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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 8 · Chapter 11: King Indra Annihilates the Demons
8.11.18.11.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.11.2

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.11.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

वैरोचनाय संरब्धो भगवान्पाकशासन: ।

उदयच्छद् यदा वज्रं प्रजा हा हेति चुक्रुशु: ॥ २ ॥

vairocanāya saṁrabdho

bhagavān pāka-śāsanaḥ

udayacchad yadā vajraṁ

prajā hā heti cukruśuḥ

Translation

When the most powerful Indra became angry and took his thunderbolt in hand to kill Mahārāja Bali, the demons began lamenting, “Alas, alas!”

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.

Indra’s Threat Brings Lamentation

  1. 1

    The most powerful Indra became angry and took his thunderbolt in hand.

  2. 2

    His intention was to kill Mahārāja Bali.

  3. 3

    Seeing this threat, the demons began lamenting, crying, “Alas, alas!”

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 11: King Indra Annihilates the Demons

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The thunderbolt, however, returned unsuccessful, and thus Indra became morose. At that time, an unseen voice came from the sky.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.11
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vairocanāyaunto Bali Mahārāja (just to kill him)
  2. saṁrabdhaḥbeing very angry
  3. bhagavānthe most powerful
  4. pāka-śāsanaḥIndra
  5. udayacchattook in his hand
  6. yadāat which time
  7. vajramthe thunderbolt
  8. prajāḥall the demons
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

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 8.11

    In this verse: “lamenting”, “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 does this scene show that one person’s anger can cause distress to others?

Practice

If anger arises today, pause before speaking and consider whom your words might distress.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 8.11's connections

Live this todayIndra’s Threat Brings LamentationThis 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 8.11.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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