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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.
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Canto 8 · Chapter 9: The Lord Incarnates as Mohinī-Mūrti
8.8.41-468.9.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.9.1

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.9.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

तेऽन्योन्यतोऽसुरा: पात्रं हरन्तस्त्यक्तसौहृदा: ।

क्षिपन्तो दस्युधर्माण आयान्तीं दद‍ृशु: स्त्रियम् ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

te ’nyonyato ’surāḥ pātraṁ

harantas tyakta-sauhṛdāḥ

kṣipanto dasyu-dharmāṇa

āyāntīṁ dadṛśuḥ striyam

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thereafter, the demons became inimical toward one another. Throwing and snatching the container of nectar, they gave up their friendly relationship. Meanwhile, they saw a very beautiful young woman coming forward toward them.

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.

Rivalry Breaks Friendly Relationships

  1. 1

    The demons became enemies of one another and gave up their friendly relationship.

  2. 2

    They threw and snatched the container of nectar instead of remaining united.

  3. 3

    While they were quarreling, they saw a very beautiful young woman approaching.

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 9: The Lord Incarnates as Mohinī-Mūrti

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

When the demons got possession of the container of nectar, an extraordinarily beautiful young woman appeared before them. All the demons became captivated by the young woman’s beauty and became attached to Her.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.9
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. tethe demons
  3. anyonyataḥamong themselves
  4. asurāḥthe demons
  5. pātramthe container of nectar
  6. harantaḥsnatching from one another
  7. tyakta-sauhṛdāḥbecame inimical toward one another
  8. kṣipantaḥsometimes throwing
3

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

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 8.9

    In this verse: “gave up”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 8.9

    In this verse: “friendly”

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

When has wanting something for myself weakened a friendly relationship?

Practice

In one shared task today, cooperate rather than compete for the best share.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRivalry Breaks Friendly RelationshipsThis 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 8.9.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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