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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

8.10.56 8.11.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.10.57

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

माली सुमाल्यतिबलौ युधि पेततुर्य

च्चक्रेण कृत्तशिरसावथ माल्यवांस्तम् ।

आहत्य तिग्मगदयाहनदण्डजेन्द्र

तावच्छिरोऽच्छिनदरेर्नदतोऽरिणाद्य: ॥ ५७ ॥

mālī sumāly atibalau yudhi petatur yac-

cakreṇa kṛtta-śirasāv atha mālyavāṁs tam

āhatya tigma-gadayāhanad aṇḍajendraṁ

tāvac chiro ’cchinad arer nadato ’riṇādyaḥ

Translation

Thereafter, two very powerful demons named Mālī and Sumālī were killed by the Supreme Lord, who severed their heads with His disc. Then Mālyavān, another demon, attacked the Lord. With his sharp club, the demon, who was roaring like a lion, attacked Garuḍa, the lord of the birds, who are born from eggs. But the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the original person, used His disc to cut off the head of that enemy also.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Original Lord Defeats Powerful Enemies

1
Although Mālī and Sumālī were very powerful, the Supreme Lord killed them by severing their heads with His disc.
2
Mālyavān then attacked Garuḍa with a sharp club, roaring like a lion. The Lord used His disc to cut off that enemy’s head also.
3
The translation identifies the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the original person. Even these powerful attackers could not overcome Him.

Key points from the purport

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Tenth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Battle Between the Demigods and the Demons.”

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

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

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 summary Back to this verse in chapter 8.10