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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.7.17

Who is speaking and story frame

मेघश्याम: कनकपरिधि: कर्णविद्योतविद्यु-

न्मूर्ध्नि भ्राजद्विलुलितकच: स्रग्धरो रक्तनेत्र: ।

जैत्रैर्दोर्भिर्जगदभयदैर्दन्दशूकं गृहीत्वा

मथ्नन् मथ्ना प्रतिगिरिरिवाशोभताथो धृताद्रि: ॥ १७ ॥

megha-śyāmaḥ kanaka-paridhiḥ karṇa-vidyota-vidyun

mūrdhni bhrājad-vilulita-kacaḥ srag-dharo rakta-netraḥ

jaitrair dorbhir jagad-abhaya-dair dandaśūkaṁ gṛhītvā

mathnan mathnā pratigirir ivāśobhatātho dhṛtādriḥ

Translation

The Lord appeared like a blackish cloud. He was dressed with yellow garments, His earrings shone on His ears like lightning, and His hair spread over His shoulders. He wore a garland of flowers, and His eyes were pinkish. With His strong, glorious arms, which award fearlessness throughout the universe, He took hold of Vāsuki and began churning the ocean, using Mandara Mountain as a churning rod. When engaged in this way, the Lord appeared like a beautifully situated mountain named Indranīla.

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’s Beauty and Fearlessness-Giving Strength

  1. 1

    The Lord appeared like a blackish cloud, dressed in yellow garments. His earrings shone like lightning, and His hair spread over His shoulders.

  2. 2

    He wore a flower garland and had pinkish eyes. His strong, glorious arms award fearlessness throughout the universe.

  3. 3

    Taking hold of Vāsuki, He churned the ocean with Mandara Mountain as the rod. He appeared like the beautifully situated mountain Indranīla.

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:

The Supreme Personality of Godhead then appeared in the form of a tortoise and supported Mandara Mountain on His back. Then the churning resumed with great force.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. megha-śyāmaḥblackish like a cloud
  2. kanaka-paridhiḥwearing yellow garments
  3. karṇaon the ears
  4. vidyota-vidyutwhose earrings shone like lightning
  5. mūrdhnion the head
  6. bhrājatgleaming
  7. vilulitadisheveled
  8. kacaḥwhose hair
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 8.7

    In this verse: “fearlessness”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which detail of the Lord’s beauty or strength most draws your attention?

Practice

Spend one minute remembering the Lord’s form as described here, especially His arms that award fearlessness.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Beauty and Fearlessness-Giving StrengthThis 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 8.7.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.