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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
8.5.358.5.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.5.36

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 8.5.26inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

यच्चक्षुरासीत् तरणिर्देवयानं

त्रयीमयो ब्रह्मण एष धिष्ण्यम् ।

द्वारं च मुक्तेरमृतं च मृत्यु:

प्रसीदतां न: स महाविभूति: ॥ ३६ ॥

yac-cakṣur āsīt taraṇir deva-yānaṁ

trayīmayo brahmaṇa eṣa dhiṣṇyam

dvāraṁ ca mukter amṛtaṁ ca mṛtyuḥ

prasīdatāṁ naḥ sa mahā-vibhūtiḥ

Translation

The sun-god marks the path of liberation, which is called arcirādi-vartma. He is the chief source for understanding of the Vedas, he is the abode where the Absolute Truth can be worshiped, he is the gateway to liberation, and he is the source of eternal life as well as the cause of death. The sun-god is the eye of the Lord. May that Supreme Lord, who is supremely opulent, be pleased with us.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Sun Moves Under the Lord's Order

  1. 1

    The sun-god helps one understand the Vedas and marks the path of liberation called arcirādi-vartma.

  2. 2

    The sun is the eye of the Supreme Lord. The purport explains our dependence on sunlight as dependence on the Lord's seeing.

  3. 3

    The sun performs his journey under Govinda's order. The prayer and the quoted praise direct worship toward the Supreme Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • The sun-god is considered to be the chief of the demigods.
  • The sun is actually the eye of the Lord.
  • Therefore the sun is considered to be the eye of the Supreme Lord.

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:

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. yatthat which
  2. cakṣuḥeye
  3. āsītbecame
  4. taraṇiḥthe sun-god
  5. deva-yānamthe predominating deity for the path of deliverance for the demigods
  6. trayī-mayaḥfor the sake of guidance in karma-kāṇḍa Vedic knowledge
  7. brahmaṇaḥof the supreme truth
  8. eṣaḥthis
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “absolute truth”, “understanding”, “understand”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worshiped”, “worship”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 8.5

    In this verse: “death”

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 daylight remind me that my ability to see depends on the Lord?

Practice

When you notice daylight today, briefly offer gratitude to Govinda, under whose order the sun moves.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Sun Moves Under the Lord's OrderThis 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.

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