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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
8.7.408.7.42

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.7.41

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.7.41inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

एवमामन्‍त्र्य भगवान्भवानीं विश्वभावन: ।

तद् विषं जग्धुमारेभे प्रभावज्ञान्वमोदत ॥ ४१ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

evam āmantrya bhagavān

bhavānīṁ viśva-bhāvanaḥ

tad viṣaṁ jagdhum ārebhe

prabhāva-jñānvamodata

Translation

Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: After informing Bhavānī in this way, Lord Śiva began to drink the poison, and Bhavānī, who knew perfectly well the capabilities of Lord Śiva, gave him her permission to do so.

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.

Bhavānī Knows Lord Śiva’s Capabilities

  1. 1

    Lord Śiva informed Bhavānī before beginning to drink the poison.

  2. 2

    Bhavānī knew perfectly well the capabilities of Lord Śiva. Her permission rested on that understanding.

  3. 3

    With Bhavānī’s permission, Lord Śiva began to drink the poison.

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. evamin this way
  3. āmantryaaddressing
  4. bhagavānLord Śiva
  5. bhavānīmBhavānī
  6. viśva-bhāvanaḥthe well-wisher of all the universe
  7. tat viṣamthat poison
  8. jagdhumto drink
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understanding”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I base my trust in someone on a sound understanding of their capabilities?

Practice

Before agreeing to help with a task today, clearly tell the other person what you are able to do.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBhavānī Knows Lord Śiva’s CapabilitiesThis 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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