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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
8.5.408.5.42

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.5.41

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

विप्रो मुखाद् ब्रह्म च यस्य गुह्यं

राजन्य आसीद् भुजयोर्बलं च ।

ऊर्वोर्विडोजोऽङ्‍‍घ्रिरवेदशूद्रौ

प्रसीदतां न: स महाविभूति: ॥ ४१ ॥

vipro mukhād brahma ca yasya guhyaṁ

rājanya āsīd bhujayor balaṁ ca

ūrvor viḍ ojo ’ṅghrir aveda-śūdrau

prasīdatāṁ naḥ sa mahā-vibhūtiḥ

Translation

The brāhmaṇas and Vedic knowledge come from the mouth of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the kṣatriyas and bodily strength come from His arms, the vaiśyas and their expert knowledge in productivity and wealth come from His thighs, and the śūdras, who are outside of Vedic knowledge, come from His feet. May that Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is full in prowess, 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.

All Social Orders Come From the Lord

  1. 1

    The brāhmaṇas and Vedic knowledge come from the mouth of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    The kṣatriyas and bodily strength come from His arms. The vaiśyas and their knowledge of productivity and wealth come from His thighs.

  3. 3

    The śūdras, described here as outside Vedic knowledge, come from His feet. The prayer asks this supremely powerful Lord 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:

The wife of Vairāja, whose name was Devasambhūti, gave birth to Ajita, an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This Ajita, taking the shape of a tortoise and holding the mountain known as Mandara on His back, churned the ocean and produced nectar for the demigods.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.5
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vipraḥthe brāhmaṇas
  2. mukhātfrom His mouth
  3. brahmathe Vedic literatures
  4. caalso
  5. yasyaof whom
  6. guhyamfrom His confidential knowledge
  7. rājanyaḥthe kṣatriyas
  8. āsītbecame possible
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 8.5

    In this verse: “wealth”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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 might remembering the Lord as the source of these different roles change your outlook?

Practice

Reflect on one ability you use today, and offer a brief prayer to please the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAll Social Orders Come From the LordThis 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 8.5.41? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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