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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 8: The Churning of the Milk Ocean
8.8.18.8.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.8.2

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.8.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तामग्निहोत्रीमृषयो जगृहुर्ब्रह्मवादिन: ।

यज्ञस्य देवयानस्य मेध्याय हविषे नृप ॥ २ ॥

tām agni-hotrīm ṛṣayo

jagṛhur brahma-vādinaḥ

yajñasya deva-yānasya

medhyāya haviṣe nṛpa

Translation

O King Parīkṣit, great sages who were completely aware of the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies took charge of that surabhi cow, which produced all the yogurt, milk and ghee absolutely necessary for offering oblations into the fire. They did this just for the sake of pure ghee, which they wanted for the performance of sacrifices to elevate themselves to the higher planetary systems, up to Brahmaloka.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Protect Cows for Sacred Purposes

  1. 1

    The sages took charge of the surabhi cow to obtain pure ghee for sacrifices. These sacrifices were meant to elevate them to higher planetary systems, up to Brahmaloka.

  2. 2

    Surabhi cows are generally found on the Vaikuṇṭha planets and can yield unlimited milk. Lord Kṛṣṇa tends these beloved animals on His planet, Goloka Vṛndāvana.

  3. 3

    Sages know how to use milk to elevate human society toward the perfection of life. Cow protection is recommended throughout the śāstras, although the demons had little interest in the cow.

Key points from the purport
  • Surabhi cows are generally found on the Vaikuṇṭha planets.
  • From the surabhi cows one can take as much milk as one needs, and one may milk these cows as many times as he desires.
  • In other words, the surabhi cow can yield milk unlimitedly.

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 8: The Churning of the Milk Ocean

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Great saintly persons accepted this cow to derive clarified butter from its milk and offer this clarified butter in oblations for great sacrifices. Thereafter, a horse named Uccaiḥśravā was generated.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.8
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tāmthat cow
  2. agni-hotrīmabsolutely necessary for the production of yogurt, milk and ghee to offer as oblations in the fire
  3. ṛṣayaḥsages who perform such sacrifices
  4. jagṛhuḥtook in charge
  5. brahma-vādinaḥbecause such sages know the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies
  6. yajñasyaof sacrifice
  7. deva-yānasyawhich fulfills the desire to be elevated to the higher planetary systems and to Brahmaloka
  8. medhyāyafit for offering oblations
  9. haviṣefor the sake of pure clarified butter
  10. nṛpaO King
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Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 8.8

    In this verse: “king”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 8.8

    In this verse: “protection”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What stands out to you about the sages’ purpose in caring for the surabhi cow?

Practice

Spend a minute remembering Lord Kṛṣṇa tending the surabhi cows in Goloka Vṛndāvana.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayProtect Cows for Sacred PurposesThis 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 8.8.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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