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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.
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Canto 8 · Chapter 6: The Demigods and Demons Declare a Truce
8.6.168.6.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.6.17

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.6.16inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एक एवेश्वरस्तस्मिन्सुरकार्ये सुरेश्वर: ।

विहर्तुकामस्तानाह समुद्रोन्मथनादिभि: ॥ १७ ॥

eka eveśvaras tasmin

sura-kārye sureśvaraḥ

vihartu-kāmas tān āha

samudronmathanādibhiḥ

Translation

Although the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of the demigods, was capable of performing the activities of the demigods by Himself, He wanted to enjoy pastimes in churning the ocean. Therefore He spoke as follows.

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.

The Lord Acts for His Pleasure

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the master of the demigods.

  2. 2

    He could perform the demigods’ activities by Himself. Their work did not exceed His power.

  3. 3

    He wanted to enjoy pastimes in churning the ocean. With this desire, He began to speak to the demigods.

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 6: The Demigods and Demons Declare a Truce

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Although He is the beginning, the middle and the end of the material creation, the idea of pantheism conceived by Māyāvādī philosophers has no validity. The Supreme Personality of Godhead controls the entire material manifestation through His subordinate agent, the external energy.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ekaḥalone
  2. evaindeed
  3. īśvaraḥthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  4. tasminin that
  5. sura-kāryethe activities of the demigods
  6. sura-īśvaraḥthe Lord of the demigods, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  7. vihartuto enjoy pastimes
  8. kāmaḥdesiring
3

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

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 does this verse distinguish the Lord’s ability from His desire to enjoy pastimes?

Practice

Reread the verse and pause to reflect that the Supreme Personality of Godhead could accomplish the work by Himself.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Acts for His PleasureThis 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 8.6.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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