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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.

Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›

Canto 8 · Chapter 8: The Churning of the Milk Ocean

8.8.24 8.8.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.8.25

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.8.23inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तस्या: श्रियस्त्रिजगतो जनको जनन्या

वक्षोनिवासमकरोत् परमं विभूते: ।

श्री: स्वा: प्रजा: सकरुणेन निरीक्षणेन

यत्र स्थितैधयत साधिपतींस्त्रिलोकान् ॥ २५ ॥

tasyāḥ śriyas tri-jagato janako jananyā

vakṣo nivāsam akarot paramaṁ vibhūteḥ

śrīḥ svāḥ prajāḥ sakaruṇena nirīkṣaṇena

yatra sthitaidhayata sādhipatīṁs tri-lokān

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the father of the three worlds, and His bosom is the residence of mother Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune, the proprietor of all opulences. The goddess of fortune, by her favorable and merciful glance, can increase the opulence of the three worlds, along with their inhabitants and their directors, the demigods.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seek Fortune Through Service to Nārāyaṇa

1
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the father of the three worlds, and mother Lakṣmī resides on His bosom. From there, her merciful glance can favor everyone.
2
Lakṣmī naturally sees those who worship Nārāyaṇa. When she sees their attachment to devotional service, she is inclined to bless them with all opulences.
3
The opulence of karmīs, who seek Lakṣmī’s favor without devotion to Nārāyaṇa, is flickering. The opulence of devotees attached to His service is as permanent as Nārāyaṇa’s own opulence.

Key points from the purport

According to the desire of Lakṣmīdevī, the goddess of fortune, the Supreme Personality of Godhead made His bosom her residence so that by her glance she could favor everyone, including the demigods and ordinary human beings.
When the goddess of fortune understands that a devotee is in favor of devotional service to Nārāyaṇa, she is naturally inclined to bless the devotee with all opulences.
The opulence of devotees is as permanent as the opulence of Nārāyaṇa Himself.

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

Chapter 8: The Churning of the Milk Ocean

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Because of this combination of Lakṣmī and Nārāyaṇa, all who were present, including the demigods and people in general, were very pleased. The demons, however, being neglected by the goddess of fortune, were very depressed.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 8.8

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

tasyāḥof her
śriyaḥthe goddess of fortune
tri-jagataḥof the three worlds
janakaḥthe father
jananyāḥof the mother
vakṣaḥbosom
nivāsamresidence
akarotmade

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
Kṛpā · Divine mercy
Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 8.8
In this verse: “merciful”, “favorable”, “bless”
Vātsalya · Parental affection
Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 8.8
In this verse: “mother”, “father”
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 8.8
In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”, “worship”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I seeking fortune for itself, or placing devotional service to Nārāyaṇa first?

Practice

Use one resource you already have—such as a little time or wealth—in devotional service to Nārāyaṇa today.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeek Fortune Through Service to NārāyaṇaThis 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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