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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

8.1.5 8.1.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.1.6

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.1.4inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

कृतं पुरा भगवत: कपिलस्यानुवर्णितम् ।

आख्यास्ये भगवान्यज्ञो यच्चकार कुरूद्वह ॥ ६ ॥

kṛtaṁ purā bhagavataḥ

kapilasyānuvarṇitam

ākhyāsye bhagavān yajño

yac cakāra kurūdvaha

Translation

O best of the Kurus, I have already described [in the Third Canto] the activities of Kapila, the son of Devahūti. Now I shall describe the activities of Yajñapati, the son of Ākūti.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

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

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Prepare to Hear Yajñapati's Activities

1
The activities of Kapila, the son of Devahūti, had already been described.
2
The narration now turns to Yajñapati, the son of Ākūti.
3
The speaker announces that he will describe what Yajñapati did.

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

Chapter 1: The Manus, Administrators of the Universe

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Because Śukadeva Gosvāmī had already described the activities of Kapila in the Third Canto, he now described the activities of Yajña. The original Manu, along with his wife, Śatarūpā, went into the forest to practice austerities on the bank of the river Sunandā.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 8.1

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

kṛtamalready done
purābefore
bhagavataḥof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
kapilasyaKapila, the son of Devahūti
anuvarṇitamfully described
ākhyāsyeI shall describe now
bhagavānthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
yajñaḥof the name Yajñapati or Yajñamūrti

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: “narration”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I ready to give fresh attention to the activities now being introduced?

Practice

Before reading further, pause and recall that the narration is turning from Kapila's activities to Yajñapati's.

Connected stories

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

Lord Kapila and DevahūtiSB 3.24 · Kapila appears and Kardama renouncesThe Lord appears to support His devotees. True renunciation means surrendering one’s activities to Him and seeking Him through unfailing devotional service.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 8.1's connections

Live this todayPrepare to Hear Yajñapati's ActivitiesThis 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 8.1.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories