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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

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 10: The Battle Between the Demigods and the Demons

8.10.26 8.10.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.10.27

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

तेऽन्योन्यमभिसंसृत्य क्षिपन्तो मर्मभिर्मिथ: ।

आह्वयन्तो विशन्तोऽग्रे युयुधुर्द्वन्द्वयोधिन: ॥ २७ ॥

te ’nyonyam abhisaṁsṛtya

kṣipanto marmabhir mithaḥ

āhvayanto viśanto ’gre

yuyudhur dvandva-yodhinaḥ

Translation

The demigods and demons came before each other and reproached one another with words piercing to the heart. Then they drew near and began fighting face to face in pairs.

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.

Piercing Words Precede Face-to-Face Fighting

1
The demigods and demons came forward to confront one another.
2
They reproached each other with words that pierced the heart.
3
They then drew near and began fighting face to face in pairs.

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

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 summary Back to this verse in chapter 8.10