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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
8.7.88.7.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.7.9

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.7.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तमुत्थितं वीक्ष्य कुलाचलं पुन:

समुद्यता निर्मथितुं सुरासुरा: ।

दधार पृष्ठेन स लक्षयोजन-

प्रस्तारिणा द्वीप इवापरो महान् ॥ ९ ॥

tam utthitaṁ vīkṣya kulācalaṁ punaḥ

samudyatā nirmathituṁ surāsurāḥ

dadhāra pṛṣṭhena sa lakṣa-yojana-

prastāriṇā dvīpa ivāparo mahān

Translation

When the demigods and demons saw that Mandara Mountain had been lifted, they were enlivened and encouraged to begin churning again. The mountain rested on the back of the great tortoise, which extended for eight hundred thousand miles like a large island.

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.

Support Renews Their Enthusiasm

  1. 1

    Seeing Mandara Mountain lifted enlivened the demigods and demons.

  2. 2

    They were encouraged to begin churning again.

  3. 3

    The mountain rested on the great tortoise's back, which extended eight hundred thousand miles like a large island.

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:

As described in this chapter, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, appearing in His incarnation as a tortoise, dove deep into the ocean to carry Mandara Mountain on His back. At first the churning of the ocean produced kālakūṭa poison.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamthat mountain
  2. utthitamlifted
  3. vīkṣyaobserving
  4. kulācalamknown as Mandara
  5. punaḥagain
  6. samudyatāḥenlivened
  7. nirmathitumto churn the Ocean of Milk
  8. sura-asurāḥthe demigods and the demons
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

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What about this renewed effort encourages you after a setback?

Practice

Reread the description of the mountain being supported, then take one small step to resume a stalled task.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySupport Renews Their EnthusiasmThis 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 8.7.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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