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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
8.6.378.6.39

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.6.38

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.6.26inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

गिरिं चारोप्य गरुडे हस्तेनैकेन लीलया ।

आरुह्य प्रययावब्धिं सुरासुरगणैर्वृत: ॥ ३८ ॥

giriṁ cāropya garuḍe

hastenaikena līlayā

āruhya prayayāv abdhiṁ

surāsura-gaṇair vṛtaḥ

Translation

The Lord very easily lifted the mountain with one hand and placed it on the back of Garuḍa. Then, He too got on the back of Garuḍa and went to the Ocean of Milk, surrounded by the demigods and demons.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Supreme Lord Is All-Powerful

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is above both demigods and demons. His easily lifting the mountain with one hand proves His omnipotence.

  2. 2

    The Lord floats innumerable planets, so lifting one mountain is not difficult for Him. Devotees accept the incidents described in Vedic literature as true rather than dismissing them as mythology.

  3. 3

    Demons prefer to explain creation and events as chance. Devotees understand that everything is an arrangement of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • The demons believe in the “chance” theory of creation, whereas the demigods believe in creation by the hand of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • The omnipotence of the Supreme Lord is proved here, for simply with one hand He lifted Mandara Mountain, the demigods and the demons, placed them on the back of Garuḍa and brought them to the Ocean of Milk.
  • That is the difference between the demigods and the demons.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

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 Lord then lifted the mountain with one of His hands and placed it on the back of Garuḍa. The Lord sat on the mountain and was carried to the spot of the churning by Garuḍa, who placed the mountain near the sea.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.6
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. girimthe mountain
  2. caalso
  3. āropyaplacing
  4. garuḍeon the back of Garuḍa
  5. hastenaby the hand
  6. ekenaone
  7. līlayāvery easily as His pastime
  8. āruhyagetting on
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 8.6

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 8.6

    In this verse: “understand”

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

When you read about the Lord's wonderful acts, do you measure His power by your own limits?

Practice

Read the account of the Lord lifting the mountain once more, remembering that His power is not limited like ours.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Supreme Lord Is All-PowerfulThis 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 8.6.38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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