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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
8.7.418.7.43

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.7.42

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

तत: करतलीकृत्य व्यापि हालाहलं विषम् ।

अभक्षयन्महादेव: कृपया भूतभावन: ॥ ४२ ॥

tataḥ karatalī-kṛtya

vyāpi hālāhalaṁ viṣam

abhakṣayan mahā-devaḥ

kṛpayā bhūta-bhāvanaḥ

Translation

Thereafter, Lord Śiva, who is dedicated to auspicious, benevolent work for humanity, compassionately took the whole quantity of poison in his palm and drank it.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Honor Lord Śiva Without Imitating Him

  1. 1

    Lord Śiva is dedicated to auspicious, benevolent work for humanity. Out of compassion, he took the poison in his palm and drank it.

  2. 2

    Although the poison had spread throughout the universe, Lord Śiva reduced it to a quantity small enough to hold in his palm.

  3. 3

    One should not try to imitate Lord Śiva. The purport warns that smoking ganja and taking other poisonous things in imitation of him can kill.

Key points from the purport
  • Although there was such a great quantity of poison that it spread all over the universe, Lord Śiva had such great power that he reduced the poison to a small quantity so that he could hold it in his palm.
  • One should not try to imitate Lord Śiva.

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:

He took it in his hand and drank it. After he drank the poison, his neck became bluish.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.7
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tataḥthereafter
  2. karatalī-kṛtyataking in his hand
  3. vyāpiwidespread
  4. hālāhalamcalled hālahala
  5. viṣampoison
  6. abhakṣayatdrank
  7. mahā-devaḥLord Śiva
  8. kṛpayāout of compassion
  9. bhūta-bhāvanaḥfor the welfare of all living entities
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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: “compassionately”, “compassion”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I distinguish between honoring Lord Śiva’s power and trying to imitate his extraordinary acts?

Practice

Write down this reminder today: “Honor Lord Śiva’s compassion; do not imitate his drinking poison.”

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHonor Lord Śiva Without Imitating HimThis 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 8.7.42? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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