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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
8.23.298.23.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.23.30

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.23.18inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

य इदं देवदेवस्य हरेरद्भ‍ुतकर्मण: ।

अवतारानुचरितं श‍ृण्वन् याति परां गतिम् ॥ ३० ॥

ya idaṁ deva-devasya

harer adbhuta-karmaṇaḥ

avatārānucaritaṁ

śṛṇvan yāti parāṁ gatim

Translation

If one hears about the uncommon activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His various incarnations, he is certainly elevated to the higher planetary system or even brought back home, back to Godhead.

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.

Hearing Leads Back to Godhead

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead performs uncommon activities in His various incarnations.

  2. 2

    Hearing about these activities can elevate a person to the higher planetary system.

  3. 3

    Such hearing can even bring a person back home, back to Godhead.

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:

Having seen the wonderful activities of Lord Viṣṇu in the sacrificial arena of Bali Mahārāja, all the demigods, saintly persons, Pitās, Bhūtas and Siddhas glorified the Lord again and again. The chapter concludes by saying that the most auspicious function of the conditioned soul is to chant and hear about the glorious activities of Lord Viṣṇu.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.23
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yaḥanyone who
  2. idamthis
  3. deva-devasyaof the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is worshiped by the demigods
  4. hareḥof Lord Kṛṣṇa, Hari
  5. adbhuta-karmaṇaḥwhose activities are all wonderful
  6. avatāra-anucaritamactivities performed in His different incarnations
  7. śṛṇvanif one continues to hear
  8. yātihe goes
  9. parām gatimto the supreme perfection, back home, back to Godhead
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 8.23

    In this verse: “hearing”

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

How can I make hearing about the Lord a regular part of my devotional life?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today to hear about the Lord’s activities, with the aim of returning back to Godhead.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHearing Leads Back to GodheadThis 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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