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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 9: The Lord Incarnates as Mohinī-Mūrti
8.9.128.9.14-15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.9.13

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

इत्यभिव्याहृतं तस्या आकर्ण्यासुरपुङ्गवा: ।

अप्रमाणविदस्तस्यास्तत् तथेत्यन्वमंसत ॥ १३ ॥

ity abhivyāhṛtaṁ tasyā

ākarṇyāsura-puṅgavāḥ

apramāṇa-vidas tasyās

tat tathety anvamaṁsata

Translation

The chiefs of the demons were not very expert in deciding things. Upon hearing the sweet words of Mohinī-mūrti, they immediately assented. “Yes,” they answered. “What You have said is all right.” Thus the demons agreed to accept Her decision.

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.

Sweet Words Require Careful Judgment

  1. 1

    The chiefs of the demons were not expert in deciding things.

  2. 2

    Hearing Mohinī-mūrti’s sweet words, they immediately agreed.

  3. 3

    They accepted what She had said and agreed to accept Her decision.

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:

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 summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.9
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. itithus
  2. abhivyāhṛtamthe words that were spoken
  3. tasyāḥHer
  4. ākarṇyaafter hearing
  5. asura-puṅgavāḥthe chiefs of the demons
  6. apramāṇa-vidaḥbecause they were all foolish
  7. tasyāḥof Her
  8. tatthose words
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 8.9

    In this verse: “hearing”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 8.9

    In this verse: “sweet”

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

Do pleasing words sometimes lead me to agree before I have considered carefully?

Practice

Before making one commitment today, pause and state clearly what you are agreeing to.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySweet Words Require Careful JudgmentThis 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 8.9.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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