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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 12: The Mohinī-mūrti Incarnation Bewilders Lord Śiva
8.12.178.12.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.12.18

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.12.17inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

ततो ददर्शोपवने वरस्त्रियंविचित्रपुष्पारुणपल्ल‍वद्रुमे । विक्रीडतीं कन्दुकलीलया लसद्-दुकूलपर्यस्तनितम्बमेखलाम् ॥ १८ ॥

tato dadarśopavane vara-striyaṁ

vicitra-puṣpāruṇa-pallava-drume

vikrīḍatīṁ kanduka-līlayā lasad-

dukūla-paryasta-nitamba-mekhalām

Translation

Thereafter, in a nice forest nearby, full of trees with reddish-pink leaves and varieties of flowers, Lord Śiva saw a beautiful woman playing with a ball. Her hips were covered with a shining sari and ornamented with a belt.

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.

Śiva Sees the Beautiful Woman

  1. 1

    Lord Śiva next saw a beautiful woman in a nearby forest.

  2. 2

    The forest was full of trees with reddish-pink leaves and many varieties of flowers.

  3. 3

    The woman was playing with a ball. A shining sari covered Her hips, which were ornamented with a belt.

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 12: The Mohinī-mūrti Incarnation Bewilders Lord Śiva

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Therefore, to fulfill the desire of His devotee Lord Śiva, He expanded His energy and manifested Himself in the form of a very beautiful and attractive woman. Upon seeing this form, even Lord Śiva was captivated.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.12
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tataḥthereafter
  2. dadarśaLord Śiva saw
  3. upavanein a nice forest
  4. vara-striyama very beautiful woman
  5. vicitraof many varieties
  6. puṣpaflowers
  7. aruṇapink
  8. pallavaleaves
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

Can I attend carefully to this description without adding details the verse does not give?

Practice

Reread the verse and identify its three elements: the forest, the activity and the clothing.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayŚiva Sees the Beautiful WomanThis 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 8.12.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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