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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
8.3.68.3.8-9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.3.7

Mukti· Liberation
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

दिद‍ृक्षवो यस्य पदं सुमङ्गलं

विमुक्तसङ्गा मुनय: सुसाधव: ।

चरन्त्यलोकव्रतमव्रणं वने

भूतात्मभूता: सुहृद: स मे गति: ॥ ७ ॥

didṛkṣavo yasya padaṁ sumaṅgalaṁ

vimukta-saṅgā munayaḥ susādhavaḥ

caranty aloka-vratam avraṇaṁ vane

bhūtātma-bhūtāḥ suhṛdaḥ sa me gatiḥ

Translation

Renunciants and great sages who see all living beings equally, who are friendly to everyone and who flawlessly practice in the forest the vows of brahmacarya, vānaprastha and sannyāsa desire to see the all-auspicious lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. May that same Supreme Personality of Godhead be my destination.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Be a Friend to Everyone

  1. 1

    Devotees see everyone equally as a spirit soul, part and parcel of the Supreme Lord. They do not distinguish between higher and lower classes.

  2. 2

    Knowing the Supreme Personality of Godhead to be everyone’s friend, devotees act as friends to everyone on His behalf. They teach Kṛṣṇa consciousness without distinctions of nation or community.

  3. 3

    Such devotees are free from material conditions and qualified to see the Lord’s lotus feet. One must take shelter of such a devotee to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus they are competent to search for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Understanding that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the friend of everyone (suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānām), they act as friends of everyone on behalf of the Supreme Lord.
  • One must take shelter of such a devotee in order to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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:

Although the transcendental Supreme Personality of Godhead is perceivable by everyone, only the pure devotees perceive His presence and activities. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is completely free from material birth, death, old age and disease.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. didṛkṣavaḥthose who desire to see (the Supreme Personality of Godhead)
  2. yasyaof Him
  3. padamthe lotus feet
  4. su-maṅgalamall-auspicious
  5. vimukta-saṅgāḥpersons who are completely disinfected of material conditions
  6. munayaḥgreat sages
  7. su-sādhavaḥthose who are highly elevated in spiritual consciousness
  8. carantipractice
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 8.3

    In this verse: “friendly”, “friend”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 8.3

    In this verse: “shelter”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 8.3

    In this verse: “material”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Whom do I find difficult to see as a spirit soul and part of the Supreme Lord?

Practice

Show one concrete act of kindness to someone you might usually overlook, remembering their spiritual relationship with the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBe a Friend to EveryoneThis 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 8.3.7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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