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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
8.5.438.5.45

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.5.44

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

नमोऽस्तु तस्मा उपशान्तशक्तये

स्वाराज्यलाभप्रतिपूरितात्मने ।

गुणेषु मायारचितेषु वृत्तिभि-

र्न सज्जमानाय नभस्वदूतये ॥ ४४ ॥

namo ’stu tasmā upaśānta-śaktaye

svārājya-lābha-pratipūritātmane

guṇeṣu māyā-raciteṣu vṛttibhir

na sajjamānāya nabhasvad-ūtaye

Translation

Let us offer our respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is completely silent, free from endeavor, and completely satisfied by His own achievements. He is not attached to the activities of the material world through His senses. Indeed, in performing His pastimes in this material world, He is just like the unattached air.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Offer Respect to the Complete Lord

  1. 1

    Behind the activities of material nature is the Supreme Lord, by whose indications everything takes place. Even without seeing Him, we should offer Him respectful obeisances.

  2. 2

    The Lord is complete, and everything is done systematically by His energies. Although He sets those energies in action, He Himself has nothing to do.

  3. 3

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is unattached to material activities. In His pastimes within this world, He remains unattached like the air.

Key points from the purport
  • We can simply understand that behind the activities of material nature is the Supreme Lord, by whose indications everything takes place, although we cannot see Him.
  • Even without seeing Him, we should offer Him our respectful obeisances.
  • Therefore, let us offer our respectful obeisances unto Him.

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:

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. namaḥour respectful obeisances
  2. astulet there be
  3. tasmaiunto Him
  4. upaśānta-śaktayewho does not endeavor to achieve anything else, who is free from restlessness
  5. svārājyacompletely independent
  6. lābhaof all gains
  7. pratipūritafully achieved
  8. ātmaneunto the Supreme Personality of Godhead
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “attached”, “material”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 8.5

    In this verse: “free from”

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 offer the Lord respect even when you cannot see how His energies work?

Practice

Offer one deliberate, respectful bow to the Supreme Personality of Godhead today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayOffer Respect to the Complete 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 8.5.44? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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