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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 23: The Demigods Regain the Heavenly Planets
8.23.11-128.23.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.23.13

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.23.11-12inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अथाहोशनसं राजन्हरिर्नारायणोऽन्तिके ।

आसीनमृत्विजां मध्ये सदसि ब्रह्मवादिनाम् ॥ १३ ॥

athāhośanasaṁ rājan

harir nārāyaṇo ’ntike

āsīnam ṛtvijāṁ madhye

sadasi brahma-vādinām

Translation

Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa, thereafter addressed Śukrācārya, who was sitting nearby in the midst of the assembly with the priests [brahma, hotā, udgātā and adhvaryu]. O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, these priests were all brahma-vādīs, followers of the Vedic principles for performing sacrifices.

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.

The Supreme Lord Addresses Śukrācārya

  1. 1

    Hari, Nārāyaṇa, is identified as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    The Lord addressed Śukrācārya, who was sitting nearby among the priests in the assembly.

  3. 3

    These priests were brahma-vādīs, followers of the Vedic principles for performing sacrifices.

How it feels

Public loss and humiliation → Total surrender. An apparent external defeat conceals a devotional triumph.

Chapters 19–23 of Canto 8: Vāmana tests Bali; Bali offers everything. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 23: The Demigods Regain the Heavenly Planets

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

In this way he described the unlimited causeless mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then, with folded hands, he offered his respectful obeisances unto the Lord, and after circumambulating the Lord he also entered the planet Sutala in accordance with the Lord’s order.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.23
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. athathereafter
  2. āhasaid
  3. uśanasamunto Śukrācārya
  4. rājanO King
  5. hariḥthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  6. nārāyaṇaḥthe Lord
  7. antikenearby
  8. āsīnamwho was sitting
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 8.23

    In this verse: “principles”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When I read this scene, do I recognize Hari as the Supreme Personality of Godhead?

Practice

Read the translation slowly once, giving special attention to how it identifies Hari.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Supreme Lord Addresses ŚukrācāryaThis 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 8.23.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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