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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
8.6.338.6.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.6.34

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

दूरभारोद्वहश्रान्ता: शक्रवैरोचनादय: ।

अपारयन्तस्तं वोढुं विवशा विजहु: पथि ॥ ३४ ॥

dūra-bhārodvaha-śrāntāḥ

śakra-vairocanādayaḥ

apārayantas taṁ voḍhuṁ

vivaśā vijahuḥ pathi

Translation

Because of conveying the great mountain for a long distance, King Indra, Mahārāja Bali and the other demigods and demons became fatigued. Being unable to carry the mountain, they left it on the way.

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.

Even the Powerful Become Fatigued

  1. 1

    Carrying the great mountain over a long distance exhausted the demigods and demons.

  2. 2

    King Indra and Mahārāja Bali were among those who became fatigued. Their strength did not enable them to keep carrying the load.

  3. 3

    Unable to bear the mountain any longer, they left it on the way. Their effort had reached its limit.

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:

Because of the great heaviness of the mountain, the demigods and demons became fatigued, and some of them actually died. Then the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, appeared there on the back of His carrier, Garuḍa, and by His mercy He brought these demigods and demons back to life.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dūrafor a great distance
  2. bhāra-udvahaby carrying the great load
  3. śrāntāḥbeing fatigued
  4. śakraKing Indra
  5. vairocana-ādayaḥand Mahārāja Bali (the son of Virocana) and others
  6. apārayantaḥbeing unable
  7. tamthe mountain
  8. voḍhumto bear
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 honestly acknowledge when a task exceeds my present strength?

Practice

Notice one sign of fatigue today and take a brief rest rather than pretending you are unaffected.

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 todayEven the Powerful Become FatiguedThis 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 8.6.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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