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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 4: Gajendra Returns to the Spiritual World
8.4.158.4.17-24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.4.16

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.4.11-12inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

इदमाह हरि: प्रीतो गजेन्द्रं कुरुसत्तम ।

श‍ृण्वतां सर्वभूतानां सर्वभूतमयो विभु: ॥ १६ ॥

idam āha hariḥ prīto

gajendraṁ kuru-sattama

śṛṇvatāṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ

sarva-bhūta-mayo vibhuḥ

Translation

O best of the Kuru dynasty, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Supersoul of everyone, being thus pleased, addressed Gajendra in the presence of everyone there. He spoke the following blessings.

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.

The Pleased Lord Addresses Gajendra

  1. 1

    The Lord is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the Supersoul of everyone.

  2. 2

    Being pleased, He personally addressed Gajendra.

  3. 3

    The Lord spoke His blessings in the presence of everyone gathered there.

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 4: Gajendra Returns to the Spiritual World

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Following the Vedic principles, this King retired from family life and constructed a small cottage in the Malayācala Hills, where he always worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead in silence. Agastya Ṛṣi, along with many disciples, once approached King Indradyumna’s āśrama, but because the King was meditating on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he could not receive Agastya Ṛṣi properly.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.4
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. idamthis
  2. āhasaid
  3. hariḥthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  4. prītaḥbeing pleased
  5. gajendramunto Gajendra
  6. kuru-sat-tamaO best of the Kuru dynasty
  7. śṛṇvatāmhearing
  8. sarva-bhūtānāmin the presence of everyone
  9. sarva-bhūta-mayaḥall-pervading Personality of Godhead
  10. vibhuḥthe great
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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 8.4

    In this verse: “blessings”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does remembering the Lord as everyone’s Supersoul shape my attention to His words?

Practice

Pause for one minute today to remember the Lord as the Supersoul of everyone, then read this translation attentively.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Pleased Lord Addresses GajendraThis 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 8.4.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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