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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.4.26

Who is speaking and story frame

श्रीशुक उवाच

इत्यादिश्य हृषीकेश: प्राध्माय जलजोत्तमम् ।

हर्षयन्विबुधानीकमारुरोह खगाधिपम् ॥ २६ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

ity ādiśya hṛṣīkeśaḥ

prādhmāya jalajottamam

harṣayan vibudhānīkam

āruroha khagādhipam

Translation

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: After giving this instruction, the Lord, who is known as Hṛṣīkeśa, bugled with His Pāñcajanya conchshell, in this way pleasing all the demigods, headed by Lord Brahmā. Then He mounted the back of His carrier, Garuḍa.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Conchshell Pleases the Demigods

  1. 1

    Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī describes what the Lord did after giving His instruction.

  2. 2

    The Lord, known as Hṛṣīkeśa, sounded His Pāñcajanya conchshell. This pleased all the demigods, headed by Lord Brahmā.

  3. 3

    The Lord then mounted the back of Garuḍa, His carrier.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Fourth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Gajendra Returns to the Spiritual World.”

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 4: Gajendra Returns to the Spiritual World

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Śukadeva Gosvāmī says that by hearing the narration of Gajendra’s deliverance, one can also get the opportunity to be delivered. Śukadeva Gosvāmī vividly describes this, and thus the chapter ends.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.4
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. itithus
  3. ādiśyaadvising
  4. hṛṣīkeśaḥthe Supreme Personality of Godhead, known as Hṛṣīkeśa
  5. prādhmāyablowing
  6. jala-ja-uttamamthe conchshell, the best of the aquatics
  7. harṣayanpleasing
  8. vibudha-anīkamthe host of demigods, headed by Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva
  9. ārurohagot up
  10. khaga-adhipamon the back of Garuḍa
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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

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What stands out to me about the joy brought by the Lord’s conchshell?

Practice

Read this translation slowly today and spend a moment remembering Hṛṣīkeśa sounding His Pāñcajanya conchshell.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Conchshell Pleases the DemigodsThis 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 8.4.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.