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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 18: Lord Vāmanadeva, the Dwarf Incarnation
8.18.48.18.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.18.5

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.18.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रोणायां श्रवणद्वादश्यां मुहूर्तेऽभिजिति प्रभु: ।

सर्वे नक्षत्रताराद्याश्चक्रुस्तज्जन्म दक्षिणम् ॥ ५ ॥

śroṇāyāṁ śravaṇa-dvādaśyāṁ

muhūrte ’bhijiti prabhuḥ

sarve nakṣatra-tārādyāś

cakrus taj-janma dakṣiṇam

Translation

On the day of Śravaṇa-dvādaśī [the twelfth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Bhādra], when the moon came into the lunar mansion Śravaṇa, at the auspicious moment of Abhijit, the Lord appeared in this universe. Considering the Lord’s appearance very auspicious, all the stars and planets, from the sun to Saturn, were munificently charitable.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

An Auspicious Time for the Lord’s Appearance

  1. 1

    The Lord appeared on Śravaṇa-dvādaśī, the twelfth day of the bright fortnight in Bhādra. The moon was in Śravaṇa, and the moment was Abhijit.

  2. 2

    Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura explains that nakṣatra means stars and tāra here means planets. Sūrya, the sun, is the first planet specifically mentioned.

  3. 3

    The purport explains that the planets and stars were situated very auspiciously, according to astrological calculations. They celebrated the Lord’s appearance.

Key points from the purport
  • Among the planets, the first is Sūrya, the sun, not the moon.
  • Therefore, according to the Vedic version, the modern astronomer’s proposition that the moon is nearest to the earth should not be accepted.
  • Apart from this, when the Lord appeared the planets and stars became situated very auspiciously, according to astrological calculations, to celebrate the birth of the Lord.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

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 18: Lord Vāmanadeva, the Dwarf Incarnation

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Lord Viṣṇu appeared at an auspicious moment on Śravaṇa-dvādaśī when the Abhijit star had arisen. At that time, in all the three worlds (including the higher planetary system, outer space and this earth), all the demigods, the cows, the brāhmaṇas and even the seasons were happy because of God’s appearance.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.18
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śroṇāyāmwhen the moon was situated in the Śravaṇa lunar mansion
  2. śravaṇa-dvādaśyāmon the twelfth lunar day of the bright fortnight in the month of Bhādra, the day famous as the Śravaṇa-dvādaśī
  3. muhūrtein the auspicious moment
  4. abhijitiin the first portion of the Śravaṇa lunar mansion known as the Abhijit-nakṣatra and in the Abhijit-muhūrta (occurring at midday)
  5. prabhuḥthe Lord
  6. sarveall
  7. nakṣatrastars
  8. tārāplanets
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

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I give more attention to the auspicious occasion of the Lord’s appearance?

Practice

Write down the name Śravaṇa-dvādaśī and its meaning given in the translation.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAn Auspicious Time for the Lord’s AppearanceThis 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 8.18.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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