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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
8.10.428.10.44

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.10.43

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

तस्य कर्मोत्तमं वीक्ष्य दुर्मर्ष: शक्तिमाददे ।

तां ज्वलन्तीं महोल्काभां हस्तस्थामच्छिनद्धरि: ॥ ४३ ॥

tasya karmottamaṁ vīkṣya

durmarṣaḥ śaktim ādade

tāṁ jvalantīṁ maholkābhāṁ

hasta-sthām acchinad dhariḥ

Translation

When Bali Mahārāja saw the expert military activities of Indra, he could not restrain his anger. Thus he took up another weapon, known as śakti, which blazed like a great firebrand. But Indra cut that weapon to pieces while it was still in Bali’s hand.

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.

Anger Does Not Secure Victory

  1. 1

    Seeing Indra’s expert military actions, Bali Mahārāja could not restrain his anger.

  2. 2

    He took up a weapon called śakti, which blazed like a great firebrand.

  3. 3

    Indra cut the weapon to pieces while it was still in Bali’s hand.

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. tasyaof King Indra
  2. karma-uttamamthe very expert service in military art
  3. vīkṣyaafter observing
  4. durmarṣaḥbeing in a very angry mood
  5. śaktimthe śakti weapon
  6. ādadetook up
  7. tāmthat weapon
  8. jvalantīmblazing fire
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

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

When someone frustrates my efforts, do I notice anger pushing me toward a stronger reaction?

Practice

If frustration arises today, pause before reacting and notice whether anger is directing your next action.

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 todayAnger Does Not Secure VictoryThis 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 8.10.43? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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