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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.15.12

Who is speaking and story frame

रम्यामुपवनोद्यानै: श्रीमद्भ‍िर्नन्दनादिभि: ।

कूजद्विहङ्गमिथुनैर्गायन्मत्तमधुव्रतै: ।

प्रवालफलपुष्पोरुभारशाखामरद्रुमै: ॥ १२ ॥

ramyām upavanodyānaiḥ

śrīmadbhir nandanādibhiḥ

kūjad-vihaṅga-mithunair

gāyan-matta-madhuvrataiḥ

pravāla-phala-puṣporu-

bhāra-śākhāmara-drumaiḥ

Translation

King Indra’s city was full of pleasing orchards and gardens, such as the Nandana garden. Because of the weight of the flowers, leaves and fruit, the branches of the eternally existing trees were bending down. The gardens were visited by pairs of chirping birds and singing bees. The entire atmosphere was celestial.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

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

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Celestial Beauty of Indra’s Gardens

  1. 1

    Indra’s city was full of pleasing orchards and gardens, including the Nandana garden.

  2. 2

    The branches of eternally existing trees bent beneath the weight of flowers, leaves, and fruit.

  3. 3

    Pairs of chirping birds and singing bees visited the gardens. The entire atmosphere was celestial.

How it feels

Loss and hope → Revelation. A shift in fortune sets up a spiritual test.

Chapters 15–18 of Canto 8: Bali, Aditi and Vāmana's appearance. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 15: Bali Mahārāja Conquers the Heavenly Planets

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Mahārāja Prahlāda, Bali Mahārāja’s grandfather, gave Bali an eternal garland of flowers, and Śukrācārya gave him a conchshell. Bali Mahārāja, after offering obeisances to Prahlāda, the brāhmaṇas and his spiritual master, Śukrācārya, equipped himself to fight with Indra and went to Indrapurī with his soldiers.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ramyāmvery pleasing
  2. upavanawith orchards
  3. udyānaiḥand gardens
  4. śrīmadbhiḥvery beautiful to see
  5. nandana-ādibhiḥsuch as Nandana
  6. kūjatchirping
  7. vihaṅgabirds
  8. mithunaiḥwith pairs
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Sthāna · Planetary systems

    How is the universe arranged, and what is our right place in it? · Subject 3 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 8.15

    In this verse: “king”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 8.15

    In this verse: “nandana”

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

Which sights and sounds make this description especially vivid for you?

Practice

Reread the verse and name one sight and one sound that describe the celestial gardens.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Celestial Beauty of Indra’s GardensThis 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 8.15.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.