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Study a Verse

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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

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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 15: Bali Mahārāja Conquers the Heavenly Planets

8.15.20 8.15.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.15.21

Sthāna· The universe in order

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.15.3inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

मृदङ्गशङ्खानकदुन्दुभिस्वनै:

सतालवीणामुरजेष्टवेणुभि: ।

नृत्यै: सवाद्यैरुपदेवगीतकै-

र्मनोरमां स्वप्रभया जितप्रभाम् ॥ २१ ॥

mṛdaṅga-śaṅkhānaka-dundubhi-svanaiḥ

satāla-vīṇā-murajeṣṭa-veṇubhiḥ

nṛtyaiḥ savādyair upadeva-gītakair

manoramāṁ sva-prabhayā jita-prabhām

Translation

The city was filled with the sounds of mṛdaṅgas, conchshells, kettledrums, flutes and well-tuned stringed instruments all playing in concert. There was constant dancing and the Gandharvas sang. The combined beauty of Indrapurī defeated beauty personified.

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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.

Indrapurī's Beauty and Harmonious Music

1
Mṛdaṅgas, conchshells, kettledrums, flutes and well-tuned stringed instruments filled the city with music. They all played in concert.
2
There was constant dancing, and the Gandharvas sang.
3
The combined beauty of Indrapurī defeated beauty personified.

How it feels

Loss and hope → Revelation. A shift in fortune sets up a spiritual test.

Chapters 15–18 of Canto 8: Bali, Aditi and Vāmana's appearance. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Chapter 15: Bali Mahārāja Conquers the Heavenly Planets

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Bali Mahārāja, after offering obeisances to Prahlāda, the brāhmaṇas and his spiritual master, Śukrācārya, equipped himself to fight with Indra and went to Indrapurī with his soldiers. Blowing his conchshell, he attacked the outskirts of Indra’s kingdom.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 8.15