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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
8.11.418.11.43

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.11.42

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

अन्येऽप्येवं प्रतिद्वन्द्वान्वाय्वग्निवरुणादय: ।

सूदयामासुरसुरान् मृगान्केसरिणो यथा ॥ ४२ ॥

anye ’py evaṁ pratidvandvān

vāyv-agni-varuṇādayaḥ

sūdayām āsur asurān

mṛgān kesariṇo yathā

Translation

Vāyu, Agni, Varuṇa and other demigods began killing the demons who opposed them, just as lions kill deer in a forest.

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.

The Demigods Overpower Their Opponents

  1. 1

    Vāyu, Agni and Varuṇa were among the demigods fighting the demons.

  2. 2

    The demigods began killing the demons who opposed them.

  3. 3

    The verse compares their attack to lions killing deer in a forest, showing how greatly they overpowered their opponents.

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:

Then, at the request of Lord Brahmā, Nārada went to the demigods and forbade them to kill the demons any longer. All the demigods then returned to their abodes.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.11
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. anyeothers
  2. apialso
  3. evamin this way
  4. pratidvandvānthe opposing party of belligerants
  5. vāyuthe demigod known as Vāyu
  6. agnithe demigod known as Agni
  7. varuṇa-ādayaḥthe demigod known as Varuṇa and others
  8. sūdayām āsuḥbegan to kill vigorously
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

What does the comparison of lions and deer help you understand about this battle?

Practice

Reread the verse and identify the comparison used to describe the demigods’ strength.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Demigods Overpower Their OpponentsThis 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 8.11.42? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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