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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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

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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 9: The Lord Incarnates as Mohinī-Mūrti

8.9.11 8.9.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.9.12

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.9.11inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

ततो गृहीत्वामृतभाजनं हरि-

र्बभाष ईषत्स्मितशोभया गिरा ।

यद्यभ्युपेतं क्‍व च साध्वसाधु वा

कृतं मया वो विभजे सुधामिमाम् ॥ १२ ॥

tato gṛhītvāmṛta-bhājanaṁ harir

babhāṣa īṣat-smita-śobhayā girā

yady abhyupetaṁ kva ca sādhv asādhu vā

kṛtaṁ mayā vo vibhaje sudhām imām

Translation

Thereafter, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, having taken possession of the container of nectar, smiled slightly and spoke in attractive words. She said: My dear demons, if you accept whatever I may do, whether honest or dishonest, then I can take responsibility for dividing the nectar among you.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Supreme Lord Acts Independently

1
Holding the nectar, Mohinī-mūrti asked the demons to accept whatever She might do, whether honest or dishonest.
2
The Supreme Personality of Godhead cannot abide by anyone’s dictation. Whatever He does is absolute.
3
Deluded by the Lord’s illusory potency, the demons were led to promise that they would accept Her actions.

Key points from the purport

The Supreme Personality of Godhead cannot abide by anyone’s dictation.
The demons, of course, were deluded by the illusory potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and thus Mohinī-mūrti got them to promise that whatever She would do they would accept.

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 9: The Lord Incarnates as Mohinī-Mūrti

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Taking advantage of their weakness in this regard, Mohinī, the incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, got the demons to promise that whatever decision She might give, they would not refuse to accept it. When the demons made this promise, the beautiful woman, Mohinī-mūrti, had the demigods and demons sit in different lines so that She could distribute the nectar.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 8.9