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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 15: Bali Mahārāja Conquers the Heavenly Planets
8.15.228.15.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.15.23

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.15.3inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तां देवधानीं स वरूथिनीपति-

र्बहि: समन्ताद् रुरुधे पृतन्यया ।

आचार्यदत्तं जलजं महास्वनं

दध्मौ प्रयुञ्जन्भयमिन्द्रयोषिताम् ॥ २३ ॥

tāṁ deva-dhānīṁ sa varūthinī-patir

bahiḥ samantād rurudhe pṛtanyayā

ācārya-dattaṁ jalajaṁ mahā-svanaṁ

dadhmau prayuñjan bhayam indra-yoṣitām

Translation

Bali Mahārāja, who was the commander of numberless soldiers, gathered his soldiers outside this abode of Indra and attacked it from all directions. He sounded the conchshell given him by his spiritual master, Śukrācārya, thus creating a fearful situation for the women protected by Indra.

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.

Bali Mahārāja Attacks Indra's Abode

  1. 1

    Bali Mahārāja commanded numberless soldiers and gathered them outside Indra's abode.

  2. 2

    He attacked the city from all directions.

  3. 3

    He sounded the conchshell given by his spiritual master, Śukrācārya. Its sound created fear among the women protected by Indra.

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

Further reading

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 summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tāmthat
  2. deva-dhānīmplace where Indra lived
  3. saḥhe (Bali Mahārāja)
  4. varūthinī-patiḥthe commander of the soldiers
  5. bahiḥoutside
  6. samantātin all directions
  7. rurudheattacked
  8. pṛtanyayāby soldiers
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 8.15

    In this verse: “fearful”, “fear”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 8.15

    In this verse: “protected”

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 women's fear help you understand the effect of this attack?

Practice

Summarize the verse in three steps: the soldiers gather, the city is attacked and the conchshell creates fear.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBali Mahārāja Attacks Indra's AbodeThis 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 8.15.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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