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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
8.11.398.11.41

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.11.40

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

न शुष्केण न चार्द्रेण जहार नमुचे: शिर: ।

तं तुष्टुवुर्मुनिगणा माल्यैश्चावाकिरन्विभुम् ॥ ४० ॥

na śuṣkeṇa na cārdreṇa

jahāra namuceḥ śiraḥ

taṁ tuṣṭuvur muni-gaṇā

mālyaiś cāvākiran vibhum

Translation

Thus Indra, King of heaven, severed Namuci’s head with a weapon of foam, which was neither dry nor moist. Then all the sages satisfied Indra, the exalted personality, by showering flowers and garlands upon him, almost covering him.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Foam Accomplishes What the Thunderbolt Could Not

  1. 1

    Indra severed Namuci’s head with a weapon of foam, which was neither dry nor moist.

  2. 2

    The sages showered flowers and garlands upon Indra, almost covering him.

  3. 3

    The purport cites the śruti-mantras to confirm that Indra killed Namuci with watery foam, neither moist nor dry.

Key points from the purport
  • In this regard, the śruti-mantras say, apāṁ phenena namuceḥ śira indro ’dārayat: Indra killed Namuci with watery foam, which is neither moist nor dry.

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:

He then thought of foam, which is neither moist nor dry. Using a weapon of foam, he was able to kill Namuci.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.11
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. naneither
  2. śuṣkeṇaby dry means
  3. nanor
  4. caalso
  5. ārdreṇaby a moist weapon
  6. jahārahe separated
  7. namuceḥof Namuci
  8. śiraḥthe head
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

Am I willing to recognize that an apparently simple means can be effective?

Practice

Today, acknowledge one helpful result achieved through a simple or unexpected means.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFoam Accomplishes What the Thunderbolt Could NotThis 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 8.11.40? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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