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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 24: Matsya, the Lord’s Fish Incarnation
8.24.388.24.40

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.24.39

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 8.24.32inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

इत्थमादिश्य राजानं हरिरन्तरधीयत ।

सोऽन्ववैक्षत तं कालं यं हृषीकेश आदिशत् ॥ ३९ ॥

ittham ādiśya rājānaṁ

harir antaradhīyata

so ’nvavaikṣata taṁ kālaṁ

yaṁ hṛṣīkeśa ādiśat

Translation

After thus instructing the King, the Supreme Personality of Godhead immediately disappeared. Then King Satyavrata began to wait for that time of which the Lord had instructed.

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.

Wait Faithfully After Receiving the Lord’s Instruction

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead finishes instructing the King.

  2. 2

    After giving His instructions, the Lord immediately disappears.

  3. 3

    King Satyavrata begins waiting for the time the Lord had indicated. His attention remains on the Lord’s instruction after the Lord disappears.

How it feels

Catastrophe → Trust and protection. Divine guardianship amid destruction closes the canto.

Chapter 24 of Canto 8: Matsya preserves life and knowledge. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 24: Matsya, the Lord’s Fish Incarnation

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The fish, being the Supreme Personality of Godhead, wanted to show His potency to King Satyavrata, and thus He immediately expanded His body in such a way that He could no longer be kept in the jug of water. The King then put the fish in a big well, but the well was also too small.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.24
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. itthamas aforementioned
  2. ādiśyainstructing
  3. rājānamthe King (Satyavrata)
  4. hariḥthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  5. antaradhīyatadisappeared from that place
  6. saḥhe (the King)
  7. anvavaikṣatabegan to wait for
  8. tam kālamthat time
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 8.24

    In this verse: “king”

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

What can I learn from Satyavrata’s attentive waiting?

Practice

Spend one quiet minute recalling an instruction of the Lord you have studied, without rushing to another activity.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWait Faithfully After Receiving the Lord’s InstructionThis 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 8.24.39? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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