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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 17: The Supreme Lord Agrees to Become Aditi’s Son
8.17.208.17.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.17.21

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.17.21inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

एतावदुक्त्वा भगवांस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत ।

अदितिर्दुर्लभं लब्ध्वा हरेर्जन्मात्मनि प्रभो: ।

उपाधावत् पतिं भक्त्या परया कृतकृत्यवत् ॥ २१ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

etāvad uktvā bhagavāṁs

tatraivāntaradhīyata

aditir durlabhaṁ labdhvā

harer janmātmani prabhoḥ

upādhāvat patiṁ bhaktyā

parayā kṛta-kṛtyavat

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: After speaking in this way, the Supreme Personality of Godhead disappeared from that very spot. Aditi, having received the extremely valuable benediction that the Lord would appear as her son, considered herself very successful, and with great devotion she approached her husband.

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.

Receive the Lord’s Benediction With Devotion

  1. 1

    Śukadeva Gosvāmī says that the Supreme Personality of Godhead disappeared from that very spot after speaking.

  2. 2

    Aditi received the extremely valuable benediction that the Lord would appear as her son and considered herself very successful.

  3. 3

    With great devotion, she approached her husband.

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:

After giving His word of honor to this effect, the Lord disappeared. Following the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Aditi engaged in the service of Kaśyapa Muni, who could see by samādhi that the Lord was within him and who thus placed his semen in the womb of Aditi.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.17
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. etāvatin this way
  3. uktvāsaying (to her)
  4. bhagavānthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  5. tatra evain that very spot
  6. antaḥ-adhīyatadisappeared
  7. aditiḥAditi
  8. durlabhama very rare achievement
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 8.17

    In this verse: “devotion”

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 gratitude for the Lord’s favor lead you to act with greater devotion?

Practice

Take a moment to thank the Lord, then perform one small act of devotional service with care.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReceive the Lord’s Benediction With 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 8.17.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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