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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.5.43

Who is speaking and story frame

द्रव्यं वय: कर्म गुणान्विशेषं

यद्योगमायाविहितान्वदन्ति ।

यद् दुर्विभाव्यं प्रबुधापबाधं

प्रसीदतां न: स महाविभूति: ॥ ४३ ॥

dravyaṁ vayaḥ karma guṇān viśeṣaṁ

yad-yoga-māyā-vihitān vadanti

yad durvibhāvyaṁ prabudhāpabādhaṁ

prasīdatāṁ naḥ sa mahā-vibhūtiḥ

Translation

All learned men say that the five elements, eternal time, fruitive activity, the three modes of material nature, and the varieties produced by these modes are all creations of yoga-māyā. This material world is therefore extremely difficult to understand, but those who are highly learned have rejected it. May the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the controller of everything, be pleased with us.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Follow Kṛṣṇa Back to Godhead

  1. 1

    The elements, time, fruitive activity, and the modes of nature are creations of yoga-māyā. Everything happens under the direction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, though its workings are extremely difficult to understand.

  2. 2

    We cannot fully understand even the affairs within our own body, which is a small universe. We should therefore accept the guidance of those learned in Vedic wisdom, especially Kṛṣṇa.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa describes this world as temporary and full of misery. Returning home, back to Godhead, through devotion is the highest perfection of life.

Key points from the purport
  • No one can understand how everything is happening in this material world by the arrangement of the Supreme Personality of Godhead through His material energies.
  • Materialists may argue, “If this material world and its affairs are impossible to understand, how can we reject it?”
  • Although we cannot understand the functions of this material world and whether it is good for us or bad for us, in accordance with the advice of the supreme authority we must reject it and go back home, back to Godhead.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 2

The purport of SB 8.5.43 quotesBG 9.10

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (9.10), mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sacarācaram: everything is actually happening under the direction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

The purport of SB 8.5.43 quotesBG 8.15

“After attaining Me, the great souls, who are yogīs in devotion, never return to this temporary world, which is full of miseries, because they have attained the highest perfection.”

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

Mahārāja Parīkṣit was very eager to hear about the churning of the ocean, and therefore Śukadeva Gosvāmī began to explain to him how the demigods, having been cursed by Durvāsā Muni, were defeated in battle by the asuras. 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.
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. dravyamthe five elements of the material world
  2. vayaḥtime
  3. karmafruitive activities
  4. guṇānthe three modes of material nature
  5. viśeṣamthe varieties caused by combinations of the twenty-three elements
  6. yatthat which
  7. yoga-māyāby the Lord’s creative potency
  8. vihitānall done
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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: “understand”, “wisdom”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotion”

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

Where could you rely more on Kṛṣṇa’s guidance rather than waiting to understand everything?

Practice

Read Kṛṣṇa’s statement quoted in this purport once, and reflect on returning to Him as life’s highest goal.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFollow Kṛṣṇa Back to GodheadThis 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 8.5.43? Get an answer from the verses themselves.