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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
8.7.218.7.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.7.22

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The prajāpatissince 8.7.21inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

त्वमेक: सर्वजगत ईश्वरो बन्धमोक्षयो: ।

तं त्वामर्चन्ति कुशला: प्रपन्नार्तिहरं गुरुम् ॥ २२ ॥

tvam ekaḥ sarva-jagata

īśvaro bandha-mokṣayoḥ

taṁ tvām arcanti kuśalāḥ

prapannārti-haraṁ gurum

Translation

O lord, you are the cause of bondage and liberation of the entire universe because you are its ruler. Those who are advanced in spiritual consciousness surrender unto you, and therefore you are the cause of mitigating their distresses, and you are also the cause of their liberation. We therefore worship Your Lordship.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Lord Śiva Acts for Lord Viṣṇu

  1. 1

    The prayer praises Lord Śiva as the ruler concerned with bondage and liberation. Those advanced in spiritual consciousness surrender to him for relief from distress.

  2. 2

    Actually Lord Viṣṇu maintains and accomplishes all good fortune. The demigods approach Lord Śiva because he acts on Lord Viṣṇu’s behalf.

  3. 3

    Lord Viṣṇu remains unattached to material activities and performs them through Lord Śiva. In contact with the external energy, He appears in His feature as Lord Śiva.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Śiva acts on behalf of Lord Viṣṇu.
  • Lord Viṣṇu is always unattached to material activities, and when material activities are to be performed, Lord Viṣṇu performs them through Lord Śiva.
  • Lord Śiva is therefore worshiped on the level of Lord Viṣṇu.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 8.7.22 quotesBG 14.4

When the Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (14.4) that He is the father of all living entities (ahaṁ bīja-pradaḥ pitā), this refers to actions performed by Lord Viṣṇu through Lord Śiva.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

Therefore he easily agreed to drink all the poison generated by the churning. The goddess Durgā, Bhavānī, the wife of Lord Śiva, was not at all disturbed when Lord Śiva agreed to drink the poison, for she knew Lord Śiva’s prowess.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tvam ekaḥYour Lordship is indeed
  2. sarva-jagataḥof the three worlds
  3. īśvaraḥthe controller
  4. bandha-mokṣayoḥof both bondage and liberation
  5. tamthat controller
  6. tvām arcantiworship you
  7. kuśalāḥpersons who want good fortune
  8. prapanna-ārti-haramwho can mitigate all the distresses of a sheltered devotee
  9. gurumyou who act as a good advisor to all fallen souls
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 8.7

    In this verse: “distresses”, “distress”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 8.7

    In this verse: “surrender”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 8.7

    In this verse: “worship”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does this explanation help you understand about the demigods’ choice of shelter?

Practice

Write one sentence explaining why approaching Lord Śiva here does not overlook Lord Viṣṇu.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLord Śiva Acts for Lord ViṣṇuThis 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 8.7.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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