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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

8.4.1 8.4.3-4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.4.2

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.4.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

नेदुर्दुन्दुभयो दिव्या गन्धर्वा ननृतुर्जगु: ।

ऋषयश्चारणा: सिद्धास्तुष्टुवु: पुरुषोत्तमम् ॥ २ ॥

nedur dundubhayo divyā

gandharvā nanṛtur jaguḥ

ṛṣayaś cāraṇāḥ siddhās

tuṣṭuvuḥ puruṣottamam

Translation

There was a beating of kettledrums in the heavenly planets, the inhabitants of Gandharvaloka began to dance and sing, while great sages and the inhabitants of Cāraṇaloka and Siddhaloka offered prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Puruṣottama.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Celebrate the Supreme Lord With Praise

1
Kettledrums sounded in the heavenly planets.
2
The inhabitants of Gandharvaloka began to dance and sing.
3
Great sages and the inhabitants of Cāraṇaloka and Siddhaloka offered prayers to Puruṣottama, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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

Chapter 4: Gajendra Returns to the Spiritual World

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

It tells how the crocodile became a Gandharva and how Gajendra became an associate of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. There was a king on the Gandharva planet whose name was Hūhū.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 8.4

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

neduḥvibrated
dundubhayaḥkettledrums
divyāḥin the sky of the higher planetary system
gandharvāḥresidents of Gandharvaloka
nanṛtuḥdanced
jaguḥand sang
ṛṣayaḥall the saintly sages
cāraṇāḥthe inhabitants of the Cāraṇa planet

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I express joy through praise of the Supreme Lord?

Practice

Spend one minute offering a simple prayer of praise to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCelebrate the Supreme Lord With PraiseThis 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 8.4.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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