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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

8.12.45 8.12.47

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.12.46

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.12.45inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एतन्मुहु: कीर्तयतोऽनुश‍ृण्वतो

न रिष्यते जातु समुद्यम: क्‍वचित् ।

यदुत्तमश्लोकगुणानुवर्णनं

समस्तसंसारपरिश्रमापहम् ॥ ४६ ॥

etan muhuḥ kīrtayato ’nuśṛṇvato

na riṣyate jātu samudyamaḥ kvacit

yad uttamaśloka-guṇānuvarṇanaṁ

samasta-saṁsāra-pariśramāpaham

Translation

The endeavor of one who constantly hears or describes this narration of the churning of the Ocean of Milk will never be fruitless. Indeed, chanting the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the only means to annihilate all sufferings in this material world.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hearing and Chanting Are Never Fruitless

1
One who constantly hears or describes the narration of the churning of the Ocean of Milk never endeavors fruitlessly.
2
Hearing and describing this narration are ways of attending to the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
3
Chanting the Lord’s glories is declared to be the only means to annihilate all sufferings in this material world.

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

Chapter 12: The Mohinī-mūrti Incarnation Bewilders Lord Śiva

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

This demonstrates that by the power of the Lord’s external energy, everyone is captivated by the form of woman in this material world. Again, however, by the grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one can overcome the influence of māyā.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 8.12

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

etatthis narration
muhuḥconstantly
kīrtayataḥof one who chants
anuśṛṇvataḥand also hears
nanot
riṣyateannihilated
jātuat any time
samudyamaḥthe endeavor

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
Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting
Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 8.12
In this verse: “chanting”, “narration”, “hearing”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 8.12
In this verse: “material”
Karuṇā · Compassion
Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 8.12
In this verse: “sufferings”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I make hearing or describing the Lord’s glories a regular part of my day?

Practice

Spend five minutes today reading aloud from this narration of the churning of the Ocean of Milk.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Connected stories

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

The churning of the oceanSB 8.5–6 · The demigods seek the Lord’s helpEven the demigods depend on the Supreme Lord’s help. Their preparations follow His direction rather than relying only on their own strength.

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

Live this todayHearing and Chanting Are Never FruitlessThis 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 8.12.46? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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