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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 3: Gajendra’s Prayers of Surrender
8.2.338.3.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.3.1

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.3.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit
A turning point forGajendra· An ancient prayer returns

श्रीबादरायणिरुवाच

एवं व्यवसितो बुद्ध्या समाधाय मनो हृदि ।

जजाप परमं जाप्यं प्राग्जन्मन्यनुशिक्षितम् ॥ १ ॥

śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca

evaṁ vyavasito buddhyā

samādhāya mano hṛdi

jajāpa paramaṁ jāpyaṁ

prāg-janmany anuśikṣitam

Translation

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Thereafter, the King of the elephants, Gajendra, fixed his mind in his heart with perfect intelligence and chanted a mantra which he had learned in his previous birth as Indradyumna and which he remembered by the grace of Kṛṣṇa.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Practice Chanting Never Goes in Vain

  1. 1

    By Kṛṣṇa’s grace, Gajendra remembered the prayer he had practiced in his previous birth. His danger became an opportunity to remember the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    Even if someone falls down from devotional service, the practice never goes in vain. Kṛṣṇa gives another chance to remember Him and achieve perfection.

  3. 3

    Devotees should practice chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and try to perfect their Kṛṣṇa consciousness in this life. Chanting should not be forgotten under any circumstances.

Key points from the purport
  • It is imperative, therefore, that all devotees in Kṛṣṇa consciousness practice chanting some mantra.
  • Every devotee should practice in order to chant some mantra perfectly so that even though he may be imperfect in spiritual consciousness in this life, in his next life he will not forget Kṛṣṇa consciousness, even if he becomes an animal.
  • Therefore, we should not forget the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra under any circumstances.

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· 1

The purport of SB 8.3.1 quotesBG 6.43

Such remembrance is described in Bhagavad-gītā (6.43-44): In these verses it is assured that even if a person engaged in devotional service falls down, he is not degraded, but is placed in a position in which he will in due course of time remember the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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 3: Gajendra’s Prayers of Surrender

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

It appears that the King of the elephants was formerly a human being known as Indradyumna and that he learned a prayer to the Supreme Lord. Fortunately he remembered that prayer and began to chant it to himself.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-bādarāyaṇiḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. evamthus
  3. vyavasitaḥfixed
  4. buddhyāby intelligence
  5. samādhāyafor concentration
  6. manaḥthe mind
  7. hṛdiin consciousness or in the heart
  8. jajāpahe chanted
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 8.3

    In this verse: “chanted”, “chanting”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 8.3

    In this verse: “grace”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 8.3

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I make chanting a steady practice rather than something I remember only in danger?

Practice

Set aside two quiet minutes today to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra attentively.

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.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 8.3's connections

Live this todayPractice Chanting Never Goes in VainThis 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 8.3.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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