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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
8.9.18.9.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.9.2

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

अहो रूपमहो धाम अहो अस्या नवं वय: ।

इति ते तामभिद्रुत्य पप्रच्छुर्जातहृच्छया: ॥ २ ॥

aho rūpam aho dhāma

aho asyā navaṁ vayaḥ

iti te tām abhidrutya

papracchur jāta-hṛc-chayāḥ

Translation

Upon seeing the beautiful woman, the demons said, “Alas, how wonderful is Her beauty, how wonderful the luster of Her body, and how wonderful the beauty of Her youthful age!” Speaking in this way, they quickly approached Her, full of lusty desires to enjoy Her, and began to inquire from Her in many ways.

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.

Beauty Can Stir Lusty Desires

  1. 1

    The demons praised the woman's beauty, bodily luster and youthful age.

  2. 2

    Their hearts became full of lusty desires to enjoy Her.

  3. 3

    Driven by these desires, they quickly approached Her and began asking many questions.

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. ahohow wonderful
  2. rūpamHer beauty
  3. ahohow wonderful
  4. dhāmaHer bodily luster
  5. ahohow wonderful
  6. asyāḥof Her
  7. navamnew
  8. vayaḥbeautiful age
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 8.9

    In this verse: “luster”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 8.9

    In this verse: “inquire”

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 does attraction affect the way I approach another person?

Practice

Pause before acting on an attraction today, and notice whether you are seeking only your own enjoyment.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBeauty Can Stir Lusty DesiresThis 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 8.9.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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