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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
8.6.388.7.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.6.39

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

अवरोप्य गिरिं स्कन्धात् सुपर्ण: पततां वर: ।

ययौ जलान्त उत्सृज्य हरिणा स विसर्जित: ॥ ३९ ॥

avaropya giriṁ skandhāt

suparṇaḥ patatāṁ varaḥ

yayau jalānta utsṛjya

hariṇā sa visarjitaḥ

Translation

Thereafter, Garuḍa, the chief of birds, unloaded Mandara Mountain from his shoulder and brought it near the water. Then he was asked by the Lord to leave that place, and he left.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Arranges Every Detail

  1. 1

    Garuḍa placed Mandara Mountain near the water and left at the Lord's request. His departure allowed Vāsuki to come, since snakes are Garuḍa's natural food.

  2. 2

    By the Supreme Lord's grace, Garuḍa carried the mountain along with the demigods and demons. The Lord is Yogeśvara, the master of all mystic power, and can make anything lighter than cotton or heavier than the universe.

  3. 3

    These events reveal the wonderful arrangements of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Nothing is accidental; all actions and reactions in the cosmic manifestation take place under His superintendence.

Key points from the purport
  • Garuḍa, the carrier of Lord Viṣṇu, is not a vegetarian.
  • Lord Viṣṇu therefore asked Garuḍa to leave so that Vāsuki could be brought to churn the ocean with Mandara Mountain, which was to be used as the churning rod.
  • The Lord had no difficulty lifting the mountain with one hand, and Garuḍa, His carrier, carried all the demons and demigods together by the grace of the Supreme Lord.

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

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 8.6.39 quotesBG 9.10

Everything is done by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as the Lord Himself confirms in Bhagavad-gītā (9.10).

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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 sat on the mountain and was carried to the spot of the churning by Garuḍa, who placed the mountain near the sea. Then the Lord asked Garuḍa to leave that place because as long as Garuḍa was present, Vāsuki could not come there.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. avaropyaunloading
  2. girimthe mountain
  3. skandhātfrom his shoulder
  4. suparṇaḥGaruḍa
  5. patatāmof all the birds
  6. varaḥthe biggest or most powerful
  7. yayauwent
  8. jala-antewhere the water is
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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 8.6

    In this verse: “grace”

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 can Garuḍa's willingness to leave when asked teach you about serving the Lord?

Practice

Before one small act of devotional service today, pause and remember that service depends on the Lord's grace.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Arranges Every DetailThis 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 8.6.39? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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