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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
8.6.208.6.22-23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.6.21

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 8.6.18inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अमृतोत्पादने यत्न: क्रियतामविलम्बितम् ।

यस्य पीतस्य वै जन्तुर्मृत्युग्रस्तोऽमरो भवेत् ॥ २१ ॥

amṛtotpādane yatnaḥ

kriyatām avilambitam

yasya pītasya vai jantur

mṛtyu-grasto ’maro bhavet

Translation

Immediately endeavor to produce nectar, which a person who is about to die may drink to become immortal.

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.

Begin the Lord’s Assigned Work Without Delay

  1. 1

    The Lord directed the demigods to endeavor to produce nectar.

  2. 2

    He asked them to begin immediately, without delay.

  3. 3

    He described the nectar as something a person about to die could drink to become immortal.

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:

One can understand His position only by His instructions, as given in Bhagavad-gītā.” As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (10.10), dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ tam.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. amṛta-utpādanein generating nectar
  2. yatnaḥendeavor
  3. kriyatāmdo
  4. avilambitamwithout delay
  5. yasyaof which nectar
  6. pītasyaanyone who drinks
  7. vaiindeed
  8. jantuḥliving entity
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

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 stands out to me about the urgency of the Lord’s instruction?

Practice

Reread the verse and write one sentence explaining why the nectar was worth seeking immediately.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBegin the Lord’s Assigned Work Without DelayThis 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 8.6.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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