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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
8.2.208.2.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.2.21

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

यद्गन्धमात्राद्धरयो गजेन्द्रा

व्याघ्रादयो व्यालमृगा: सखड्‌गा: ।

महोरगाश्चापि भयाद्‌द्रवन्ति

सगौरकृष्णा: सरभाश्चमर्य: ॥ २१ ॥

yad-gandha-mātrād dharayo gajendrā

vyāghrādayo vyāla-mṛgāḥ sakhaḍgāḥ

mahoragāś cāpi bhayād dravanti

sagaura-kṛṣṇāḥ sarabhāś camaryaḥ

Translation

Simply by catching scent of that elephant, all the other elephants, the tigers and the other ferocious animals, such as lions, rhinoceroses, great serpents and black and white sarabhas, fled in fear. The camarī deer also fled.

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.

Even Fierce Animals Fled in Fear

  1. 1

    Simply catching the elephant’s scent made other elephants and fierce animals flee.

  2. 2

    Lions, tigers, rhinoceroses and great serpents were among those afraid of him.

  3. 3

    The black and white sarabhas and the camarī deer also fled. The elephant’s presence inspired widespread fear.

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:

Thus there ensued a great fight between the elephant and the crocodile. This fight continued for one thousand years.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yat-gandha-mātrātsimply by the scent of that elephant
  2. harayaḥlions
  3. gaja-indrāḥother elephants
  4. vyāghra-ādayaḥferocious animals like tigers
  5. vyāla-mṛgāḥother ferocious animals
  6. sakhaḍgāḥrhinoceroses
  7. mahā-uragāḥbig, big serpents
  8. caalso
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 8.2

    In this verse: “fear”, “afraid”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does the animals’ response show you about the elephant’s power?

Practice

Reread the translation and name three animals that fled simply upon smelling the elephant.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayEven Fierce Animals Fled in FearThis 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 8.2.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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