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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
8.5.398.5.41

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.5.40

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

श्रीर्वक्षस: पितरश्छाययासन्

धर्म: स्तनादितर: पृष्ठतोऽभूत् ।

द्यौर्यस्य शीर्ष्णोऽप्सरसो विहारात्

प्रसीदतां न: स महाविभूति: ॥ ४० ॥

śrīr vakṣasaḥ pitaraś chāyayāsan

dharmaḥ stanād itaraḥ pṛṣṭhato ’bhūt

dyaur yasya śīrṣṇo ’psaraso vihārāt

prasīdatāṁ naḥ sa mahā-vibhūtiḥ

Translation

The goddess of fortune was generated from His chest, the inhabitants of Pitṛloka from His shadow, religion from His bosom, and irreligion [the opposite of religion] from His back. The heavenly planets were generated from the top of His head, and the Apsarās from His sense enjoyment. May that supremely powerful Personality of Godhead be pleased with us.

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.

Recognize the Lord as the Source

  1. 1

    The goddess of fortune comes from the Lord’s chest, and the inhabitants of Pitṛloka come from His shadow.

  2. 2

    Religion comes from His bosom and irreligion from His back. The heavenly planets come from His head, and the Apsarās from His sense enjoyment.

  3. 3

    The prayer recognizes the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s great power and asks Him to be pleased with us.

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:

During the reign of this Manu, Mantradruma was Indra, the King of the heavenly planets. Among the demigods were the Āpyas, and among the seven ṛṣis were Haviṣmān and Vīraka.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.5
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrīḥthe goddess of fortune
  2. vakṣasaḥfrom His chest
  3. pitaraḥthe inhabitants of Pitṛloka
  4. chāyayāfrom His shadow
  5. āsanbecame possible
  6. dharmaḥthe principle of religion
  7. stanātfrom His bosom
  8. itaraḥirreligion (the opposite of dharma)
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 8.5

    In this verse: “religion”

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 does recognizing the Lord as the source of all these things shape your prayer?

Practice

Pause today and pray, “May the supremely powerful Personality of Godhead be pleased with us.”

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRecognize the Lord as the SourceThis 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 8.5.40? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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