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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 6: The Demigods and Demons Declare a Truce
8.6.18.6.3-7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.6.2

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.6.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

tenaiva sahasā sarve

devāḥ pratihatekṣaṇāḥ

nāpaśyan khaṁ diśaḥ kṣauṇīm

ātmānaṁ ca kuto vibhum

Translation

The vision of all the demigods was blocked by the Lord’s effulgence. Thus they could see neither the sky, the directions, the land, nor even themselves, what to speak of seeing the Lord, who was present before them.

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’s Effulgence Overwhelms Their Vision

  1. 1

    The Lord’s effulgence blocked the vision of all the demigods.

  2. 2

    They could see neither the sky, the directions, the land, nor even themselves.

  3. 3

    Although the Lord was present before them, they could not see Him through His effulgence.

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:

The demigods were almost blinded by His transcendental bodily effulgence. At first, therefore, they could not even see any part of His body.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tena evabecause of this
  2. sahasāall of a sudden
  3. sarveall
  4. devāḥthe demigods
  5. pratihata-īkṣaṇāḥtheir vision being blocked
  6. nanot
  7. apaśyancould see
  8. khamthe sky
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

What does the demigods’ inability to see the Lord suggest about the limits of sight?

Practice

Reread the translation slowly, reflecting on the Lord’s presence even when He could not be seen.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Effulgence Overwhelms Their VisionThis 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 8.6.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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  2. Live
  3. Lead
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