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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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 6: The Demigods and Demons Declare a Truce

8.6.14 8.6.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.6.15

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 8.6.8inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अहं गिरित्रश्च सुरादयो ये

दक्षादयोऽग्नेरिव केतवस्ते ।

किं वा विदामेश पृथग्विभाता

विधत्स्व शं नो द्विजदेवमन्त्रम् ॥ १५ ॥

ahaṁ giritraś ca surādayo ye

dakṣādayo ’gner iva ketavas te

kiṁ vā vidāmeśa pṛthag-vibhātā

vidhatsva śaṁ no dvija-deva-mantram

Translation

I [Lord Brahmā], Lord Śiva and all the demigods, accompanied by the prajāpatis like Dakṣa, are nothing but sparks illuminated by You, who are the original fire. Since we are particles of You, what can we understand about our welfare? O Supreme Lord, please give us the means of deliverance that is suitable for the brāhmaṇas and demigods.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Stay Connected to the Supreme Lord

1
Even Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva are like sparks, while the Supreme Lord is the original fire. We cannot invent our own means of deliverance from material existence.
2
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His incarnation as Lord Caitanya, gives the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra for deliverance in this age. Chanting this mantra delivers us from the difficulties of material life.
3
Like sparks that shine in a fire, we remain brilliant by associating with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. We should always engage in devotional service rather than fall away from His service.

Key points from the purport

Therefore the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His incarnation as Lord Caitanya, gives us the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra.
Here, even the demigods, such as Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva, and the prajāpatis, such as Dakṣa, are said to be like illuminating sparks in the presence of the Supreme Lord, who is compared to a great fire.
When we living entities, who are like sparks of the original fire, the Supreme Lord, fall into a material condition, we must take the mantra from the Supreme Personality of Godhead as it is offered by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

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

Chapter 6: The Demigods and Demons Declare a Truce

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Buddhi-yoga means bhakti-yoga. Only through the process of bhakti-yoga can one understand the Supreme Lord.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 8.6

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

ahamI (Lord Brahmā)
giritraḥLord Śiva
caalso
sura-ādayaḥall the demigods
yeas we are
dakṣa-ādayaḥheaded by Mahārāja Dakṣa
agneḥof fire
ivalike

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
Karuṇā · Compassion
Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 8.6
In this verse: “welfare”
Jñāna · Spiritual insight
Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 8.6
In this verse: “understand”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 8.6
In this verse: “material”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I make more room for chanting and devotional service today?

Practice

Chant attentively: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Connected stories

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

DakṣaSB 4.2–4 · Satī confronts Dakṣa’s envyLord Śiva explains that false ego produces envy of self-realized persons. Satī identifies envy of Lord Śiva, who is free from enmity, as a grave offense.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 8.6's connections

Live this todayStay Connected to the Supreme 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 8.6.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories