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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 16: Executing the Payo-vrata Process of Worship
8.16.308.16.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.16.31

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śrī Kaśyapa Munisince 8.16.24inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

नमो द्विशीर्ष्णे त्रिपदे चतु:श‍ृङ्गाय तन्तवे ।

सप्तहस्ताय यज्ञाय त्रयीविद्यात्मने नम: ॥ ३१ ॥

namo dvi-śīrṣṇe tri-pade

catuḥ-śṛṅgāya tantave

sapta-hastāya yajñāya

trayī-vidyātmane namaḥ

Translation

I offer my respectful obeisances unto You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who have two heads [prāyaṇīya and udāyanīya], three legs [savana-traya], four horns [the four Vedas] and seven hands [the seven chandas, such as Gāyatrī]. I offer my obeisances unto You, whose heart and soul are the three Vedic rituals [karma-kāṇḍa, jñāna-kāṇḍa and upāsanā-kāṇḍa] and who expand these rituals in the form of sacrifice.

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.

Honor the Lord Through Vedic Sacrifice

  1. 1

    The prayer offers respectful obeisances to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. His two heads, three legs, four horns and seven hands represent aspects of Vedic worship.

  2. 2

    The four horns represent the four Vedas, and the seven hands represent the seven chandas, such as Gāyatrī.

  3. 3

    The three Vedic rituals—karma-kāṇḍa, jñāna-kāṇḍa and upāsanā-kāṇḍa—are described as His heart and soul. He expands these rituals in the form of sacrifice.

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 16: Executing the Payo-vrata Process of Worship

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

She then requested him to tell her how her sons could return and reoccupy their positions. She wanted all good fortune for her sons.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. namaḥI offer my respectful obeisances unto You
  2. dvi-śīrṣṇewho have two heads
  3. tri-padewho have three legs
  4. catuḥ-śṛṅgāyawho have four horns
  5. tantavewho expand
  6. sapta-hastāyawho have seven hands
  7. yajñāyaunto the yajña-puruṣa, the supreme enjoyer
  8. trayīthe three modes of Vedic ritualistic ceremonies
  9. vidyā-ātmanethe Personality of Godhead, the embodiment of all knowledge
  10. namaḥI offer my respectful obeisances unto You
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 8.16

    In this verse: “worship”

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 does this prayer help me see Vedic worship as centered on the Supreme Lord?

Practice

Read the prayer slowly once, offering your respectful obeisances to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHonor the Lord Through Vedic SacrificeThis 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 8.16.31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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