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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 2: The Elephant Gajendra’s Crisis
8.2.14-198.2.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.2.20

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.2.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit
A turning point forGajendra· Life at the lake

तत्रैकदा तद्‌गिरिकाननाश्रय:

करेणुभिर्वारणयूथपश्चरन् ।

सकण्टकं कीचकवेणुवेत्रवद्

विशालगुल्मं प्ररुजन्वनस्पतीन् ॥ २० ॥

tatraikadā tad-giri-kānanāśrayaḥ

kareṇubhir vāraṇa-yūtha-paś caran

sakaṇṭakaṁ kīcaka-veṇu-vetravad

viśāla-gulmaṁ prarujan vanaspatīn

Translation

The leader of the elephants who lived in the forest of the mountain Trikūṭa once wandered toward the lake with his female elephants. He broke many plants, creepers, thickets and trees, not caring for their piercing thorns.

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.

The Elephant Leader Moves Toward the Lake

  1. 1

    The leader of the elephants lived in the forest of Trikūṭa Mountain.

  2. 2

    Once, he wandered toward the lake accompanied by his female elephants.

  3. 3

    Along the way, he broke many plants, creepers, thickets and trees. He did not care about their piercing thorns.

How it feels

Helplessness → Surrender and rescue. A mighty animal finally realizes the limits of strength.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 8: Gajendra's struggle and prayers. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 2: The Elephant Gajendra’s Crisis

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Once the chief of the elephants, along with female elephants, went to enjoy bathing in that lake, and they disturbed the inhabitants of the water. Because of this, the chief crocodile in that water, who was very powerful, immediately attacked the elephant’s leg.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tatratherein
  2. ekadāonce upon a time
  3. tat-giriof that mountain (Trikūṭa)
  4. kānana-āśrayaḥwho lives in the forest
  5. kareṇubhiḥaccompanied by female elephants
  6. vāraṇa-yūtha-paḥthe leader of the elephants
  7. caranwhile wandering (toward the lake)
  8. sa-kaṇṭakama place full of thorns
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

What do the elephant’s actions reveal about how he moves through the forest?

Practice

Reread the verse and identify the elephant’s home, companions and actions.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Elephant Leader Moves Toward the LakeThis 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 8.2.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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