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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
8.3.8-98.3.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.3.10

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The King of the elephants, Gajendrasince 8.3.2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

नम आत्मप्रदीपाय साक्षिणे परमात्मने ।

नमो गिरां विदूराय मनसश्चेतसामपि ॥ १० ॥

nama ātma-pradīpāya

sākṣiṇe paramātmane

namo girāṁ vidūrāya

manasaś cetasām api

Translation

I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the self-effulgent Supersoul, who is the witness in everyone’s heart, who enlightens the individual soul and who cannot be reached by exercises of the mind, words or consciousness.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Understanding Kṛṣṇa Depends on His Grace

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the self-effulgent Supersoul and the witness in everyone’s heart.

  2. 2

    The individual soul cannot understand Him through mental, physical or intellectual exercises. Enlightenment comes by His grace.

  3. 3

    The Lord is like the sun, which illuminates everything but cannot be illuminated by anyone. Anyone serious about understanding Him must receive enlightenment from Him.

Key points from the purport
  • The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, cannot be understood by the individual soul through mental, physical or intellectual exercises.
  • Therefore, the Lord is described here as ātma-pradīpa.
  • Therefore, if one is serious about understanding the Supreme, one must receive enlightenment from Him, as instructed in Bhagavad-gītā.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

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:

“The self-effulgent material form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is adored by nondevotees, His impersonal form is adored by those advanced in spiritual knowledge, and His feature as the localized Supersoul is appreciated by yogīs. But His original form as a person is understood only by devotees.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. namaḥI offer my respectful obeisances
  2. ātma-pradīpāyaunto Him who is self-effulgent or who gives enlightenment to the living entities
  3. sākṣiṇewho is situated in everyone’s heart as a witness
  4. parama-ātmaneunto the Supreme Soul, the Supersoul
  5. namaḥI offer my respectful obeisances
  6. girāmby words
  7. vidūrāyawho is impossible to reach
  8. manasaḥby the mind
  9. cetasāmor by consciousness
  10. apieven
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 8.3

    In this verse: “grace”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 8.3

    In this verse: “understand”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I approach understanding Kṛṣṇa with greater dependence on His grace?

Practice

Offer respectful obeisances to Kṛṣṇa and ask Him for enlightenment.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUnderstanding Kṛṣṇa Depends on His GraceThis 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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