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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 8 · Chapter 11: King Indra Annihilates the Demons
8.11.28.11.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.11.3

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.11.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

वज्रपाणिस्तमाहेदं तिरस्कृत्य पुर:स्थितम् ।

मनस्विनं सुसम्पन्नं विचरन्तं महामृधे ॥ ३ ॥

vajra-pāṇis tam āhedaṁ

tiraskṛtya puraḥ-sthitam

manasvinaṁ susampannaṁ

vicarantaṁ mahā-mṛdhe

Translation

Sober and tolerant and well equipped with paraphernalia for fighting, Bali Mahārāja moved before Indra on the great battlefield. King Indra, who always carries the thunderbolt in his hand, rebuked Bali Mahārāja as follows.

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.

Sobriety and Tolerance Amid Conflict

  1. 1

    Bali Mahārāja was sober and tolerant as he moved on the great battlefield.

  2. 2

    He was also well equipped for fighting. His tolerance did not mean a lack of preparation.

  3. 3

    As Bali Mahārāja stood before him, Indra, who carries the thunderbolt, began to rebuke him.

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 11: King Indra Annihilates the Demons

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

King Indra released his thunderbolt against Bali, and when Bali fell, his friend Jambhāsura attacked Indra, who then cut off Jambhāsura’s head with his thunderbolt. When Nārada Muni learned that Jambhāsura had been killed, he informed Jambhāsura’s relatives Namuci, Bala and Pāka, who then went to the battlefield and attacked the demigods.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.11
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vajra-pāṇiḥIndra, who always carries in his hand the thunderbolt
  2. tamunto Bali Mahārāja
  3. āhaaddressed
  4. idamin this way
  5. tiraskṛtyachastising him
  6. puraḥ-sthitamstanding before him
  7. manasvinamvery sober and tolerant
  8. su-sampannamwell equipped with paraphernalia for fighting
  9. vicarantammoving
  10. mahā-mṛdheon the great battlefield
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 8.11

    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

When someone rebukes me, can I remain sober and tolerant?

Practice

During one difficult conversation today, listen calmly before replying.

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 8.11's connections

Live this todaySobriety and Tolerance Amid ConflictThis 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 8.11.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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