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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.
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Canto 8 · Chapter 16: Executing the Payo-vrata Process of Worship
8.16.44-458.16.47

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.16.46

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Kaśyapa Munisince 8.16.38inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

पयोभक्षो व्रतमिदं चरेद् विष्णवर्चनाद‍ृत: ।

पूर्ववज्जुहुयादग्निं ब्राह्मणांश्चापि भोजयेत् ॥ ४६ ॥

payo-bhakṣo vratam idaṁ

cared viṣṇv-arcanādṛtaḥ

pūrvavaj juhuyād agniṁ

brāhmaṇāṁś cāpi bhojayet

Translation

Worshiping Lord Viṣṇu with great faith and devotion and living only by drinking milk, one should follow this vow. One should also offer oblations to the fire and feed the brāhmaṇas as mentioned before.

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.

Follow the Vow With Faith and Devotion

  1. 1

    The vow should be followed while worshiping Lord Viṣṇu with great faith and devotion.

  2. 2

    During this vow, one should live only by drinking milk.

  3. 3

    One should also offer oblations to the fire and feed the brāhmaṇas as previously described.

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. payaḥ-bhakṣaḥone who drinks milk only
  2. vratam idamthis process of worshiping with a vow
  3. caretone should execute
  4. viṣṇu-arcana-ādṛtaḥworshiping Lord Viṣṇu with great faith and devotion
  5. pūrva-vatas prescribed previously
  6. juhuyātone should offer oblations
  7. agniminto the fire
  8. brāhmaṇānunto the brāhmaṇas
  9. ca apias well as
  10. bhojayetshould feed
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotion”, “worshiping”

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 keep faith and devotion central when following a worship practice?

Practice

Set aside a brief time today to worship Lord Viṣṇu with deliberate attention and devotion.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFollow the Vow With Faith and DevotionThis 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.

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