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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

8.17.19 8.17.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.17.20

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

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

नैतत् परस्मा आख्येयं पृष्टयापि कथञ्चन ।

सर्वं सम्पद्यते देवि देवगुह्यं सुसंवृतम् ॥ २० ॥

naitat parasmā ākhyeyaṁ

pṛṣṭayāpi kathañcana

sarvaṁ sampadyate devi

deva-guhyaṁ susaṁvṛtam

Translation

O lady, even if someone inquires, you should not disclose this fact to anyone. That which is very confidential is successful if kept secret.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

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

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Keep the Lord’s Confidential Instruction

1
The Lord tells her not to disclose this confidential matter to anyone.
2
She is to keep it private even if someone asks about it.
3
The Lord explains that a very confidential matter succeeds when it is kept secret.

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

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

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

He was already pleased by Kaśyapa Muni’s austerities, and thus He agreed to become their son and maintain the demigods. After giving His word of honor to this effect, the Lord disappeared.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 8.17

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

nanot
etatthis
parasmaito outsiders
ākhyeyamis to be disclosed
pṛṣṭayā apieven though questioned
kathañcanaby anyone
sarvameverything
sampadyatebecomes successful

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
Jñāna · Spiritual insight
Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 8.17
In this verse: “inquires”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How carefully do you guard a confidence entrusted to you?

Practice

Refrain today from sharing one private matter that has been entrusted to you.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKeep the Lord’s Confidential InstructionThis 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 8.17.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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