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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
8.10.478.10.49

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.10.48

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

यातुधान्यश्च शतश: शूलहस्ता विवासस: ।

छिन्धि भिन्धीति वादिन्यस्तथा रक्षोगणा: प्रभो ॥ ४८ ॥

yātudhānyaś ca śataśaḥ

śūla-hastā vivāsasaḥ

chindhi bhindhīti vādinyas

tathā rakṣo-gaṇāḥ prabho

Translation

O my King, many hundreds of male and female carnivorous demons, completely naked and carrying tridents in their hands, then appeared, crying the slogans “Cut them to pieces! Pierce them!”

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.

Demons Appear With Violent Threats

  1. 1

    Many hundreds of male and female carnivorous demons appeared.

  2. 2

    They were completely naked and carried tridents in their hands.

  3. 3

    Their cries, “Cut them to pieces! Pierce them!” expressed their violent intent.

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. yātudhānyaḥcarnivorous female demons
  2. caand
  3. śataśaḥhundreds upon hundreds
  4. śūla-hastāḥevery one of them with a trident in hand
  5. vivāsasaḥcompletely naked
  6. chindhicut to pieces
  7. bhindhipierce
  8. itithus
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”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 8.10

    In this verse: “crying”

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 do the demons’ words reveal the purpose of their appearance?

Practice

Briefly note how both the weapons and the shouted words contribute to the threatening scene.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDemons Appear With Violent ThreatsThis 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 8.10.48? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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