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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
8.12.238.12.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.12.24

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

एवं तां रुचिरापाङ्गीं दर्शनीयां मनोरमाम् । द‍ृष्ट्वा तस्यां मनश्चक्रे विषज्जन्त्यां भव: किल ॥ २४ ॥

evaṁ tāṁ rucirāpāṅgīṁ

darśanīyāṁ manoramām

dṛṣṭvā tasyāṁ manaś cakre

viṣajjantyāṁ bhavaḥ kila

Translation

Thus Lord Śiva saw the woman, every part of whose body was beautifully formed, and the beautiful woman also looked at him. Therefore, thinking that She was attracted to him, Lord Śiva became very much attracted to Her.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Assumed Attraction Strengthens Desire

  1. 1

    Lord Śiva observed the woman’s beautifully formed body, while She glanced at him with restless eyes.

  2. 2

    He thought that She was attracted to him and became very attracted to Her.

  3. 3

    The purport explains that he now wanted to touch Her.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Śiva was observing every part of the woman’s body, and She was also glancing at him with restless eyes.
  • Thus Śiva thought that She was also attracted to him, and now he wanted to touch Her.

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

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. evamin this way
  2. tāmHer
  3. rucira-apāṅgīmpossessing all attractive features
  4. darśanīyāmpleasing to see
  5. manoramāmbeautifully formed
  6. dṛṣṭvāseeing
  7. tasyāmupon Her
  8. manaḥ cakrethought
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

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

Have you ever treated your interpretation of another person’s glance as a certainty?

Practice

Before acting on one impression today, distinguish what you actually observed from what you assumed.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAssumed Attraction Strengthens DesireThis 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.

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