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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.
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Canto 8 · Chapter 9: The Lord Incarnates as Mohinī-Mūrti
8.9.208.9.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.9.21

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.9.11inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

दैत्यान्गृहीतकलसो वञ्चयन्नुपसञ्चरै: ।

दूरस्थान् पाययामास जरामृत्युहरां सुधाम् ॥ २१ ॥

daityān gṛhīta-kalaso

vañcayann upasañcaraiḥ

dūra-sthān pāyayām āsa

jarā-mṛtyu-harāṁ sudhām

Translation

Taking the container of nectar in Her hands, She first approached the demons, satisfied them with sweet words and thus cheated them of their share of the nectar. Then She administered the nectar to the demigods, who were sitting at a distant place, to make them free from invalidity, old age and death.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Sweet Words Conceal the Lord’s Intention

  1. 1

    Mohinī-mūrti approached the demons and spoke graciously. They thought themselves fortunate to speak with Her.

  2. 2

    Seeing the demigods seated far away, the demons expected to receive all the nectar. The Lord’s intention, however, was to give it only to the demigods.

  3. 3

    She gave the demigods the nectar to free them from invalidity, old age and death, while cheating the demons through sweet words.

Key points from the purport
  • Mohinī-mūrti, the Personality of Godhead, gave the demigods seats at a distance.
  • Since Mohinī-mūrti had seated the demigods at a distant place, the demons thought that the demigods would get only a little of the nectar and that Mohinī-mūrti was so pleased with the demons that She would give the demons all the nectar.
  • The Lord’s intention was to distribute the nectar only to the demigods.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. daityānthe demons
  2. gṛhīta-kalasaḥthe Lord, who bore the container of nectar
  3. vañcayanby cheating
  4. upasañcaraiḥwith sweet words
  5. dūra-sthānthe demigods, who were sitting at a distant place
  6. pāyayām āsamade them drink
  7. jarā-mṛtyu-harāmwhich can counteract invalidity, old age and death
  8. sudhāmsuch nectar
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 8.9

    In this verse: “free from”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 8.9

    In this verse: “death”

  • 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 I mistake pleasing treatment for a promise that my desires will be fulfilled?

Practice

Identify one assumption you have made from someone’s pleasing words, and distinguish it from what was actually promised.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySweet Words Conceal the Lord’s IntentionThis 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.

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