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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
8.12.188.12.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.12.19

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

आवर्तनोद्वर्तनकम्पितस्तन-प्रकृष्टहारोरुभरै: पदे पदे । प्रभज्यमानामिव मध्यतश्चलत्-पदप्रवालं नयतीं ततस्तत: ॥ १९ ॥

āvartanodvartana-kampita-stana-

prakṛṣṭa-hāroru-bharaiḥ pade pade

prabhajyamānām iva madhyataś calat-

pada-pravālaṁ nayatīṁ tatas tataḥ

Translation

Because the ball was falling down and bouncing up, as She played with it Her breasts trembled, and because of the weight of those breasts and Her heavy flower garlands, Her waist appeared to be all but breaking at every step, as Her two soft feet, which were reddish like coral, moved here and there.

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 Beautiful Form in Motion

  1. 1

    As She played, the ball fell down and bounced up. The movement caused Her breasts to tremble.

  2. 2

    Under the weight of Her breasts and heavy flower garlands, Her waist appeared almost to break at every step.

  3. 3

    Her two soft feet were reddish like coral. They moved here and there as She played.

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:

Accompanied by his wife, Umā, and his servants, the bhūta-gaṇa, or ghosts, he approached the lotus feet of the Lord. Lord Śiva offered obeisances to the Supreme Lord as the all-pervading Lord, the universal form, the supreme controller of creation, the Supersoul, the resting place for everyone, and the completely independent cause of all causes.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.12
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. āvartanaby the falling down
  2. udvartanaand springing up
  3. kampitatrembling
  4. stanaof the two breasts
  5. prakṛṣṭabeautiful
  6. hāraand of garlands
  7. uru-bharaiḥbecause of the heavy load
  8. pade padeat every step
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

How does the description of movement add to the picture presented in this verse?

Practice

Read the translation once slowly, noticing the ball’s movement, the garlands and the coral-red feet.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Beautiful Form in MotionThis 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 8.12.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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