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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
8.6.298.6.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.6.30

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.6.26inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

महेन्द्र: श्लक्ष्णया वाचा सान्‍त्वयित्वा महामति: ।

अभ्यभाषत तत् सर्वं शिक्षितं पुरुषोत्तमात् ॥ ३० ॥

mahendraḥ ślakṣṇayā vācā

sāntvayitvā mahā-matiḥ

abhyabhāṣata tat sarvaṁ

śikṣitaṁ puruṣottamāt

Translation

After pleasing Bali Mahārāja with mild words, Lord Indra, the King of the demigods, who was most intelligent, very politely submitted all the proposals he had learned from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu.

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.

Convey the Lord’s Guidance With Gentle Words

  1. 1

    Lord Indra first pleased Bali Mahārāja with mild words.

  2. 2

    Although he was King of the demigods and most intelligent, Indra presented his proposals very politely.

  3. 3

    Indra submitted all the proposals he had learned from Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. His message followed the Lord’s guidance.

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:

Following the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the demigods established a peace with Mahārāja Bali, the King of the demons. Then both the demons and the demigods started for the ocean, taking Mandara Mountain with them.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mahā-indraḥthe King of heaven, Indra
  2. ślakṣṇayāvery mild
  3. vācāby words
  4. sāntvayitvāpleasing Bali Mahārāja very much
  5. mahā-matiḥthe most intelligent person
  6. abhyabhāṣataaddressed
  7. tatthat
  8. sarvameverything
  9. śikṣitamthat was learned
  10. puruṣa-uttamātfrom Lord Viṣṇu
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 8.6

    In this verse: “king”

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

Can I be faithful to the Lord’s guidance while speaking gently to others?

Practice

Before making one request today, choose mild and polite words.

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.

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

Live this todayConvey the Lord’s Guidance With Gentle WordsThis 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 8.6.30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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