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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.
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Canto 8 · Chapter 24: Matsya, the Lord’s Fish Incarnation
8.24.428.24.44

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.24.43

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The saintly brāhmaṇas, being pleased with the Kingsince 8.24.43inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तमूचुर्मुनय: प्रीता राजन् ध्यायस्व केशवम् ।

स वै न: सङ्कटादस्मादविता शं विधास्यति ॥ ४३ ॥

tam ūcur munayaḥ prītā

rājan dhyāyasva keśavam

sa vai naḥ saṅkaṭād asmād

avitā śaṁ vidhāsyati

Translation

The saintly brāhmaṇas, being pleased with the King, said to him: O King, please meditate upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Keśava. He will save us from this impending danger and arrange for our well-being.

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.

Meditate on the Lord in Danger

  1. 1

    The saintly brāhmaṇas were pleased with the King and asked him to meditate upon Keśava, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    They assured the King that the Lord would save them from the impending danger.

  3. 3

    Their confidence rested in the Lord’s care: He would also arrange for their well-being.

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 Personality of Godhead, being pleased with the King, informed him that within a week there would be an inundation throughout the universe and that the fish incarnation would protect the King, along with the ṛṣis, herbs, seeds and other living entities, in a boat, which would be attached to the fish’s horn. After saying this, the Lord disappeared.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.24
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamunto the King
  2. ūcuḥsaid
  3. munayaḥall the saintly brāhmaṇas
  4. prītāḥbeing pleased
  5. rājanO King
  6. dhyāyasvameditate
  7. keśavamupon the Supreme Lord, Keśava
  8. saḥHis Lordship
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 8.24

    In this verse: “danger”

  • 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

When danger troubles me, how can I remember the Lord’s care?

Practice

Spend one quiet minute meditating upon Keśava, remembering Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMeditate on the Lord in DangerThis 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 8.24.43? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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