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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.
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Canto 8 · Chapter 11: King Indra Annihilates the Demons
8.11.278.11.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.11.28

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

स तेनैवाष्टधारेण शिरसी बलपाकयो: ।

ज्ञातीनां पश्यतां राजञ्जहार जनयन्भयम् ॥ २८ ॥

sa tenaivāṣṭa-dhāreṇa

śirasī bala-pākayoḥ

jñātīnāṁ paśyatāṁ rājañ

jahāra janayan bhayam

Translation

O King Parīkṣit, King Indra used his thunderbolt to cut off the heads of both Bala and Pāka in the presence of all their relatives and followers. In this way he created a very fearful atmosphere on the battlefield.

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.

Bala and Pāka’s Deaths Bring Fear

  1. 1

    Indra used his thunderbolt to cut off the heads of Bala and Pāka.

  2. 2

    Their relatives and followers witnessed their deaths.

  3. 3

    This act created a very fearful atmosphere on the battlefield.

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:

Indra, King of heaven, severed the heads of Bala and Pāka and released the weapon known as kuliśa, the thunderbolt, against Namuci’s shoulder. The thunderbolt, however, returned unsuccessful, and thus Indra became morose.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.11
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥhe (Indra)
  2. tenaby that
  3. evaindeed
  4. aṣṭa-dhāreṇaby the thunderbolt
  5. śirasīthe two heads
  6. bala-pākayoḥof the two demons known as Bala and Pāka
  7. jñātīnām paśyatāmwhile their relatives and soldiers were watching
  8. rājanO King
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 8.11

    In this verse: “fearful”, “deaths”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 8.11

    In this verse: “king”

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 mentioning the relatives and followers deepen your understanding of the battlefield’s fear?

Practice

Pause after reading and note how the verse describes the effect on those watching.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBala and Pāka’s Deaths Bring FearThis 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 8.11.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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