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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
8.10.518.10.53

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.10.52

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

एवं दैत्यैर्महामायैरलक्ष्यगतिभीरणे ।

सृज्यमानासु मायासु विषेदु: सुरसैनिका: ॥ ५२ ॥

evaṁ daityair mahā-māyair

alakṣya-gatibhī raṇe

sṛjyamānāsu māyāsu

viṣeduḥ sura-sainikāḥ

Translation

While this magical atmosphere in the fight was being created by the invisible demons, who were expert in such illusions, the soldiers of the demigods became morose.

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.

Illusions Leave the Demigods Morose

  1. 1

    The demons were expert in creating illusions during the fight.

  2. 2

    They remained invisible while creating this magical atmosphere.

  3. 3

    The demigod soldiers became morose in the midst of these illusions.

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:

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. The demigods, finding no other recourse, surrendered again to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, who then appeared and counteracted all the illusions presented by the jugglery of 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. evamthus
  2. daityaiḥby the demons
  3. mahā-māyaiḥwho were expert in creating illusions
  4. alakṣya-gatibhiḥbut invisible
  5. raṇein the fight
  6. sṛjyamānāsu māyāsubecause of the creation of such an illusory atmosphere
  7. viṣeduḥbecame morose
  8. sura-sainikāḥthe soldiers of the demigods
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: “illusions”

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 does the soldiers’ dejection help you understand about their experience of the battle?

Practice

Write down the soldiers’ response—“became morose”—and pause to consider their distress.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayIllusions Leave the Demigods MoroseThis 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 8.10.52? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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