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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 8 · Chapter 12: The Mohinī-mūrti Incarnation Bewilders Lord Śiva
8.12.218.12.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.12.22

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.12.17inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तां वीक्ष्य देव इति कन्दुकलीलयेषद्-व्रीडास्फुटस्मितविसृष्टकटाक्षमुष्ट: । स्त्रीप्रेक्षणप्रतिसमीक्षणविह्वलात्मानात्मानमन्तिक उमां स्वगणांश्च वेद ॥ २२ ॥

tāṁ vīkṣya deva iti kanduka-līlayeṣad-

vrīḍāsphuṭa-smita-visṛṣṭa-kaṭākṣa-muṣṭaḥ

strī-prekṣaṇa-pratisamīkṣaṇa-vihvalātmā

nātmānam antika umāṁ sva-gaṇāṁś ca veda

Translation

While Lord Śiva observed the beautiful woman playing with the ball, She sometimes glanced at him and slightly smiled in bashfulness. As he looked at the beautiful woman and She watched him, he forgot both himself and Umā, his most beautiful wife, as well as his associates nearby.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Lusty Attraction Binds the Heart

  1. 1

    Captivated by the woman’s glances, Lord Śiva forgot himself, Umā and his nearby associates. Although above ordinary attraction, he was overcome by Lord Viṣṇu’s captivating power.

  2. 2

    Exchanges of glances and lusty feelings increase desire. The purport explains that both parties become bound to the material world.

  3. 3

    Attraction between male and female ties their hearts together and extends to body, home, property, children, relatives and wealth. In this way, the illusion of “I and mine” increases.

Key points from the purport
  • The material bondage of this world is that a beautiful woman can captivate a handsome man and that a handsome man can captivate a beautiful woman.
  • Such are the affairs that began when Lord Śiva observed the beautiful girl playing with the ball.
  • Such reciprocations of lusty desire took place between Lord Śiva and the beautiful woman, even though Umā and Lord Śiva’s associates were by Lord Śiva’s side.

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 8.12.22 quotesSB 5.5.8

In this way one increases life’s illusions and thinks in terms of ‘I and mine.’”

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

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. tāmHer
  2. vīkṣyaafter observing
  3. devaḥLord Śambhu
  4. itiin this way
  5. kanduka-līlayāby playing with the ball
  6. īṣatslight
  7. vrīḍāby bashfulness
  8. asphuṭanot very distinct
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 8.12

    In this verse: “illusion”, “lusty”, “wealth”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 8.12

    In this verse: “children”

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

When does attraction make you forget others and think mainly in terms of “I and mine”?

Practice

Notice one moment of possessive thinking today and quietly identify the “I” or “mine” behind it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 5.5.8

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 8.12's connections

Live this todayLusty Attraction Binds the HeartThis 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 8.12.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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