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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 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 10 · Chapter 72: The Slaying of the Demon Jarāsandha
10.72.2310.72.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.72.24-25

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.72.22inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

बलेर्नु श्रूयते कीर्तिर्वितता दिक्ष्वकल्मषा ।

ऐश्वर्याद् भ्रंशितस्यापि विप्रव्याजेन विष्णुना ॥ २४ ॥

श्रियं जिहीर्षतेन्द्रस्य विष्णवे द्विजरूपिणे ।

जानन्नपि महीं प्रादाद् वार्यमाणोऽपि दैत्यराट् ॥ २५ ॥

baler nu śrūyate kīrtir

vitatā dikṣv akalmaṣā

aiśvaryād bhraṁśitasyāpi

vipra-vyājena viṣṇunā

śriyaṁ jihīrṣatendrasya

viṣṇave dvija-rūpiṇe

jānann api mahīm prādād

vāryamāṇo ’pi daitya-rāṭ

Translation

Indeed, the spotless glories of Bali Mahārāja are heard throughout the world. Lord Viṣṇu, wishing to recover Indra’s opulence from Bali, appeared before him in the guise of a brāhmaṇa and made him fall from his powerful position. Though aware of the ruse and forbidden by his guru, Bali, king of the demons, still gave Viṣṇu the whole earth in charity.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Bali Gave Despite Losing His Position

  1. 1

    Jarāsandha recalled that Bali Mahārāja’s spotless glories were heard throughout the world.

  2. 2

    Lord Viṣṇu appeared as a brāhmaṇa to recover Indra’s opulence from Bali, bringing Bali down from his powerful position.

  3. 3

    Although Bali knew of the ruse and his guru forbade him, he still gave Lord Viṣṇu the whole earth in charity.

How it feels

War and pride → Justice and protection. The public expression of divine power comes to the foreground.

Chapters 70–79 of Canto 10: Kingship, Jarāsandha and royal challenges. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 72: The Slaying of the Demon Jarāsandha

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Seeing the marks of bowstrings on their limbs, Jarāsandha concluded that they were warriors and not brāhmaṇas, but still, even though fearful, he promised to fulfill whatever desire they might have. At that point Lord Kṛṣṇa discarded His disguise and asked Jarāsandha to fight Him in one-to-one combat.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.72
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. baleḥof Bali
  2. nuis it not so
  3. śrūyateare heard
  4. kīrtiḥthe glories
  5. vitatāwidespread
  6. dikṣuin all directions
  7. akalmaṣāspotless
  8. aiśvaryātfrom his powerful position
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.72

    In this verse: “king”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 10.72

    In this verse: “heard”

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

What does Bali’s willingness to give Lord Viṣṇu everything reveal about my own attachments?

Practice

Reflect for one minute on Bali’s gift, and name one possession you find difficult to offer for the Lord’s service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.72's connections

Live this todayBali Gave Despite Losing His PositionThis 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 10.72.24-25? Get an answer from the verses themselves.