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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.
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Canto 8 · Chapter 10: The Battle Between the Demigods and the Demons
8.10.418.10.43

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.10.42

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

स तानापतत: शक्रस्तावद्भ‍ि: शीघ्रविक्रम: ।

चिच्छेद निशितैर्भल्ल‍ैरसम्प्राप्तान्हसन्निव ॥ ४२ ॥

sa tān āpatataḥ śakras

tāvadbhiḥ śīghra-vikramaḥ

ciccheda niśitair bhallair

asamprāptān hasann iva

Translation

Before Bali Mahārāja’s arrows could reach him, Indra, King of heaven, who is expert in dealing with arrows, smiled and counteracted the arrows with arrows of another type, known as bhalla, which were extremely sharp.

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.

Indra Skillfully Intercepts the Arrows

  1. 1

    Indra was expert in dealing with arrows.

  2. 2

    Before Bali Mahārāja’s arrows could reach him, Indra counteracted them with another kind of arrow, known as bhalla.

  3. 3

    These arrows were extremely sharp. Indra smiled as he counteracted the attack.

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:

Indra, King of heaven, fought with Bali, and other demigods, like Vāyu, Agni and Varuṇa, fought against other leaders of the demons. In this fight the demons were defeated, and to save themselves from death they began to manifest many illusions through material maneuvers, killing many soldiers on the side of the demigods.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.10
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥhe (Indra)
  2. tānarrows
  3. āpatataḥwhile moving toward him and falling down
  4. śakraḥIndra
  5. tāvadbhiḥimmediately
  6. śīghra-vikramaḥwas practiced to oppress very soon
  7. cicchedacut to pieces
  8. niśitaiḥvery sharp
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

  • 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

Which details in this verse reveal Indra’s expertise?

Practice

Identify the timing, weapon and expression that characterize Indra’s response.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayIndra Skillfully Intercepts the ArrowsThis 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 8.10.42? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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