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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 13: Description of Future Manus
8.13.128.13.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.13.13

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.13.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

दत्त्वेमां याचमानाय विष्णवे य: पदत्रयम् ।

राद्धमिन्द्रपदं हित्वा तत: सिद्धिमवाप्स्यति ॥ १३ ॥

dattvemāṁ yācamānāya

viṣṇave yaḥ pada-trayam

rāddham indra-padaṁ hitvā

tataḥ siddhim avāpsyati

Translation

Bali Mahārāja gave a gift of three paces of land to Lord Viṣṇu, and because of this charity he lost all the three worlds. Later, however, when Lord Viṣṇu is pleased because of Bali’s giving everything to Him, Bali Mahārāja will achieve the perfection of life.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

True Perfection Is Lord Viṣṇu’s Favor

  1. 1

    Bali Mahārāja gave Lord Viṣṇu three paces of land and lost all three worlds. Yet by giving everything to the Lord, he will achieve the perfection of life.

  2. 2

    Out of many millions of people, one may attempt to achieve success in life. Here, that success means achieving the favor of Lord Viṣṇu.

  3. 3

    The yoga-siddhis, or extraordinary yogic powers, are temporary. The ultimate siddhi, or perfection, is to achieve Lord Viṣṇu’s favor.

Key points from the purport
  • In Bhagavad-gītā (7.3) it is stated, manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu kaścid yatati siddhaye: out of many millions of people, one may attempt to achieve success in life.
  • The yoga-siddhis — aṇimā, laghimā, mahimā, prāpti, prākāmya, īśitva, vaśitva and kāmāvasāyitā — are temporary.
  • The ultimate siddhi is to achieve the favor of Lord Viṣṇu.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 8.13.13 quotesBG 7.3

In Bhagavad-gītā (7.3) it is stated, manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu kaścid yatati siddhaye: out of many millions of people, one may attempt to achieve success in life.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

How it feels

Uncertainty → Cosmic order. The narrative resets the frame to cyclical cosmic governance.

Chapters 13–14 of Canto 8: Manus and universal management. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 13: Description of Future Manus

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Bali, the son of Virocana, is Indra, and Gālava and Paraśurāma are among the seven sages. In this age of Manu, the incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead appears as Sārvabhauma, the son of Devaguhya and Sarasvatī.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dattvāgiving in charity
  2. imāmthis entire universe
  3. yācamānāyawho was begging from him
  4. viṣṇaveunto Lord Viṣṇu
  5. yaḥBali Mahārāja
  6. pada-trayamthree paces of land
  7. rāddhamachieved
  8. indra-padamthe post of Indra
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 8.13

    In this verse: “favor”

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

Am I measuring success by what I possess or by pleasing Lord Viṣṇu?

Practice

Today, offer one small act of service to Lord Viṣṇu with the wish to please Him rather than gain something.

Live this todayTrue Perfection Is Lord Viṣṇu’s FavorThis 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.

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