1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 8 · Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations · 24 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
8.7.178.7.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.7.18

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

निर्मथ्यमानादुदधेरभूद्विषं

महोल्बणं हालहलाह्वमग्रत: ।

सम्भ्रान्तमीनोन्मकराहिकच्छपात्

तिमिद्विपग्राहतिमिङ्गिलाकुलात् ॥ १८ ॥

nirmathyamānād udadher abhūd viṣaṁ

maholbaṇaṁ hālahalāhvam agrataḥ

sambhrānta-mīnonmakarāhi-kacchapāt

timi-dvipa-grāha-timiṅgilākulāt

Translation

The fish, sharks, tortoises and snakes were most agitated and perturbed. The entire ocean became turbulent, and even the large aquatic animals like whales, water elephants, crocodiles and timiṅgila fish [large whales that can swallow small whales] came to the surface. While the ocean was being churned in this way, it first produced a fiercely dangerous poison called hālahala.

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.

Dangerous Poison Emerges First

  1. 1

    As the ocean was churned, its fish, sharks, tortoises and snakes became greatly disturbed.

  2. 2

    The entire ocean became turbulent. Even large aquatic animals, including whales and timiṅgila fish, came to the surface.

  3. 3

    The first thing the churning produced was hālahala, a fiercely dangerous poison.

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:

Because the churning rod, Mandara Mountain, was very heavy and was not held by any support in the water, it sank into the ocean, and in this way the prowess of both the demons and the demigods was vanquished. The Supreme Personality of Godhead then appeared in the form of a tortoise and supported Mandara Mountain on His back.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nirmathyamānātwhile the activities of churning were going on
  2. udadheḥfrom the ocean
  3. abhūtthere was
  4. viṣampoison
  5. mahā-ulbaṇamvery fierce
  6. hālahala-āhvamby the name hālahala
  7. agrataḥat first
  8. sambhrāntaagitated and going here and there
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: “dangerous”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What stands out to you about the disturbance surrounding the appearance of hālahala?

Practice

Write one sentence describing what emerged first and how the ocean’s creatures were affected.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDangerous Poison Emerges FirstThis 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 8.7.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories