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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
8.5.478.5.49

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.5.48

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 8.5.26inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

नावम: कर्मकल्पोऽपि विफलायेश्वरार्पित: ।

कल्पते पुरुषस्यैव स ह्यात्मा दयितो हित: ॥ ४८ ॥

nāvamaḥ karma-kalpo ’pi

viphalāyeśvarārpitaḥ

kalpate puruṣasyaiva

sa hy ātmā dayito hitaḥ

Translation

Activities dedicated to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, even if performed in small measure, never go in vain. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, being the supreme father, is naturally very dear and always ready to act for the good of the living entities.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Even Small Devotional Service Never Fails

  1. 1

    Even a very small act of devotional service never goes in vain and can give the supreme result. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the supreme father, always ready to act for the living entities’ good.

  2. 2

    Ajāmila was saved from the greatest danger by chanting Nārāyaṇa’s name, even though he was calling his son. Remembering the Lord’s holy name at life’s end brings the result of returning home, back to Godhead.

  3. 3

    The Lord is the true object of our love, and contact with Him brings full satisfaction. Whether we have material desires or not, the intelligent course is loving devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • Ajāmila, for example, was saved by the Supreme Personality of Godhead from the greatest danger, that of going to hell.
  • The Supreme Personality of Godhead is actually the only object of our love.
  • Dhruva Mahārāja went to the forest to achieve some material result by austerity and penance, but when he actually saw the Supreme Personality of Godhead he said, “I do not want any material benediction.

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 8.5.48 quotesBG 2.40

In Bhagavad-gītā (2.40), the Lord says svalpam apy asya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt: this dharma, devotional service, is so important that even if performed to a very small, almost negligible extent, it can give one the supreme result.

The purport of SB 8.5.48 quotesSB 2.3.10

“Whether one desires everything or nothing or desires to merge into the existence of the Lord, he is intelligent only if he worships Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by rendering transcendental loving service.”

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:

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. nanot
  2. avamaḥvery little, or insignificant
  3. karmaactivities
  4. kalpaḥrightly executed
  5. apieven
  6. viphalāyago in vain
  7. īśvara-arpitaḥbecause of being dedicated to the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  8. kalpateit is so accepted
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 8.5

    In this verse: “chanting”, “holy name”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 8.5

    In this verse: “father”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 8.5

    In this verse: “saved”

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

What small act of devotion could you offer without dismissing it as insignificant?

Practice

Chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa today as a small, sincere offering of devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 2.3.10

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 8.5's connections

Live this todayEven Small Devotional Service Never FailsThis 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 8.5.48? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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