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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.
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Canto 8 · Chapter 10: The Battle Between the Demigods and the Demons
8.10.558.10.57

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.10.56

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.10.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

द‍ृष्ट्वा मृधे गरुडवाहमिभारिवाह

आविध्य शूलमहिनोदथ कालनेमि: ।

तल्ल‍ीलया गरुडमूर्ध्नि पतद् गृहीत्वा

तेनाहनन्नृप सवाहमरिं त्र्यधीश: ॥ ५६ ॥

dṛṣṭvā mṛdhe garuḍa-vāham ibhāri-vāha

āvidhya śūlam ahinod atha kālanemiḥ

tal līlayā garuḍa-mūrdhni patad gṛhītvā

tenāhanan nṛpa savāham ariṁ tryadhīśaḥ

Translation

O King, when the demon Kālanemi, who was carried by a lion, saw that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, carried by Garuḍa, was on the battlefield, the demon immediately took his trident, whirled it and discharged it at Garuḍa’s head. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, the master of the three worlds, immediately caught the trident, and with the very same weapon he killed the enemy Kālanemi, along with his carrier, the lion.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hari’s Supreme Power Cannot Be Overcome

  1. 1

    Kālanemi hurled his trident at Garuḍa’s head. Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and master of the three worlds, immediately caught it.

  2. 2

    With that same trident, the Lord killed Kālanemi along with his carrier, the lion.

  3. 3

    Śrīla Madhvācārya explains that Śukrācārya brought Kālanemi and the other slain demons back to life. They were again killed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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:

Heroes among the demons such as Kālanemi, Mālī, Sumālī and Mālyavān fought the Supreme Personality of Godhead and were all killed by the Lord. The demigods were thus freed from all dangers.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.10
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dṛṣṭvāseeing
  2. mṛdheon the battlefield
  3. garuḍa-vāhamthe Supreme Personality of Godhead, carried by Garuḍa
  4. ibhāri-vāhaḥthe demon, who was carried by a big lion
  5. āvidhyawhirling around
  6. śūlamtrident
  7. ahinotdischarged at him
  8. athathus
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 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

What does the failure of Kālanemi’s attack teach you about Hari’s supreme power?

Practice

Read the translation once more today, then offer a brief prayer expressing your desire to serve Hari rather than oppose Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHari’s Supreme Power Cannot Be OvercomeThis 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 8.10.56? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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