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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
8.5.28.5.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.5.3

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.5.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

विभुरिन्द्र: सुरगणा राजन्भूतरयादय: ।

हिरण्यरोमा वेदशिरा ऊर्ध्वबाह्वादयो द्विजा: ॥ ३ ॥

vibhur indraḥ sura-gaṇā

rājan bhūtarayādayaḥ

hiraṇyaromā vedaśirā

ūrdhvabāhv-ādayo dvijāḥ

Translation

O King, in the millennium of Raivata Manu the King of heaven was known as Vibhu, among the demigods were the Bhūtarayas, and among the seven brāhmaṇas who occupied the seven planets were Hiraṇyaromā, Vedaśirā and Ūrdhvabāhu.

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.

Those Serving During Raivata Manu’s Millennium

  1. 1

    During the millennium of Raivata Manu, Vibhu was the King of heaven.

  2. 2

    The Bhūtarayas were among the demigods.

  3. 3

    Hiraṇyaromā, Vedaśirā and Ūrdhvabāhu were among the seven brāhmaṇas who occupied the seven planets.

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:

Among the demigods were the Bhūtarayas, and among the seven ṛṣis were Hiraṇyaromā, Vedaśirā and Ūrdhvabāhu. The ṛṣi known as Śubhra, by his wife, Vikuṇṭhā, gave birth to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vaikuṇṭha.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.5
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vibhuḥVibhu
  2. indraḥthe King of heaven
  3. sura-gaṇāḥthe demigods
  4. rājanO King
  5. bhūtaraya-ādayaḥheaded by the Bhūtarayas
  6. hiraṇyaromāHiraṇyaromā
  7. vedaśirāVedaśirā
  8. ūrdhvabāhuŪrdhvabāhu
  9. ādayaḥand others
  10. dvijāḥthe brāhmaṇas or ṛṣis who occupied the seven planets
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 8.5

    In this verse: “king”

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

Can you distinguish the King of heaven, the demigods and the brāhmaṇas named here?

Practice

Make three short entries identifying Vibhu, the Bhūtarayas and the three named brāhmaṇas.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThose Serving During Raivata Manu’s MillenniumThis 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 8.5.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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