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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
8.11.308.11.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.11.31

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

तदापतद् गगनतले महाजवंविचिच्छिदे हरिरिषुभि: सहस्रधा । तमाहनन्नृप कुलिशेन कन्धरेरुषान्वितस्त्रिदशपति: शिरो हरन् ॥ ३१ ॥

tadāpatad gagana-tale mahā-javaṁ

vicicchide harir iṣubhiḥ sahasradhā

tam āhanan nṛpa kuliśena kandhare

ruṣānvitas tridaśa-patiḥ śiro haran

Translation

O King, when Indra, King of heaven, saw this very powerful spear falling toward the ground like a blazing meteor, he immediately cut it to pieces with his arrows. Then, being very angry, he struck Namuci’s shoulder with his thunderbolt to cut off Namuci’s head.

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 Counters the Powerful Spear

  1. 1

    The powerful spear fell toward the ground like a blazing meteor. Indra immediately cut it to pieces with his arrows.

  2. 2

    Indra then became very angry and struck Namuci’s shoulder with his thunderbolt.

  3. 3

    Indra intended to cut off Namuci’s head. This verse describes his forceful attack, not its result.

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. tadāat that time
  2. apatatfalling like a meteor
  3. gagana-talebeneath the sky or on the ground
  4. mahā-javamextremely powerful
  5. vicicchidecut to pieces
  6. hariḥIndra
  7. iṣubhiḥby his arrows
  8. sahasradhāinto thousands of pieces
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

  • 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 anger affect the way I respond to a threat?

Practice

Today, pause before responding angrily to one difficult situation.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayIndra Counters the Powerful SpearThis 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 8.11.31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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