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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
8.7.348.7.36

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.7.35

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

एतत् परं प्रपश्यामो न परं ते महेश्वर ।

मृडनाय हि लोकस्य व्यक्तिस्तेऽव्यक्तकर्मण: ॥ ३५ ॥

etat paraṁ prapaśyāmo

na paraṁ te maheśvara

mṛḍanāya hi lokasya

vyaktis te ’vyakta-karmaṇaḥ

Translation

O greatest of all rulers, your actual identity is impossible for us to understand. As far as we can see, your presence brings flourishing happiness to everyone. Beyond this, no one can appreciate your activities. We can see this much, and nothing more.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Recognize the Motives Behind Worship

  1. 1

    The demigods admit that Lord Śiva’s actual identity and activities are beyond their understanding. They can see that his presence brings happiness to the world.

  2. 2

    Their inner purpose in offering prayers was to please him so that he would remedy the danger caused by the hālahala poison.

  3. 3

    The purport explains that people generally worship demigods with some motive. Deep-rooted desires lead them to seek the demigods’ mercy for fulfillment.

Key points from the purport
  • When the demigods offered these prayers to Lord Śiva, their inner purpose was to please him so that he would rectify the disturbing situation created by the hālahala poison.
  • As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (7.20), kāmais tais tair hṛta jñānāḥ prapadyante ’nya-devatāḥ: when one worships demigods, this is certainly because of deep-rooted desires he wants fulfilled by the mercy of those demigods.
  • People are generally attached to the worship of demigods for some motive.

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 8.7.35 quotesBG 7.20

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (7.20), kāmais tais tair hṛta jñānāḥ prapadyante ’nya-devatāḥ: when one worships demigods, this is certainly because of deep-rooted desires he wants fulfilled by the mercy of those demigods.

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:

Indeed, she expressed her pleasure at this agreement. Then Lord Śiva gathered the devastating poison, which was everywhere.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. etatall these things
  2. paramtranscendental
  3. prapaśyāmaḥwe can see
  4. nanot
  5. paramthe actual transcendental position
  6. teof Your Lordship
  7. mahā-īśvaraO great ruler
  8. mṛḍanāyafor the happiness
3

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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understand”, “understanding”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 8.7

    In this verse: “rulers”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 8.7

    In this verse: “mercy”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What desires are shaping the prayers I offer?

Practice

Write down one thing you seek through prayer and honestly name the desire behind it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRecognize the Motives Behind WorshipThis 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 8.7.35? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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