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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 5: The Demigods Appeal to the Lord for Protection
8.5.15-168.5.19-20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 8.5.17-18

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.5.15-16inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

निशाम्यैतत् सुरगणा महेन्द्रवरुणादय: ।

नाध्यगच्छन्स्वयं मन्त्रैर्मन्त्रयन्तो विनिश्चितम् ॥ १७ ॥

ततो ब्रह्मसभां जग्मुर्मेरोर्मूर्धनि सर्वश: ।

सर्वं विज्ञापयां चक्रु: प्रणता: परमेष्ठिने ॥ १८ ॥

niśāmyaitat sura-gaṇā

mahendra-varuṇādayaḥ

nādhyagacchan svayaṁ mantrair

mantrayanto viniścitam

tato brahma-sabhāṁ jagmur

meror mūrdhani sarvaśaḥ

sarvaṁ vijñāpayāṁ cakruḥ

praṇatāḥ parameṣṭhine

Translation

Lord Indra, Varuṇa and the other demigods, seeing their lives in such a state, consulted among themselves, but they could not find any solution. Then all the demigods assembled and went together to the peak of Sumeru Mountain. There, in the assembly of Lord Brahmā, they fell down to offer Lord Brahmā their obeisances, and then they informed him of all the incidents that had taken place.

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.

Seek Help With Humility

  1. 1

    Indra, Varuṇa and the other demigods consulted among themselves about their difficult situation, but found no solution.

  2. 2

    They assembled and went together to Lord Brahmā’s assembly on the peak of Sumeru Mountain.

  3. 3

    They offered Lord Brahmā their obeisances and informed him of everything that had happened. They sought help respectfully and explained their circumstances.

How it feels

Danger and ambition → Divine rescue and surprise. Cooperation, rivalry and revelation alternate rapidly.

Chapters 5–12 of Canto 8: Churning the ocean, poison and nectar. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 5: The Demigods Appeal to the Lord for Protection

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

When the demigods were deprived of their heavenly kingdom, they went to the assembly house of Lord Brahmā and informed Lord Brahmā of what had happened. Then Brahmā, along with all the demigods, went to the shore of the Ocean of Milk and offered prayers to Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.5
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. niśāmyahearing
  2. etatthis incident
  3. sura-gaṇāḥall the demigods
  4. mahā-indraKing Indra
  5. varuṇa-ādayaḥVaruṇa and other demigods
  6. nanot
  7. adhyagacchanreached
  8. svayampersonally
3

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

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When your own deliberations bring no solution, are you willing to seek help respectfully?

Practice

Ask a trusted guide about one unresolved difficulty, explaining the situation clearly and respectfully.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeek Help With HumilityThis 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 8.5.17-18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.