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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 7: Lord Śiva Saves the Universe by Drinking Poison
8.6.398.7.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.7.1

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.7.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

ते नागराजमामन्‍त्र्य फलभागेन वासुकिम् ।

परिवीय गिरौ तस्मिन् नेत्रमब्धिं मुदान्विता: ।

आरेभिरे सुरा यत्ता अमृतार्थे कुरूद्वह ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

te nāga-rājam āmantrya

phala-bhāgena vāsukim

parivīya girau tasmin

netram abdhiṁ mudānvitāḥ

ārebhire surā yattā

amṛtārthe kurūdvaha

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O best of the Kurus, Mahārāja Parīkṣit, the demigods and demons summoned Vāsuki, king of the serpents, requesting him to come and promising to give him a share of the nectar. They coiled Vāsuki around Mandara Mountain as a churning rope, and with great pleasure they endeavored to produce nectar by churning the Ocean of Milk.

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.

Shared Effort to Obtain Nectar

  1. 1

    The demigods and demons invited Vāsuki, king of the serpents, promising him a share of the nectar.

  2. 2

    They coiled Vāsuki around Mandara Mountain to serve as their churning rope.

  3. 3

    With great pleasure and endeavor, they began churning the Ocean of Milk to obtain nectar.

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 7: Lord Śiva Saves the Universe by Drinking Poison

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

With the understanding that when the nectar was generated from the churning they would share it equally, the demigods and the demons brought Vāsuki to be used as the rope for the churning rod. By the expert arrangement of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the demons held the snake near the mouth, whereas the demigods held the tail of the great snake.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. teall of them (the demigods and the demons)
  3. nāga-rājamthe king of the Nāgas, snakes
  4. āmantryainviting, or requesting
  5. phala-bhāgenaby promising a share of the nectar
  6. vāsukimthe snake Vāsuki
  7. parivīyaencircling
  8. girauMandara Mountain
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 8.7

    In this verse: “king”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can you acknowledge the contribution of someone helping you?

Practice

Thank one person helping with a shared task, and acknowledge their part in its success.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayShared Effort to Obtain NectarThis 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 8.7.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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