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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
8.2.218.2.23-24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.2.22

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

गोपुच्छशालावृकमर्कटाश्च ।

अन्यत्र क्षुद्रा हरिणा: शशादय-

श्चरन्त्यभीता यदनुग्रहेण ॥ २२ ॥

vṛkā varāhā mahiṣarkṣa-śalyā

gopuccha-śālāvṛka-markaṭāś ca

anyatra kṣudrā hariṇāḥ śaśādayaś

caranty abhītā yad-anugraheṇa

Translation

By the mercy of this elephant, animals like the foxes, wolves, buffalos, bears, boars, gopucchas, porcupines, monkeys, rabbits, the other deer and many other small animals loitered elsewhere in the forest. They were not afraid of him.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Mercy Allowed Animals to Live Without Fear

  1. 1

    By the elephant’s mercy, many animals could roam elsewhere in the forest without fear.

  2. 2

    All the animals were practically controlled by this elephant.

  3. 3

    Although they could move without fear, out of respect they did not stand before him.

Key points from the purport
  • All the animals were practically controlled by this elephant, yet although they could move without fear, because of respect they did not stand before him.

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

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:

Because of this, the chief crocodile in that water, who was very powerful, immediately attacked the elephant’s leg. Thus there ensued a great fight between the elephant and the crocodile.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vṛkāḥfoxes
  2. varāhāḥboars
  3. mahiṣabuffalos
  4. ṛkṣabears
  5. śalyāḥporcupines
  6. gopucchaa type of deer
  7. śālāvṛkawolves
  8. markaṭāḥmonkeys
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: “afraid”, “fear”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 8.2

    In this verse: “mercy”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does this verse distinguish respect from fear?

Practice

Show someone respect today through one small, considerate action.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMercy Allowed Animals to Live Without 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 8.2.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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