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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
8.11.328.11.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.11.33

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

तस्मादिन्द्रोऽबिभेच्छत्रोर्वज्र: प्रतिहतो यत: ।

किमिदं दैवयोगेन भूतं लोकविमोहनम् ॥ ३३ ॥

tasmād indro ’bibhec chatror

vajraḥ pratihato yataḥ

kim idaṁ daiva-yogena

bhūtaṁ loka-vimohanam

Translation

When Indra saw the thunderbolt return from the enemy, he was very much afraid. He began to wonder whether this had happened because of some miraculous superior power.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Unexpected Failure Awakens Fear

  1. 1

    Indra saw his thunderbolt return without injuring Namuci.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that Indra’s thunderbolt is invincible. Its failure therefore made him very much afraid.

  3. 3

    Indra wondered whether some miraculous superior power had caused this astonishing event.

Key points from the purport
  • Indra’s thunderbolt is invincible, and therefore when Indra saw that it had returned without doing any injury to Namuci, he was certainly very much afraid.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasmāttherefore
  2. indraḥthe King of heaven
  3. abibhetbecame very fearful
  4. śatroḥfrom the enemy (Namuci)
  5. vajraḥthe thunderbolt
  6. pratihataḥwas unable to hit and returned
  7. yataḥbecause
  8. kim idamwhat is this
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: “afraid”

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 do I respond when something I rely on unexpectedly fails?

Practice

Name one uncertainty you face today, and acknowledge it rather than pretending to have control.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUnexpected Failure Awakens 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 8.11.33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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