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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
8.7.388.7.40

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.7.39

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

प्राणै: स्वै: प्राणिन: पान्ति साधव: क्षणभङ्गुरै: ।

बद्धवैरेषु भूतेषु मोहितेष्वात्ममायया ॥ ३९ ॥

prāṇaiḥ svaiḥ prāṇinaḥ pānti

sādhavaḥ kṣaṇa-bhaṅguraiḥ

baddha-vaireṣu bhūteṣu

mohiteṣv ātma-māyayā

Translation

People in general, being bewildered by the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, are always engaged in animosity toward one another. But devotees, even at the risk of their own temporary lives, try to save them.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

A Vaiṣṇava Cares About Others’ Suffering

  1. 1

    Bewildered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s illusory energy, people engage in animosity toward one another. Materialistic life is compared to a blazing forest fire.

  2. 2

    A Vaiṣṇava is unhappy to see conditioned souls unhappy. This compassion moves devotees to teach others how to become happy.

  3. 3

    Lord Śiva and his followers try to save people from the dangerous condition of materialistic life. Devotees seek others’ protection even at the risk of their own temporary lives.

Key points from the purport
  • In materialistic life, people must certainly engage in activities of animosity.
  • Lord Śiva and his followers in the paramparā system try to save people from this dangerous condition of materialistic life.
  • Indeed, as we shall see, Lord Śiva drank all the poison for the benefit of humanity.

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. prāṇaiḥby lives
  2. svaiḥtheir own
  3. prāṇinaḥother living entities
  4. pāntiprotect
  5. sādhavaḥdevotees
  6. kṣaṇa-bhaṅguraiḥtemporary
  7. baddha-vaireṣuunnecessarily engaged in animosity
  8. bhūteṣuunto living entities
  9. mohiteṣubewildered
  10. ātma-māyayāby the external energy of the Lord
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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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 8.7

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 8.7

    In this verse: “protection”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “materialistic”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Does another person’s suffering move me toward compassionate service?

Practice

Respond to one tense interaction with a calm, helpful word rather than adding to the animosity.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayA Vaiṣṇava Cares About Others’ SufferingThis 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 8.7.39? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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