1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 8 · Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations · 24 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
8.3.298.3.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.3.30

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.3.30inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

एवं गजेन्द्रमुपवर्णितनिर्विशेषं

ब्रह्मादयो विविधलिङ्गभिदाभिमाना: ।

नैते यदोपससृपुर्निखिलात्मकत्वात्

तत्राखिलामरमयो हरिराविरासीत् ॥ ३० ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

evaṁ gajendram upavarṇita-nirviśeṣaṁ

brahmādayo vividha-liṅga-bhidābhimānāḥ

naite yadopasasṛpur nikhilātmakatvāt

tatrākhilāmara-mayo harir āvirāsīt

Translation

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: When the King of the elephants was describing the supreme authority, without mentioning any particular person, he did not invoke the demigods, headed by Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva, Indra and Candra. Thus none of them approached him. However, because Lord Hari is the Supersoul, Puruṣottama, the Personality of Godhead, He appeared before Gajendra.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Worship the Root of Everything

  1. 1

    Gajendra appealed to the supreme authority above all others, not to any particular demigod. Lord Hari, the Supersoul of everyone, appeared before him.

  2. 2

    Only the Supreme Personality of Godhead can rescue one from the dangers of material existence. The demigods cannot provide this rescue through temporary material benefits.

  3. 3

    Worshiping the Supreme Lord through devotional service satisfies the demigods, just as watering a tree’s root nourishes its branches. The Lord is near within our hearts and responds to sincere surrender.

Key points from the purport
  • It is only the Supreme Personality of Godhead who can rescue one from the dangers of material existence.
  • Like other living entities, the demigods are merely external parts of the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s transcendental body.
  • Therefore although the demigods did not come to the aid of Gajendra, the Supreme Personality of Godhead immediately appeared before him because of his fervent prayer.

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· 2

The purport of SB 8.3.30 quotesBG 7.20

As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (7.20), kāmais tais tair hṛta jñānāḥ prapadyante ’nya-devatāḥ: those who are unintelligent approach the various demigods for temporary material benefits.

The purport of SB 8.3.30 quotesSB 4.31.14

“As pouring water on the root of a tree energizes the trunk, branches, twigs and everything else, and as supplying food to the stomach enlivens the senses and limbs of the body, so simply worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead through devotional service automatically satisfies the demigods, who are parts of that Supreme Personality.”

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:

None of the demigods came to see him, not even Brahmā or Śiva. Rather, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa, seated on Garuḍa, personally appeared before him.
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-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. evamin this way
  3. gajendramunto the King of the elephants, Gajendra
  4. upavarṇitawhose description
  5. nirviśeṣamnot directed to any particular person (but to the Supreme, although he did not know who the Supreme is)
  6. brahmā-ādayaḥthe demigods, beginning with Brahmā, Śiva, Indra and Candra
  7. vividhavarieties
  8. liṅga-bhidāwith separate forms
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 8.3

    In this verse: “king”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 8.3

    In this verse: “dangers”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I seeking only temporary benefits, or shelter from the dangers of material existence?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, asking for His shelter rather than a temporary material benefit.

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.

The purport quotesSB 4.31.14

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

Live this todayWorship the Root of EverythingThis 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 8.3.30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories