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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

8.7.42 8.7.44

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.7.43

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.7.41inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तस्यापि दर्शयामास स्ववीर्यं जलकल्मष: ।

यच्चकार गले नीलं तच्च साधोर्विभूषणम् ॥ ४३ ॥

tasyāpi darśayām āsa

sva-vīryaṁ jala-kalmaṣaḥ

yac cakāra gale nīlaṁ

tac ca sādhor vibhūṣaṇam

Translation

As if in defamation, the poison born from the Ocean of Milk manifested its potency by marking Lord Śiva’s neck with a bluish line. That line, however, is now accepted as an ornament of the Lord.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

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

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Poison’s Mark Becomes an Ornament

1
The poison born from the Ocean of Milk showed its potency by marking Lord Śiva’s neck.
2
It left a bluish line, described as if it were an attempt to defame him.
3
That same line is now accepted as an ornament of Lord Śiva, rather than a disgrace.

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

Chapter 7: Lord Śiva Saves the Universe by Drinking Poison

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

After he drank the poison, his neck became bluish. A small quantity of the poison dropped from his hands to the ground, and it is because of this poison that there are poisonous snakes, scorpions, toxic plants and other poisonous things in this world.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 8.7

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

tasyaof Lord Śiva
apialso
darśayām āsaexhibited
sva-vīryamits own potency
jala-kalmaṣaḥthat poison born of the water
yatwhich
cakāramade
galeon the neck

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does seeing the bluish line as an ornament change my understanding of Lord Śiva’s deed?

Practice

Take a moment today to reflect on the contrast between a mark of apparent disgrace and an honored ornament.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Poison’s Mark Becomes an OrnamentThis 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 8.7.43? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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