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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
8.11.378.11.39

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.11.38

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.11.37inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

मयास्मै यद् वरो दत्तो मृत्युर्नैवार्द्रशुष्कयो: ।

अतोऽन्यश्चिन्तनीयस्ते उपायो मघवन् रिपो: ॥ ३८ ॥

mayāsmai yad varo datto

mṛtyur naivārdra-śuṣkayoḥ

ato ’nyaś cintanīyas te

upāyo maghavan ripoḥ

Translation

The voice also said, “O Indra, because I have given this demon the benediction that he will never be killed by any weapon that is dry or moist, you have to think of another way to kill him.”

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.

A Different Means Must Be Considered

  1. 1

    The voice explained that it had granted Namuci a benediction.

  2. 2

    By that benediction, Namuci would never be killed by a weapon that was dry or moist.

  3. 3

    Indra was therefore told to think of another means rather than rely on such weapons.

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. mayāby me
  2. asmaiunto him
  3. yatbecause
  4. varaḥa benediction
  5. dattaḥhas been granted
  6. mṛtyuḥdeath
  7. nanot
  8. evaindeed
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

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

Am I willing to reconsider my method when I learn why it cannot work?

Practice

Identify one obstacle in a task today and think of one different approach that respects it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayA Different Means Must Be ConsideredThis 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 8.11.38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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