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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
8.10.298.10.32-34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 8.10.30-31

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

अपराजितेन नमुचिरश्विनौ वृषपर्वणा ।

सूर्यो बलिसुतैर्देवो बाणज्येष्ठै: शतेन च ॥ ३० ॥

राहुणा च तथा सोम: पुलोम्ना युयुधेऽनिल: ।

निशुम्भशुम्भयोर्देवी भद्रकाली तरस्विनी ॥ ३१ ॥

aparājitena namucir

aśvinau vṛṣaparvaṇā

sūryo bali-sutair devo

bāṇa-jyeṣṭhaiḥ śatena ca

rāhuṇā ca tathā somaḥ

pulomnā yuyudhe ’nilaḥ

niśumbha-śumbhayor devī

bhadrakālī tarasvinī

Translation

The demigod Aparājita fought with Namuci, and the two Aśvinī-kumāra brothers fought with Vṛṣaparvā. The sun-god fought with the one hundred sons of Mahārāja Bali, headed by Bāṇa, and the moon-god fought with Rāhu. The demigod controlling air fought with Puloma, and Śumbha and Niśumbha fought the supremely powerful material energy, Durgādevī, who is called Bhadra Kālī.

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.

The Battle Involves Many Powerful Opponents

  1. 1

    Aparājita fought with Namuci, and the two Aśvinī-kumāra brothers fought with Vṛṣaparvā.

  2. 2

    The sun-god fought Bali’s one hundred sons, headed by Bāṇa. The moon-god fought with Rāhu, and the demigod controlling air fought with Puloma.

  3. 3

    Śumbha and Niśumbha fought Durgādevī, the supremely powerful material energy, who is called Bhadra Kālī.

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:

Bali Mahārāja, the son of Virocana, became the commander in chief of the demons. In the beginning of the battle, the demigods prepared to defeat the demons.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.10
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. aparājitenawith the demigod Aparājita
  2. namuciḥthe demon Namuci
  3. aśvinauthe Aśvinī brothers
  4. vṛṣaparvaṇāwith the demon Vṛṣaparvā
  5. sūryaḥthe sun-god
  6. bali-sutaiḥwith the sons of Bali
  7. devaḥthe god
  8. bāṇa-jyeṣṭhaiḥthe chief of whom is Bāṇa
3

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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 8.10

    In this verse: “material”

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 do the different numbers of combatants help you notice about these encounters?

Practice

Find one encounter involving brothers and one involving a hundred sons, and recall their opponents.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

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

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 8.10's connections

Live this todayThe Battle Involves Many Powerful OpponentsThis 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 8.10.30-31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.