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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

8.13.13 8.13.15-16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.13.14

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

योऽसौ भगवता बद्ध: प्रीतेन सुतले पुन: ।

निवेशितोऽधिके स्वर्गादधुनास्ते स्वराडिव ॥ १४ ॥

yo ’sau bhagavatā baddhaḥ

prītena sutale punaḥ

niveśito ’dhike svargād

adhunāste sva-rāḍ iva

Translation

With great affection, the Personality of Godhead bound Bali and then installed him in the kingdom of Sutala, which is more opulent than the heavenly planets. Mahārāja Bali now resides on that planet and is more comfortably situated than Indra.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

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

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Affection for Bali

1
With great affection, the Personality of Godhead bound Bali.
2
The Lord then installed him in Sutala, a kingdom more opulent than the heavenly planets.
3
Mahārāja Bali now resides there and is more comfortably situated than Indra.

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

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 summary Back to this verse in chapter 8.13

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

yaḥBali Mahārāja
asauhe
bhagavatāby the Personality of Godhead
baddhaḥbound
prītenabecause of favor
sutalein the kingdom of Sutala
punaḥagain
niveśitaḥsituated

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
Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership
Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 8.13
In this verse: “kingdom”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What stands out to me about the Lord’s affection in His treatment of Bali?

Practice

Reread the verse today, pausing over the words “with great affection.”

Live this todayThe Lord’s Affection for BaliThis 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 8.13.14? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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