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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
8.2.258.2.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.2.26

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.2.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

स पुष्करेणोद्‌धृतशीकराम्बुभि-

र्निपाययन्संस्‍नपयन्यथा गृही ।

घृणी करेणु: करभांश्च दुर्मदो

नाचष्ट कृच्छ्रं कृपणोऽजमायया ॥ २६ ॥

sa puṣkareṇoddhṛta-śīkarāmbubhir

nipāyayan saṁsnapayan yathā gṛhī

ghṛṇī kareṇuḥ karabhāṁś ca durmado

nācaṣṭa kṛcchraṁ kṛpaṇo ’ja-māyayā

Translation

Like a human being who lacks spiritual knowledge and is too attached to the members of his family, the elephant, being illusioned by the external energy of Kṛṣṇa, had his wives and children bathe and drink the water. Indeed, he raised water from the lake with his trunk and sprayed it over them. He did not mind the hard labor involved in this endeavor.

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.

Family Attachment Without Spiritual Knowledge

  1. 1

    The elephant is compared to a human being who lacks spiritual knowledge and is too attached to family members.

  2. 2

    Illusioned by the external energy of Kṛṣṇa, he had his wives and children bathe and drink.

  3. 3

    He drew water with his trunk and sprayed it over them. In his attachment, he did not mind the hard labor.

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. saḥhe (the leader of the elephants)
  2. puṣkareṇawith his trunk
  3. uddhṛtaby drawing out
  4. śīkara-ambubhiḥand sprinkling the water
  5. nipāyayancausing them to drink
  6. saṁsnapayanand bathing them
  7. yathāas
  8. gṛhīa householder
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 8.2

    In this verse: “attached”, “illusioned”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 8.2

    In this verse: “children”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 8.2

    In this verse: “knowledge”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Does attachment ever make me neglect the need for spiritual knowledge?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes amid family duties today to reread this verse and consider its warning about attachment.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFamily Attachment Without Spiritual KnowledgeThis 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 8.2.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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