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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
8.5.248.5.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.5.25

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 8.5.21inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तत्राद‍ृष्टस्वरूपाय श्रुतपूर्वाय वै प्रभु: ।

स्तुतिमब्रूत दैवीभिर्गीर्भिस्त्ववहितेन्द्रिय: ॥ २५ ॥

tatrādṛṣṭa-svarūpāya

śruta-pūrvāya vai prabhuḥ

stutim abrūta daivībhir

gīrbhis tv avahitendriyaḥ

Translation

There [at Śvetadvīpa], Lord Brahmā offered prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, even though he had never seen the Supreme Lord. Simply because Lord Brahmā had heard about the Supreme Personality of Godhead from Vedic literature, with a fixed mind he offered the Lord prayers as written or approved by Vedic literature.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Know the Lord Through Authentic Hearing

  1. 1

    Lord Brahmā offered prayers with a fixed mind although he had not seen the Lord. The Lord hears the demigods’ prayers and takes the needed action.

  2. 2

    Our sensory perception is incomplete, so seeing alone does not ensure understanding. We must hear about Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, from authentic Vedic literature and those who properly understand it.

  3. 3

    Prayers and songs should be approved by Vedic literature or bona fide devotees, not invented. The Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra is sufficient to please the Lord even when we cannot see Him.

Key points from the purport
  • It is said that when Brahmā and the other demigods go to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead in Śvetadvīpa, they cannot directly see Him, but their prayers are heard by the Lord, and the needful action is taken.
  • Even though the rascals and fools saw Kṛṣṇa personally, they could not understand that He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Even though Brahmā had not seen the Supreme Personality of Godhead before, he was confident that the Lord was there in Śvetadvīpa.

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

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:

This Supreme Personality of Godhead manifested a Vaikuṇṭha planet at the request of Ramādevī. His power and activities are mentioned in the Third Canto.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.5
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tatrathere (at the Lord’s abode known as Śvetadvīpa)
  2. adṛṣṭa-svarūpāyaunto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who was not seen even by Lord Brahmā
  3. śruta-pūrvāyabut who was heard about from the Vedas
  4. vaiindeed
  5. prabhuḥLord Brahmā
  6. stutimprayers derived from Vedic literature
  7. abrūtaperformed
  8. daivībhiḥby prayers mentioned in the Vedic literature or offered by persons strictly following Vedic principles
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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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 8.5

    In this verse: “heard”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 8.5

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 8.5

    In this verse: “understanding”

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

How can authentic hearing strengthen my confidence in the Lord beyond what my eyes can show?

Practice

With a focused mind, chant once: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKnow the Lord Through Authentic HearingThis 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 8.5.25? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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