1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 8 · Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations · 24 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
8.2.278.2.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.2.28

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

तथातुरं यूथपतिं करेणवो

विकृष्यमाणं तरसा बलीयसा ।

विचुक्रुशुर्दीनधियोऽपरे गजा:

पार्ष्णिग्रहास्तारयितुं न चाशकन् ॥ २८ ॥

tathāturaṁ yūtha-patiṁ kareṇavo

vikṛṣyamāṇaṁ tarasā balīyasā

vicukruśur dīna-dhiyo ’pare gajāḥ

pārṣṇi-grahās tārayituṁ na cāśakan

Translation

Thereafter, seeing Gajendra in that grave condition, his wives felt very, very sorry and began to cry. The other elephants wanted to help Gajendra, but because of the crocodile’s great strength, they could not rescue him by grasping him from behind.

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.

Loved Ones Could Not Rescue Him

  1. 1

    Seeing Gajendra’s grave condition, his wives felt very sorry and began to cry.

  2. 2

    The other elephants wanted to help him. They grasped him from behind in an effort to free him.

  3. 3

    Because of the crocodile’s great strength, they could not rescue Gajendra despite their efforts.

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. tathāthen
  2. āturamthat grave condition
  3. yūtha-patimthe leader of the elephants
  4. kareṇavaḥhis wives
  5. vikṛṣyamāṇambeing attacked
  6. tarasāby the strength
  7. balīyasāby the strength (of the crocodile)
  8. vicukruśuḥbegan to cry
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

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 8.2

    In this verse: “rescue”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How do I respond when I care deeply but cannot remove someone’s difficulty?

Practice

Offer one small act of help to someone in difficulty, without promising that you can solve everything.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLoved Ones Could Not Rescue HimThis 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 8.2.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories