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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

8.10.8 8.10.10-12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.10.9

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

उष्ट्रै: केचिदिभै: केचिदपरे युयुधु: खरै: ।

केचिद्गौरमुखैरृक्षैर्द्वीपिभिर्हरिभिर्भटा: ॥ ९ ॥

uṣṭraiḥ kecid ibhaiḥ kecid

apare yuyudhuḥ kharaiḥ

kecid gaura-mukhair ṛkṣair

dvīpibhir haribhir bhaṭāḥ

Translation

Some soldiers fought on the backs of camels, some on the backs of elephants, some on asses, some on white-faced and red-faced monkeys, some on tigers and some on lions. In this way, they all engaged in fighting.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Soldiers Fought on Many Different Mounts

1
Some soldiers fought on camels, elephants and asses.
2
Others fought on white-faced and red-faced monkeys.
3
Still others rode tigers and lions; all these soldiers engaged in fighting.

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:

When the demigods were almost defeated by demoniac maneuvers and became morose, Lord Viṣṇu appeared among them. Both the demigods and the demons are expert in activities involving the material energy, but the demigods are devotees of the Lord, whereas the demons are just the opposite.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 8.10