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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
8.11.468.11.48

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.11.47

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.11.45inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तत्राविनष्टावयवान् विद्यमानशिरोधरान् ।

उशना जीवयामास संजीवन्या स्वविद्यया ॥ ४७ ॥

tatrāvinaṣṭāvayavān

vidyamāna-śirodharān

uśanā jīvayām āsa

saṁjīvanyā sva-vidyayā

Translation

There, on that hill, Śukrācārya brought to life all the dead demoniac soldiers who had not lost their heads, trunks and limbs. He achieved this by his own mantra, known as Saṁjīvanī.

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.

Śukrācārya Revives the Fallen Soldiers

  1. 1

    On that hill, Śukrācārya brought dead demoniac soldiers back to life.

  2. 2

    He revived those who had not lost their heads, trunks and limbs.

  3. 3

    He accomplished this through his own mantra, known as Saṁjīvanī.

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:

Following the instructions of Nārada, whatever demons remained alive on the battlefield took Bali Mahārāja to Asta Mountain. There, by the touch of Śukrācārya’s hand, Bali Mahārāja regained his senses and consciousness, and those demons whose heads and bodies had not been completely lost were brought back to life by the mystic power of Śukrācārya.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.11
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tatraon that hill
  2. avinaṣṭa-avayavānthe demons who had been killed but whose bodily parts had not been lost
  3. vidyamāna-śirodharānwhose heads were still existing on their bodies
  4. uśanāḥŚukrācārya
  5. jīvayām āsabrought to life
  6. saṁjīvanyāby the Saṁjīvanī mantra
  7. sva-vidyayāby his own achievement
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 condition does the verse specify for the soldiers whom Śukrācārya revived?

Practice

Write one sentence recalling the name of the mantra and which soldiers were revived.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayŚukrācārya Revives the Fallen SoldiersThis 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 8.11.47? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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