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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
8.7.228.7.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.7.23

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

गुणमय्या स्वशक्त्यास्य सर्गस्थित्यप्ययान्विभो ।

धत्से यदा स्वद‍ृग् भूमन्ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवाभिधाम् ॥ २३ ॥

guṇa-mayyā sva-śaktyāsya

sarga-sthity-apyayān vibho

dhatse yadā sva-dṛg bhūman

brahma-viṣṇu-śivābhidhām

Translation

O lord, you are self-effulgent and supreme. You create this material world by your personal energy, and you assume the names Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara when you act in creation, maintenance and annihilation.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

One Lord Behind Three Cosmic Functions

  1. 1

    The prayer describes the lord as self-effulgent and supreme, creating the material world through his personal energy.

  2. 2

    Creation, maintenance and annihilation are associated with the names Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara.

  3. 3

    Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this prayer is actually offered to Lord Viṣṇu, the puruṣa. He assumes these names in His incarnations as the guṇa-avatāras.

Key points from the purport
  • This prayer is actually offered to Lord Viṣṇu, the puruṣa, who in His incarnations as the guṇa-avatāras assumes the names Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara.

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

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. guṇa-mayyāacting in three modes of activity
  2. sva-śaktyāby the external energy of Your Lordship
  3. asyaof this material world
  4. sarga-sthiti-apyayāncreation, maintenance and annihilation
  5. vibhoO lord
  6. dhatseyou execute
  7. yadāwhen
  8. sva-dṛkyou manifest yourself
  9. bhūmanO great one
  10. brahma-viṣṇu-śiva-abhidhāmas Lord Brahmā, Lord Viṣṇu or Lord Śiva
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 8.7

    In this verse: “material”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does seeing Lord Viṣṇu behind these three functions change your reading of the prayer?

Practice

List creation, maintenance and annihilation beside their corresponding names, then note that the prayer is offered to Lord Viṣṇu.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayOne Lord Behind Three Cosmic FunctionsThis 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 8.7.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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