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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
8.7.288.7.30

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.7.29

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

मुखानि पञ्चोपनिषदस्तवेश

यैस्त्रिंशदष्टोत्तरमन्त्रवर्ग: ।

यत् तच्छिवाख्यं परमात्मतत्त्वं

देव स्वयंज्योतिरवस्थितिस्ते ॥ २९ ॥

mukhāni pañcopaniṣadas taveśa

yais triṁśad-aṣṭottara-mantra-vargaḥ

yat tac chivākhyaṁ paramātma-tattvaṁ

deva svayaṁ-jyotir avasthitis te

Translation

O lord, the five important Vedic mantras are represented by your five faces, from which the thirty-eight most celebrated Vedic mantras have been generated. Your Lordship, being celebrated as Lord Śiva, is self-illuminated. You are directly situated as the supreme truth, known as Paramātmā.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Lord Śiva Is Viṣṇu’s Direct Representative

  1. 1

    The five mantras are Puruṣa, Aghora, Sadyojāta, Vāmadeva and Īśāna. They belong to the category of thirty-eight special Vedic mantras chanted by Lord Śiva.

  2. 2

    Śiva means “all-auspicious.” Lord Śiva is self-illuminated, exactly like Lord Viṣṇu, who is the Paramātmā.

  3. 3

    Lord Śiva is directly an incarnation of Lord Viṣṇu and His direct representative. The Supersoul has many names, including Maheśvara, Śiva and Acyuta.

Key points from the purport
  • These five mantras are within the category of thirty-eight special Vedic mantras chanted by Lord Śiva, who is therefore celebrated as Śiva or Mahādeva.
  • Another reason why Lord Śiva is called Śiva, which means “all-auspicious,” is that he is self-illuminated, exactly like Lord Viṣṇu, who is the Paramātmā.
  • Because Lord Śiva is directly an incarnation of Lord Viṣṇu, he is situated as Lord Viṣṇu’s direct representative.

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 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 summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mukhānifaces
  2. pañcafive
  3. upaniṣadaḥVedic literatures
  4. tavayour
  5. īśaO lord
  6. yaiḥby which
  7. triṁśat-aṣṭa-uttara-mantra-vargaḥin the category of thirty-eight important Vedic mantras
  8. yatthat
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 8.7

    In this verse: “chanted”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can understanding Lord Śiva as Lord Viṣṇu’s direct representative deepen your respect for him?

Practice

Write down the meaning “all-auspicious” beside Śiva’s name and recall his relationship with Lord Viṣṇu.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLord Śiva Is Viṣṇu’s Direct RepresentativeThis 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 8.7.29? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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