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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

8.7.24 8.7.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.7.25

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

त्वं शब्दयोनिर्जगदादिरात्मा

प्राणेन्द्रियद्रव्यगुण: स्वभाव: ।

काल: क्रतु: सत्यमृतं च धर्म-

स्त्वय्यक्षरं यत् त्रिवृदामनन्ति ॥ २५ ॥

tvaṁ śabda-yonir jagad-ādir ātmā

prāṇendriya-dravya-guṇaḥ svabhāvaḥ

kālaḥ kratuḥ satyam ṛtaṁ ca dharmas

tvayy akṣaraṁ yat tri-vṛd-āmananti

Translation

O lord, you are the original source of Vedic literature. You are the original cause of material creation, the life force, the senses, the five elements, the three modes and the mahat-tattva. You are eternal time, determination and the two religious systems called truth [satya] and truthfulness [ṛta]. You are the shelter of the syllable om, which consists of three letters a-u-m.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Source of Knowledge and Creation

1
The prayer praises the lord as the original source of Vedic literature and the original cause of material creation.
2
It identifies him with the life force, senses, five elements, three modes and mahat-tattva.
3
He is praised as eternal time, determination, truth and truthfulness. He is also the shelter of om, consisting of the three letters a-u-m.

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

Chapter 7: Lord Śiva Saves the Universe by Drinking Poison

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The prajāpatis, seeing no one else to save them, approached Lord Śiva and offered him prayers full of truth. Lord Śiva is called Āśutoṣa because he is very pleased if one is a devotee.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 8.7

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

tvamYour Lordship
śabda-yoniḥthe origin and source of Vedic literature
jagat-ādiḥthe original cause of material creation
ātmāthe soul
prāṇathe living force
indriyathe senses
dravyathe material elements
guṇaḥthe three qualities

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
Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct
Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 8.7
In this verse: “religious”
Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender
Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 8.7
In this verse: “shelter”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 8.7
In this verse: “material”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which aspect of this prayer most helps you recognize your dependence on a source beyond yourself?

Practice

Choose one phrase from this prayer and read it slowly three times as an expression of reverence.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Source of Knowledge and CreationThis 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 8.7.25? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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