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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
8.7.328.7.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.7.33

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The prajāpatissince 8.7.21inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

ये त्वात्मरामगुरुभिर्हृदि चिन्तिताङ्‍‍घ्रि-

द्वन्द्वं चरन्तमुमया तपसाभितप्तम् ।

कत्थन्त उग्रपरुषं निरतं श्मशाने

ते नूनमूतिमविदंस्तव हातलज्जा: ॥ ३३ ॥

ye tv ātma-rāma-gurubhir hṛdi cintitāṅghri-

dvandvaṁ carantam umayā tapasābhitaptam

katthanta ugra-paruṣaṁ nirataṁ śmaśāne

te nūnam ūtim avidaṁs tava hāta-lajjāḥ

Translation

Exalted, self-satisfied persons who preach to the entire world think of your lotus feet constantly within their hearts. However, when persons who do not know your austerity see you moving with Umā, they misunderstand you to be lusty, or when they see you wandering in the crematorium they mistakenly think that you are ferocious and envious. Certainly they are shameless. They cannot understand your activities.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Do Not Misjudge Lord Śiva

  1. 1

    Lord Śiva is the topmost Vaiṣṇava. Even the most intelligent person cannot fully understand how such a Vaiṣṇava acts.

  2. 2

    People who do not know his austerity misjudge his association with Umā and his wandering in the crematorium. Their judgments do not reveal his transcendental position.

  3. 3

    Those conquered by lusty desires and anger cannot estimate Lord Śiva’s glories. The purport warns against criticizing his activities.

Key points from the purport
  • In all the activities associated with lusty desires, Lord Śiva is an implement of ātma-rāma.
  • Ordinary persons, therefore, should not try to understand Lord Śiva and his activities.
  • One who tries to criticize the activities of Lord Śiva is shameless.

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:

After he drank the poison, his neck became bluish. A small quantity of the poison dropped from his hands to the ground, and it is because of this poison that there are poisonous snakes, scorpions, toxic plants and other poisonous things in this world.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.7
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yepersons who
  2. tuindeed
  3. ātma-rāma-gurubhiḥby those who are self-satisfied and who are considered to be spiritual masters of the world
  4. hṛdiwithin the heart
  5. cintita-aṅghri-dvandvamthinking of your two lotus feet
  6. carantammoving
  7. umayāwith your consort, Umā
  8. tapasā abhitaptamhighly advanced through practice of austerity and penance
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “lusty”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 8.7

    In this verse: “understand”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When might my own desires or anger lead me to misjudge a devotee?

Practice

Reread one description of Lord Śiva in this verse, pausing to acknowledge the limits of outward judgment.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDo Not Misjudge Lord ŚivaThis 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 8.7.33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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