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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.
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Canto 8 · Chapter 7: Lord Śiva Saves the Universe by Drinking Poison
8.7.128.7.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.7.13

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

उपर्यधश्चात्मनि गोत्रनेत्रयो:

परेण ते प्राविशता समेधिता: ।

ममन्थुरब्धिं तरसा मदोत्कटा

महाद्रिणा क्षोभितनक्रचक्रम् ॥ १३ ॥

upary adhaś cātmani gotra-netrayoḥ

pareṇa te prāviśatā samedhitāḥ

mamanthur abdhiṁ tarasā madotkaṭā

mahādriṇā kṣobhita-nakra-cakram

Translation

The demigods and demons worked almost madly for the nectar, encouraged by the Lord, who was above and below the mountain and who had entered the demigods, the demons, Vāsuki and the mountain itself. Because of the strength of the demigods and demons, the Ocean of Milk was so powerfully agitated that all the alligators in the water were very much perturbed. Nonetheless the churning of the ocean continued in this 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.

The Lord Empowers the Churning

  1. 1

    The Lord was above and below the mountain. He also entered the demigods, the demons, Vāsuki and the mountain itself.

  2. 2

    Encouraged by the Lord, the demigods and demons worked almost madly for nectar.

  3. 3

    Their powerful churning greatly agitated the Ocean of Milk and disturbed its alligators. Nonetheless, the churning continued.

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. upariupward
  2. adhaḥ caand downward
  3. ātmaniunto the demons and demigods
  4. gotra-netrayoḥunto the mountain and Vāsuki, who was used as a rope
  5. pareṇathe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  6. tethey
  7. prāviśatāentering them
  8. samedhitāḥsufficiently agitated
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

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does this description help you recognize the Lord’s support behind the workers’ efforts?

Practice

List the places and beings in which the Lord was present during the churning.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Empowers the ChurningThis 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.

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