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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.
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Canto 8 · Chapter 7: Lord Śiva Saves the Universe by Drinking Poison
8.7.358.7.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.7.36

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.7.36inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

तद्वीक्ष्य व्यसनं तासां कृपया भृशपीडित: ।

सर्वभूतसुहृद् देव इदमाह सतीं प्रियाम् ॥ ३६ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

tad-vīkṣya vyasanaṁ tāsāṁ

kṛpayā bhṛśa-pīḍitaḥ

sarva-bhūta-suhṛd deva

idam āha satīṁ priyām

Translation

Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Lord Śiva is always benevolent toward all living entities. When he saw that the living entities were very much disturbed by the poison, which was spreading everywhere, he was very compassionate. Thus he spoke to his eternal consort, Satī, as follows.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

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

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Compassion for All Living Entities

  1. 1

    Lord Śiva is always benevolent toward all living entities. His concern is not limited to a few.

  2. 2

    He saw that the poison spreading everywhere was greatly disturbing the living entities. Their suffering awakened his deep compassion.

  3. 3

    Moved by that compassion, he spoke to his eternal consort, Satī.

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 goddess Durgā, Bhavānī, the wife of Lord Śiva, was not at all disturbed when Lord Śiva agreed to drink the poison, for she knew Lord Śiva’s prowess. Indeed, she expressed her pleasure at this agreement.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. tatthis situation
  3. vīkṣyaseeing
  4. vyasanamdangerous
  5. tāsāmof all the demigods
  6. kṛpayāout of compassion
  7. bhṛśa-pīḍitaḥgreatly aggrieved
  8. sarva-bhūta-suhṛtthe friend of all living entities
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 8.7

    In this verse: “compassionate”, “compassion”, “suffering”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I allow myself to notice the distress of others?

Practice

Check on someone who is struggling and listen carefully to what is troubling them.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCompassion for All Living EntitiesThis 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.

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