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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
8.16.358.16.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.16.36

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śrī Kaśyapa Munisince 8.16.24inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

त्वं सर्ववरद: पुंसां वरेण्य वरदर्षभ ।

अतस्ते श्रेयसे धीरा: पादरेणुमुपासते ॥ ३६ ॥

tvaṁ sarva-varadaḥ puṁsāṁ

vareṇya varadarṣabha

atas te śreyase dhīrāḥ

pāda-reṇum upāsate

Translation

O most exalted and worshipable Lord, best of those who bestow benediction, You can fulfill the desires of everyone, and therefore those who are sober, for their own welfare, worship the dust of Your lotus feet.

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.

Seek Welfare at the Lord’s Feet

  1. 1

    The Lord is most exalted and worshipable. He is the best of those who bestow benedictions.

  2. 2

    He can fulfill the desires of everyone. The prayer recognizes His ability to give blessings.

  3. 3

    Those who are sober worship the dust of His lotus feet for their own welfare.

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:

He assured her that only Lord Vāsudeva could satisfy her and fulfill all her desires. When Aditi then expressed her desire to worship Lord Vāsudeva, Prajāpati Kaśyapa told her about a process of worship known as payo-vrata, which is executed in twelve days.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tvamYou
  2. sarva-vara-daḥwho can give all kinds of benedictions
  3. puṁsāmto all living entities
  4. vareṇyaO most worshipable
  5. vara-da-ṛṣabhaO most powerful of all givers of benediction
  6. ataḥfor this reason
  7. teYour
  8. śreyasethe source of all auspiciousness
  9. dhīrāḥthe most sober
  10. pāda-reṇum upāsateworship the dust of the lotus feet
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 8.16

    In this verse: “worshipable”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 8.16

    In this verse: “welfare”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 8.16

    In this verse: “blessings”

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 would it mean for me to seek my welfare at the Lord’s lotus feet?

Practice

Take one quiet minute to offer a prayer of worship at the Lord’s lotus feet.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeek Welfare at the Lord’s FeetThis 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 8.16.36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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