1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 8 · Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations · 24 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
8.11.248.11.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.11.25

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.11.10inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अलक्षयन्तस्तमतीव विह्वला

विचुक्रुशुर्देवगणा: सहानुगा: ।

अनायका: शत्रुबलेन निर्जिता

वणिक्पथा भिन्ननवो यथार्णवे ॥ २५ ॥

alakṣayantas tam atīva vihvalā

vicukruśur deva-gaṇāḥ sahānugāḥ

anāyakāḥ śatru-balena nirjitā

vaṇik-pathā bhinna-navo yathārṇave

Translation

The demigods, being severely oppressed by their enemies and being unable to see Indra on the battlefield, were very anxious. Having no captain or leader, they began lamenting like traders in a wrecked vessel in the midst of the ocean.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Calamities Occur Even in Higher Worlds

  1. 1

    Unable to see Indra and severely oppressed by their enemies, the demigods became anxious. Without their leader, they lamented like traders shipwrecked in the ocean.

  2. 2

    Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this statement suggests shipping and traders engaged in navigation in the upper planetary system. Even there, calamities such as shipwrecks occasionally occur.

  3. 3

    The upper planetary system in the Lord’s creation is not vacant. From Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam we understand that every planet is full of living entities, just as earth is.

Key points from the purport
  • From this statement it appears that in the upper planetary system there is shipping and that traders there engage in navigation as their occupational duty.
  • Sometimes, as on this planet, these traders are shipwrecked in the middle of the ocean.
  • The upper planetary system in the creation of the Lord is certainly not vacant or devoid of living entities.

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

Further reading

Chapter 11: King Indra Annihilates the Demons

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Hearing this voice, Indra began to think of how Namuci could be killed. He then thought of foam, which is neither moist nor dry.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.11
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. alakṣayantaḥbeing unable to see
  2. tamKing Indra
  3. atīvafiercely
  4. vihvalāḥbewildered
  5. vicukruśuḥbegan to lament
  6. deva-gaṇāḥall the demigods
  7. saha-anugāḥwith their followers
  8. anāyakāḥwithout any captain or leader
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”, “lamented”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 8.11

    In this verse: “understand”

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 purport broaden your view of life and difficulties within the Lord’s creation?

Practice

Write down the purport’s two teachings: other planets have living entities, and calamities occur even in higher worlds.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCalamities Occur Even in Higher WorldsThis 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 8.11.25? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories