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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
8.12.408.12.42

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.12.41

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.12.41inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

एवं भगवता राजन् श्रीवत्साङ्केन सत्कृत: । आमन्‍त्र्य तं परिक्रम्य सगण: स्वालयं ययौ ॥ ४१ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

evaṁ bhagavatā rājan

śrīvatsāṅkena sat-kṛtaḥ

āmantrya taṁ parikramya

sagaṇaḥ svālayaṁ yayau

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King, having thus been praised by the Supreme Personality, who bears the mark of Śrīvatsa on His chest, Lord Śiva circumambulated Him. Then, after taking permission from Him, Lord Śiva returned to his abode, Kailāsa, along with his associates.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Reverence Met with the Lord’s Embrace

  1. 1

    Lord Śiva circumambulated the Supreme Personality of Godhead and took His permission before returning to Kailāsa with his associates.

  2. 2

    Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura explains that Lord Viṣṇu arose and embraced Lord Śiva as he offered obeisances.

  3. 3

    The Śrīvatsa mark adorns Lord Viṣṇu’s chest. During His embrace, this mark touched Lord Śiva’s bosom.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura remarks that when Lord Śiva was offering obeisances unto Lord Viṣṇu, Lord Viṣṇu arose and embraced him.
  • The mark of Śrīvatsa adorns the chest of Lord Viṣṇu, and therefore when Lord Viṣṇu embraced Lord Śiva while being circumambulated, the Śrīvatsa mark touched Lord Śiva’s bosom.

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:

After Lord Śiva was graced by the Supreme Lord, he circumambulated the Lord along with his wife, Bhavānī, and his companions, the ghosts. Then he left for his own abode.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.12
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. evamthus
  3. bhagavatāby the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  4. rājanO King
  5. śrīvatsa-aṅkenawho always carries the mark of Śrīvatsa on His breast
  6. sat-kṛtaḥbeing very much applauded
  7. āmantryataking permission from
  8. tamHim
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 8.12

    In this verse: “king”

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

What does Lord Śiva’s respectful conduct teach me about approaching the Lord?

Practice

Offer one respectful bow to the Supreme Personality of Godhead today, remembering Lord Śiva’s reverence.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReverence Met with the Lord’s EmbraceThis 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 8.12.41? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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