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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
8.2.308.2.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.2.31

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

इत्थं गजेन्द्र: स यदाप सङ्कटं

प्राणस्य देही विवशो यद‍ृच्छया ।

अपारयन्नात्मविमोक्षणे चिरं

दध्याविमां बुद्धिमथाभ्यपद्यत ॥ ३१ ॥

itthaṁ gajendraḥ sa yadāpa saṅkaṭaṁ

prāṇasya dehī vivaśo yadṛcchayā

apārayann ātma-vimokṣaṇe ciraṁ

dadhyāv imāṁ buddhim athābhyapadyata

Translation

When the King of the elephants saw that he was under the clutches of the crocodile by the will of providence and, being embodied and circumstantially helpless, could not save himself from danger, he was extremely afraid of being killed. He consequently thought for a long time and finally reached the following decision.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seek Shelter at Kṛṣṇa’s Lotus Feet

  1. 1

    Unable to save himself and afraid of being killed, the elephant thought seriously for a long time. He finally decided to seek shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet.

  2. 2

    Everyone in the material world struggles for existence. Pious people turn to the Supreme Personality of Godhead in danger, financial need, the search for knowledge or inquisitiveness.

  3. 3

    Seeking shelter of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, was the elephant’s intelligent and correct decision. The purport explains that pious people can reach this decision in dangerous or awkward circumstances.

Key points from the purport
  • Everyone tries to save himself from danger, but when one is unable to save himself, if he is pious, he then takes shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • The King of the elephants, in his condition of danger, decided to seek shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord.
  • Therefore in Bhagavad-gītā it is said that those who are pious (sukṛtī) can decide that in a dangerous or awkward condition one should seek shelter of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 8.2.31 quotesBG 7.16

This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (7.16): Four kinds of pious men — namely, one who is in danger, one who is in need of money, one who is searching for knowledge and one who is inquisitive — begin to take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in order to be saved or to advance.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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 the crocodile became more and more encouraged. Then the elephant, being helpless and seeing that there was no other way for his protection, sought shelter at the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. itthamin this way
  2. gaja-indraḥthe King of the elephants
  3. saḥhe
  4. yadāwhen
  5. āpaobtained
  6. saṅkaṭamsuch a dangerous position
  7. prāṇasyaof life
  8. dehīwho is embodied
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”, “danger”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 8.2

    In this verse: “king”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 8.2

    In this verse: “shelter”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

In a difficult situation, do I make time to seek shelter of Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Take a quiet moment today to pray to Kṛṣṇa for shelter in one difficulty you face.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeek Shelter at Kṛṣṇa’s Lotus FeetThis 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.

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