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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 10: The Battle Between the Demigods and the Demons
8.10.19-248.10.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.10.25

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.10.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

ऐरावतं दिक्करिणमारूढ: शुशुभे स्वराट् ।

यथा स्रवत्प्रस्रवणमुदयाद्रिमहर्पति: ॥ २५ ॥

airāvataṁ dik-kariṇam

ārūḍhaḥ śuśubhe sva-rāṭ

yathā sravat-prasravaṇam

udayādrim ahar-patiḥ

Translation

Sitting on Airāvata, an elephant who can go anywhere and who holds water and wine in reserve for showering, Lord Indra looked just like the sun rising from Udayagiri, where there are reservoirs of water.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Indra Shines Like the Rising Sun

  1. 1

    Lord Indra sat on Airāvata, an elephant who could go anywhere and held water and wine in reserve for showering.

  2. 2

    Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that large lakes on top of Udayagiri continuously pour water in waterfalls. Airāvata similarly showers his reserves in Indra’s direction.

  3. 3

    Indra, King of heaven, seated on Airāvata, appeared like the brilliant sun rising above Udayagiri.

Key points from the purport
  • On the top of the mountain called Udayagiri are large lakes from which water continuously pours in waterfalls.
  • Similarly, Indra’s carrier, Airāvata, holds water and wine in reserve and showers it in the direction of Lord Indra.
  • Thus Indra, King of heaven, sitting on the back of Airāvata, appeared like the brilliant sun rising above Udayagiri.

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

Danger and ambition → Divine rescue and surprise. Cooperation, rivalry and revelation alternate rapidly.

Chapters 5–12 of Canto 8: Churning the ocean, poison and nectar. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 10: The Battle Between the Demigods and the Demons

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The demigods and demons churned the Ocean of Milk to get nectar from it, but the demons, not being devotees of the Lord, could derive no profit. After feeding nectar to the demigods, Lord Viṣṇu returned to His abode on the back of Garuḍa, but the demons, being most aggrieved, again declared war against the demigods.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.10
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. airāvatamAirāvata
  2. dik-kariṇamthe great elephant who could go everywhere
  3. ārūḍhaḥmounted on
  4. śuśubhebecame very beautiful to see
  5. sva-rāṭIndra
  6. yathājust as
  7. sravatflowing
  8. prasravaṇamwaves of wine
  9. udaya-adrimon Udayagiri
  10. ahaḥ-patiḥthe sun
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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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 8.10

    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

How does the purport help you understand the comparison between Airāvata and Udayagiri?

Practice

Read the comparison slowly and recall how the mountain, waterfalls, and rising sun correspond to the scene.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayIndra Shines Like the Rising SunThis 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 8.10.25? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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