Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.10.50
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesA Fire Like the Dissolution
“A great devastating fire created by Bali Mahārāja began burning all the soldiers of the demigods. This fire, accompanied by blasting winds, seemed as terrible as the Sāṁvartaka fire, which appears at the time of dissolution.”
What the purport teaches
- Bali Mahārāja created a great devastating fire that began burning all the demigod soldiers.
- Blasting winds accompanied the fire, making the scene especially terrible.
- The fire seemed as terrible as the Sāṁvartaka fire that appears at dissolution. The verse makes a comparison rather than saying dissolution had begun.
Try this today
Notice the words “seemed as terrible as,” and write down what the comparison emphasizes.
Ask yourself
What does the comparison with the Sāṁvartaka fire convey about the soldiers’ danger?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.