka, are pure, glorious, auspicious and all good.

  2. 2

    The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement spreads simply by describing Kṛṣṇa. Its books provide opportunities to speak and hear about the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    Wherever a speaker discusses these books and an audience hears, an auspicious situation is created. Therefore, preaching Kṛṣṇa consciousness must be done very carefully.

Key points from the purport
  • The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is spreading all over the world simply by describing Kṛṣṇa.
  • Wherever a speaker holds discourses from these books and an audience hears him, this will create a good and auspicious situation.
  • Therefore the preaching of Kṛṣṇa consciousness must be done very carefully by the members of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, especially the sannyāsīs.

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

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:

This incident is described as gajendra-mokṣaṇa. At the end of this chapter, Parīkṣit Mahārāja particularly asks about this incident.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.1
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tat-kathāsuin those narrations
  2. mahatgreat
  3. puṇyampious
  4. dhanyamglorious
  5. svastyayanamauspicious
  6. śubhamall good
  7. yatrawhenever
  8. yatrawherever
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 8.1

    In this verse: “glorified”, “narration”, “glorify”

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

How can I make more room for hearing and glorifying Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

As a small act of devotional service, read aloud a passage glorifying Kṛṣṇa from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and listen attentively.

Live this todayGlorifying Kṛṣṇa Creates AuspiciousnessThis 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 8.1.32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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