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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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

8.11.4 8.11.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.11.5

Sthāna· The universe in order

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Indrasince 8.11.4inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

आरुरुक्षन्ति मायाभिरुत्सिसृप्सन्ति ये दिवम् ।

तान्दस्यून्विधुनोम्यज्ञान्पूर्वस्माच्च पदादध: ॥ ५ ॥

ārurukṣanti māyābhir

utsisṛpsanti ye divam

tān dasyūn vidhunomy ajñān

pūrvasmāc ca padād adhaḥ

Translation

Those fools and rascals who want to ascend to the upper planetary system by mystic power or mechanical means, or who endeavor to cross even the upper planets and achieve the spiritual world or liberation, I cause to be sent to the lowest region of the universe.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Higher Destinations Require Genuine Qualifications

1
Different planetary systems are meant for differently qualified persons. Those in the mode of goodness can go to the upper planets.
2
Indra has the power to push down a conditioned soul who attempts to enter the higher planets without proper qualifications.
3
The purport stresses that mechanical means cannot replace sufficient good qualities. It describes drinking, meat-eating, and illicit sex as obstacles to entering the higher planets.

Key points from the purport

Indra, King of the higher planetary system, has the power to push down any conditioned soul attempting to go from the lower to the higher planets without proper qualifications.
From this statement of Indra it appears that anyone attempting to go to the higher planetary systems by mechanical means, which are here called māyā, is condemned to go to the hellish planets in the lower portion of the universe.
A sinful person situated in the mode of ignorance and addicted to drinking, meat-eating and illicit sex will never enter the higher planets by mechanical means.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 8.11.5 quotesBG 14.18

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (14.18), ūrdhvaṁ gacchanti sattva-sthāḥ: persons in the mode of goodness can go to the upper planets.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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

Chapter 11: King Indra Annihilates the Demons

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Then Śukrācārya, by his mystic power, renewed the lives of all the demons. Having been graced by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the demigods began fighting the demons again, with renewed energy.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 8.11