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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 17: The Supreme Lord Agrees to Become Aditi’s Son
8.17.168.17.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.17.17

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 8.17.12inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अथाप्युपायो मम देवि चिन्त्य:

सन्तोषितस्य व्रतचर्यया ते ।

ममार्चनं नार्हति गन्तुमन्यथा

श्रद्धानुरूपं फलहेतुकत्वात् ॥ १७ ॥

athāpy upāyo mama devi cintyaḥ

santoṣitasya vrata-caryayā te

mamārcanaṁ nārhati gantum anyathā

śraddhānurūpaṁ phala-hetukatvāt

Translation

Yet because I have been satisfied by the activities of your vow, O goddess Aditi, I must find some means to favor you, for worship of Me never goes in vain but certainly gives the desired result according to what one deserves.

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.

Worship of the Lord Never Goes Vain

  1. 1

    The Lord is satisfied by Aditi’s observance of her vow.

  2. 2

    Because He is pleased, He says He must find some means to favor her.

  3. 3

    Worship of the Lord never goes in vain. It gives the desired result according to what one deserves.

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 17: The Supreme Lord Agrees to Become Aditi’s Son

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Supersoul of all living entities, was very pleased with her, and He agreed to become her son by incarnating as a plenary expansion. He was already pleased by Kaśyapa Muni’s austerities, and thus He agreed to become their son and maintain the demigods.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.17
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. athatherefore
  2. apiin spite of this situation
  3. upāyaḥsome means
  4. mamaby Me
  5. deviO goddess
  6. cintyaḥmust be considered
  7. santoṣitasyavery pleased
  8. vrata-caryayāobserving the vow
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 8.17

    In this verse: “worship”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 8.17

    In this verse: “favor”

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

Can you continue worshiping sincerely while leaving the result to the Lord?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer or act of worship today without demanding a particular outcome.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWorship of the Lord Never Goes VainThis 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 8.17.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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