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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
8.7.138.7.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.7.14

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

अहीन्द्रसाहस्रकठोरद‍ृङ्‌मुख-

श्वासाग्निधूमाहतवर्चसोऽसुरा: ।

पौलोमकालेयबलील्वलादयो

दवाग्निदग्धा: सरला इवाभवन् ॥ १४ ॥

ahīndra-sāhasra-kaṭhora-dṛṅ-mukha-

śvāsāgni-dhūmāhata-varcaso ’surāḥ

pauloma-kāleya-balīlvalādayo

davāgni-dagdhāḥ saralā ivābhavan

Translation

Vāsuki had thousands of eyes and mouths. From his mouths he breathed smoke and blazing fire, which affected the demons, headed by Pauloma, Kāleya, Bali and Ilvala. Thus the demons, who appeared like sarala trees burned by a forest fire, gradually became powerless.

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 Demons’ Strength Fades

  1. 1

    Vāsuki had thousands of eyes and mouths. Smoke and blazing fire came from his mouths as he breathed.

  2. 2

    This fiery breath affected the demons headed by Pauloma, Kāleya, Bali and Ilvala.

  3. 3

    The demons looked like sarala trees burned by a forest fire. Gradually, they became powerless.

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. ahīndraof the King of serpents
  2. sāhasraby thousands
  3. kaṭhoravery, very hard
  4. dṛkall directions
  5. mukhaby the mouth
  6. śvāsabreathing
  7. agnifire coming out
  8. dhūmasmoke
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

What does the demons’ loss of strength remind you about bodily power?

Practice

Reread the comparison with burned sarala trees and reflect for a moment on how strength can diminish.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Demons’ Strength FadesThis 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 8.7.14? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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