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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
8.7.368.7.38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.7.37

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Śivasince 8.7.37inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशिव उवाच

अहो बत भवान्येतत् प्रजानां पश्य वैशसम् ।

क्षीरोदमथनोद्भ‍ूतात् कालकूटादुपस्थितम् ॥ ३७ ॥

śrī-śiva uvāca

aho bata bhavāny etat

prajānāṁ paśya vaiśasam

kṣīroda-mathanodbhūtāt

kālakūṭād upasthitam

Translation

Lord Śiva said: My dear Bhavānī, just see how all these living entities have been placed in danger because of the poison produced from the churning of the Ocean of Milk.

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.

Notice the Danger Others Face

  1. 1

    Lord Śiva asks Bhavānī to see the dangerous situation before them. He draws attention to the living entities in peril.

  2. 2

    The danger came from poison produced by the churning of the Ocean of Milk.

  3. 3

    His words focus on how all these living entities have been placed in danger, rather than on his own comfort.

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-śivaḥ uvācaŚrī Śiva said
  2. aho batahow pitiable
  3. bhavānimy dear wife, Bhavānī
  4. etatthis situation
  5. prajānāmof all living entities
  6. paśyajust see
  7. vaiśasamvery dangerous
  8. kṣīra-udaof the Ocean of Milk
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 8.7

    In this verse: “danger”, “dangerous”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Whose difficulty might I be overlooking today?

Practice

Take a moment to notice a difficulty someone faces and ask whether they need help.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayNotice the Danger Others FaceThis 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 8.7.37? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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