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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 10: The Battle Between the Demigods and the Demons
8.10.13-158.10.19-24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 8.10.16-18

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.10.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

वैरोचनो बलि: सङ्ख्ये सोऽसुराणां चमूपति: ।

यानं वैहायसं नाम कामगं मयनिर्मितम् ॥ १६ ॥

सर्वसाङ्ग्रामिकोपेतं सर्वाश्चर्यमयं प्रभो ।

अप्रतर्क्यमनिर्देश्यं द‍ृश्यमानमदर्शनम् ॥ १७ ॥

आस्थितस्तद् विमानाग्र्यं सर्वानीकाधिपैर्वृत: ।

बालव्यजनछत्राग्र्यै रेजे चन्द्र इवोदये ॥ १८ ॥

vairocano baliḥ saṅkhye

so ’surāṇāṁ camū-patiḥ

yānaṁ vaihāyasaṁ nāma

kāma-gaṁ maya-nirmitam

sarva-sāṅgrāmikopetaṁ

sarvāścaryamayaṁ prabho

apratarkyam anirdeśyaṁ

dṛśyamānam adarśanam

āsthitas tad vimānāgryaṁ

sarvānīkādhipair vṛtaḥ

bāla-vyajana-chatrāgryai

reje candra ivodaye

Translation

For that battle the most celebrated commander in chief, Mahārāja Bali, son of Virocana, was seated on a wonderful airplane named Vaihāyasa. O King, this beautifully decorated airplane had been manufactured by the demon Maya and was equipped with weapons for all types of combat. It was inconceivable and indescribable. Indeed, it was sometimes visible and sometimes not. Seated in this airplane under a beautiful protective umbrella and being fanned by the best of cāmaras, Mahārāja Bali, surrounded by his captains and commanders, appeared just like the moon rising in the evening, illuminating all directions.

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.

Mahārāja Bali Leads From Vaihāyasa

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Bali, son of Virocana, was the celebrated commander in chief of the demons. He sat on the wonderful airplane Vaihāyasa.

  2. 2

    Manufactured by Maya, the airplane carried weapons for every kind of combat. It was sometimes visible and sometimes invisible.

  3. 3

    Surrounded by captains and commanders, Bali sat beneath a protective umbrella and was fanned with cāmaras. He appeared like the rising evening moon illuminating all directions.

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 10: The Battle Between the Demigods and the Demons

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Bali Mahārāja, the son of Virocana, became the commander in chief of the demons. In the beginning of the battle, the demigods prepared to defeat the demons.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.10
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vairocanaḥthe son of Virocana
  2. baliḥMahārāja Bali
  3. saṅkhyein the battle
  4. saḥhe, so celebrated
  5. asurāṇāmof the demons
  6. camū-patiḥcommander in chief
  7. yānamairplane
  8. vaihāyasamcalled Vaihāyasa
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

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 8.10

    In this verse: “protective”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 8.10

    In this verse: “maya”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 8.10

    In this verse: “king”

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 the comparison with the rising moon help you picture Mahārāja Bali among his commanders?

Practice

Write one sentence recalling Bali’s position and the airplane’s unusual features.

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 8.10's connections

Live this todayMahārāja Bali Leads From VaihāyasaThis 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 8.10.16-18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.