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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
8.9.14-158.9.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 8.9.16-17

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

प्राङ्‌मुखेषूपविष्टेषु सुरेषु दितिजेषु च ।

धूपामोदितशालायां जुष्टायां माल्यदीपकै: ॥ १६ ॥

तस्यां नरेन्द्र करभोरुरुशद्दुकूल-

श्रोणीतटालसगतिर्मदविह्वलाक्षी ।

सा कूजती कनकनूपुरशिञ्जितेन

कुम्भस्तनी कलसपाणिरथाविवेश ॥ १७ ॥

prāṅ-mukheṣūpaviṣṭeṣu

sureṣu ditijeṣu ca

dhūpāmodita-śālāyāṁ

juṣṭāyāṁ mālya-dīpakaiḥ

tasyāṁ narendra karabhorur uśad-dukūla-

śroṇī-taṭālasa-gatir mada-vihvalākṣī

sā kūjatī kanaka-nūpura-śiñjitena

kumbha-stanī kalasa-pāṇir athāviveśa

Translation

O King, as the demigods and demons sat facing east in an arena fully decorated with flower garlands and lamps and fragrant with the smoke of incense, that woman, dressed in a most beautiful sari, Her ankle bells tinkling, entered the arena, walking very slowly because of Her big, low hips. Her eyes were restless due to youthful pride, Her breasts were like water jugs, Her thighs resembled the trunks of elephants, and She carried a waterpot in Her hand.

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.

Her Beautiful Entrance into the Arena

  1. 1

    The demigods and demons sat facing east in an arena decorated with flower garlands and lamps.

  2. 2

    The arena was fragrant with incense smoke. She entered wearing a most beautiful sari, with Her ankle bells tinkling.

  3. 3

    She walked very slowly, carrying a waterpot. The translation describes Her striking bodily beauty and restless eyes.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. prāk-mukheṣufacing east
  2. upaviṣṭeṣuwere sitting on their respective seats
  3. sureṣuall the demigods
  4. diti-jeṣuthe demons
  5. caalso
  6. dhūpa-āmodita-śālāyāmin the arena, which was full of the smoke of incense
  7. juṣṭāyāmfully decorated
  8. mālya-dīpakaiḥwith flower garlands and lamps
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

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 8.9

    In this verse: “pride”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 8.9

    In this verse: “king”

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

Which details help me attend closely to this description of Her entrance?

Practice

Read the translation slowly once, noticing the decorations, sounds and movements.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHer Beautiful Entrance into the ArenaThis 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 8.9.16-17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.