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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 8.9.14-15

Who is speaking and story frame

अथोपोष्य कृतस्‍नाना हुत्वा च हविषानलम् ।

दत्त्वा गोविप्रभूतेभ्य: कृतस्वस्त्ययना द्विजै: ॥ १४ ॥

यथोपजोषं वासांसि परिधायाहतानि ते ।

कुशेषु प्राविशन्सर्वे प्रागग्रेष्वभिभूषिता: ॥ १५ ॥

athopoṣya kṛta-snānā

hutvā ca haviṣānalam

dattvā go-vipra-bhūtebhyaḥ

kṛta-svastyayanā dvijaiḥ

yathopajoṣaṁ vāsāṁsi

paridhāyāhatāni te

kuśeṣu prāviśan sarve

prāg-agreṣv abhibhūṣitāḥ

Translation

The demigods and demons then observed a fast. After bathing, they offered clarified butter and oblations into the fire and gave charity to the cows and to the brāhmaṇas and members of the other orders of society, namely the kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras, who were all rewarded as they deserved. Thereafter, the demigods and demons performed ritualistic ceremonies under the directions of the brāhmaṇas. Then they dressed themselves with new garments according to their own choice, decorated their bodies with ornaments, and sat facing east on seats made of kuśa grass.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Prepare Carefully for Sacred Ceremonies

  1. 1

    The demigods and demons fasted, bathed, offered oblations and gave charity. They performed ceremonies under the direction of the brāhmaṇas.

  2. 2

    The Vedas enjoin bathing in the Ganges, Yamunā or sea before performing a ritualistic ceremony and offering clarified butter into the fire.

  3. 3

    The purport emphasizes that a sannyāsī or someone about to perform a ritualistic ceremony should not wear clothing sewn with a needle.

Key points from the purport
  • The Vedas enjoin that for every ritualistic ceremony one must first become clean by bathing either in the water of the Ganges or Yamunā or in the sea.
  • Then one may perform the ritualistic ceremony and offer clarified butter into the fire.
  • A sannyāsī or a person about to perform a ritualistic ceremony should not dress himself in clothing sewn with a needle.

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 9: The Lord Incarnates as Mohinī-Mūrti

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

But one demon, named Rāhu, dressed himself like a demigod and sat down in the line of the demigods. He sat beside the sun and the moon.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.9
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. athathereafter
  2. upoṣyaobserving a fast
  3. kṛta-snānāḥperforming bathing
  4. hutvāoffering oblations
  5. caalso
  6. haviṣāwith clarified butter
  7. analaminto the fire
  8. dattvāgiving in charity
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

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

How much care do I give to cleanliness and preparation before sacred activities?

Practice

Take a moment today to attend to bodily cleanliness before a sacred activity.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPrepare Carefully for Sacred CeremoniesThis 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 8.9.14-15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.