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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
8.12.468.13.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.12.47

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.12.45inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

असदविषयमङ्‍‍घ्रिं भावगम्यं प्रपन्ना-

नमृतममरवर्यानाशयत् सिन्धुमथ्यम् ।

कपटयुवतिवेषो मोहयन्य: सुरारीं-

स्तमहमुपसृतानां कामपूरं नतोऽस्मि ॥ ४७ ॥

asad-aviṣayam aṅghriṁ bhāva-gamyaṁ prapannān

amṛtam amara-varyān āśayat sindhu-mathyam

kapaṭa-yuvati-veṣo mohayan yaḥ surārīṁs

tam aham upasṛtānāṁ kāma-pūraṁ nato ’smi

Translation

Assuming the form of a young woman and thus bewildering the demons, the Supreme Personality of Godhead distributed to His devotees, the demigods, the nectar produced from the churning of the Ocean of Milk. Unto that Supreme Personality of Godhead, who always fulfills the desires of His devotees, I offer my respectful obeisances.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Reciprocates His Devotees’ Love

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead assumed the form of a young woman, bewildered the demons, and gave the nectar to His devotees, the demigods.

  2. 2

    Although the Lord is equal to everyone, He naturally favors His devotees out of affection. Like a father caring for his children, He reciprocates their love.

  3. 3

    Devotees depend entirely on the Lord’s lotus feet, and He is always prepared to protect them and fulfill their desires. The teaching directs us toward devotional service and loving dependence on Him.

Key points from the purport
  • The instruction of this narration concerning the churning of the Milk Ocean is clearly manifested by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • This partiality of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is natural.
  • Similarly, because devotees do not know anything but the lotus feet of the Lord, the Lord is always prepared to give protection to His devotees and fulfill their desires.

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 8.12.47 quotesBG 9.29

The Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (9.29): na me dveṣyo ’sti na priyaḥ

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:

Then he left for his own abode. Śukadeva Gosvāmī concludes this chapter by describing the transcendental qualities of Uttamaśloka, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and by declaring that one can glorify the Lord by nine kinds of devotional service, beginning with śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.12
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. asat-aviṣayamnot understood by the atheists
  2. aṅghrimunto the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  3. bhāva-gamyamunderstood by devotees
  4. prapannānfully surrendered
  5. amṛtamthe nectar
  6. amara-varyānonly unto the demigods
  7. āśayatgave to drink
  8. sindhu-mathyamproduced from the Ocean of Milk
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 8.12

    In this verse: “devotees”, “devotional service”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “father”, “children”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 8.12

    In this verse: “favors”

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 can I approach the Lord with loving service rather than only with requests?

Practice

Offer respectful obeisances to the Supreme Personality of Godhead today, with a simple prayer to serve Him with devotion.

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.

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

Live this todayThe Lord Reciprocates His Devotees’ LoveThis 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 8.12.47? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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