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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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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
8.2.58.2.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.2.6

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

यत्र सङ्गीतसन्नादैर्नदद्गुहममर्षया ।

अभिगर्जन्ति हरय: श्लाघिन: परशङ्कया ॥ ६ ॥

yatra saṅgīta-sannādair

nadad-guham amarṣayā

abhigarjanti harayaḥ

ślāghinaḥ para-śaṅkayā

Translation

Because of the resounding vibrations of the denizens of heaven singing in the caves, the lions there, being very proud of their strength, roar with unbearable envy, thinking that another lion is roaring in that way.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Receive Knowledge From a Perfect Guide

  1. 1

    The lions mistake the heavenly inhabitants’ singing for another lion’s roar. Proud of their strength, they roar with unbearable envy.

  2. 2

    The higher planetary systems contain varied living beings, animals and trees. The purport celebrates the colorful, varied creation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    Rather than being satisfied with proud speculation, one should receive knowledge from a perfect person like Śukadeva Gosvāmī. Our duty is to follow the instructions of the mahājanas.

Key points from the purport
  • In the higher planetary systems, there are not only different types of human beings, but also animals like lions and elephants.
  • Although they cannot even estimate the varieties existing throughout the universe, they are very proud of their knowledge, and they are accepted as learned by persons of a similar caliber.
  • Rather, one must take knowledge from a perfect person like Śukadeva Gosvāmī.

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· 2

The purport of SB 8.2.6 quotesSB 2.3.19

As described in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.3.19), śva-vid-varāhoṣṭra-kharaiḥ saṁstutaḥ puruṣaḥ paśuḥ: materialistic leaders are praised by dogs, hogs, camels and asses, and they themselves are also big animals.

The purport of SB 8.2.6 quotesSB 6.3.20-21

balir vaiyāsakir vayam. Whatever he says we consider to be factual.

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:

In the midst of the Ocean of Milk, there is a very high and beautiful mountain that has an altitude of ten thousand yojanas, or eighty thousand miles. This mountain is known as Trikūṭa.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yatrain that mountain (Trikūṭa)
  2. saṅgītaof singing
  3. sannādaiḥwith the vibrations
  4. nadatresounding
  5. guhamthe caves
  6. amarṣayābecause of unbearable anger or envy
  7. abhigarjantiroar
  8. harayaḥthe lions
  9. ślāghinaḥbeing very proud of their strength
  10. para-śaṅkayābecause of suspecting another lion
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

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 8.2

    In this verse: “proud”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 8.2

    In this verse: “duty”

  • 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

Where might pride in your own knowledge make it harder to learn from Śukadeva Gosvāmī?

Practice

Read this translation again with the intention to listen carefully rather than judge only by your own experience.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 2.3.19SB 6.3.20

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 8.2's connections

Live this todayReceive Knowledge From a Perfect GuideThis 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 8.2.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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