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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 11: King Indra Annihilates the Demons

8.11.26 8.11.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.11.27

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

निरीक्ष्य पृतनां देव: परैरभ्यर्दितां रणे ।

उदयच्छद् रिपुं हन्तुं वज्रं वज्रधरो रुषा ॥ २७ ॥

nirīkṣya pṛtanāṁ devaḥ

parair abhyarditāṁ raṇe

udayacchad ripuṁ hantuṁ

vajraṁ vajra-dharo ruṣā

Translation

When Indra, who is known as Vajra-dhara, the carrier of the thunderbolt, saw his own soldiers so oppressed by the enemies on the battlefield, he became very angry. Thus he took up his thunderbolt to kill the enemies.

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.

Indra Reacts to His Soldiers’ Suffering

1
Indra saw his own soldiers severely oppressed by their enemies on the battlefield.
2
Seeing their suffering, he became very angry.
3
Known as Vajra-dhara, the carrier of the thunderbolt, he took up that weapon to kill the enemies.

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 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 summary Back to this verse in chapter 8.11

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

nirīkṣyaafter observing
pṛtanāmhis own soldiers
devaḥthe demigod Indra
paraiḥby the enemies
abhyarditāmput into great difficulties or oppressed
raṇein the battlefield
udayacchattook up
ripumthe enemies

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
Karuṇā · Compassion
Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 8.11
In this verse: “suffering”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What sequence of observation, emotion and action does this verse describe?

Practice

Identify what Indra saw, what he felt and what he did.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayIndra Reacts to His Soldiers’ SufferingThis 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 8.11.27? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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