FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.9.24

देवलिङ्गप्रतिच्छन्न: स्वर्भानुर्देवसंसदि । प्रविष्ट: सोममपिबच्चन्द्रार्काभ्यां च सूचित: ॥ २४ ॥
deva-liṅga-praticchannaḥ
[deva-linga-pratichchannah]
svarbhānur deva-saṁsadi
[svarbhaanur deva-samsadi]
praviṣṭaḥ somam apibac
[pravishtah somam apibach]
candrārkābhyāṁ ca sūcitaḥ
[chandraarkaabhyaam cha soochitah]
Word-for-word
deva-liṅga-praticchannaḥ — covering himself with the dress of a demigod svarbhānuḥ — Rāhu (who attacks and eclipses the sun and moon) deva-saṁsadi — in the group of the demigods praviṣṭaḥ — having entered somam — the nectar apibat — drank candra-arkābhyām — by both the moon and the sun ca — and sūcitaḥ — was pointed out.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
deva-liṅga-praticchannaḥ
deva-liṅga-praticchannaḥ
covering himself with the dress of a demigod
svarbhānur deva-saṁsadi
svarbhānuḥ
Rāhu (who attacks and eclipses the sun and moon)
deva-saṁsadi
in the group of the demigods
praviṣṭaḥ somam apibac
praviṣṭaḥ
having entered
somam
the nectar
apibat
drank
candrārkābhyāṁ ca sūcitaḥ
candra-arkābhyām
by both the moon and the sun
ca
and
sūcitaḥ
was pointed out.
Rāhu, the demon who causes eclipses of the sun and moon, covered himself with the dress of a demigod and thus entered the assembly of the demigods and drank nectar without being detected by anyone, even by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The moon and the sun, however, because of permanent animosity toward Rāhu, understood the situation. Thus Rāhu was detected.
Purport

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Mohinī-mūrti, was able to bewilder all the demons, but Rāhu was so clever that he was not bewildered. Rāhu could understand that Mohinī-mūrti was cheating the demons, and therefore he changed his dress, disguised himself as a demigod, and sat down in the assembly of the demigods. Here one may ask why the Supreme Personality of Godhead could not detect Rāhu. The reason is that the Lord wanted to show the effects of drinking nectar. This will be revealed in the following verses. The moon and sun, however, were always alert in regard to Rāhu. Thus when Rāhu entered the assembly of the demigods, the moon and sun immediately detected him, and then the Supreme Personality of Godhead also became aware of him.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Rāhu, having disguised himself in the dress of a devatā, entered the assembly of the devatās and drank the nectar. The sun and the moon devatās recognized that he was a demon. All the demons were bewildered and cheated by Mohinī, but Rāhu was not bewildered in order to broadcast the glory of the nectar (by making his head immortal). He immediately understood the intentions of Mohinī and entered the line of the devatās. At first the devatās could not recognize him. The sun and moon however recognized him when he sat down. Because they feared him, they could not say “Sit in another row.” But when he got the nectar and drank it, they raised their brows to indicate “This is a demon.”
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Rāhu disguised himself as a demigod and drank the nectar; the sun and moon detected him. Some demons are clever enough to slip past even Mohinī. But there are always witnesses. Disguise eventually meets the disc.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I wearing the dress of a 'demigod' while actually being something else?
  • Whom in my life is the sun and moon — the watchful eyes that see what I am hiding?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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