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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.15.26

Who is speaking and story frame

नैनं कश्चित् कुतो वापि प्रतिव्योढुमधीश्वर: ।

पिबन्निव मुखेनेदं लिहन्निव दिशो दश ।

दहन्निव दिशो द‍ृग्भि: संवर्ताग्निरिवोत्थित: ॥ २६ ॥

nainaṁ kaścit kuto vāpi

prativyoḍhum adhīśvaraḥ

pibann iva mukhenedaṁ

lihann iva diśo daśa

dahann iva diśo dṛgbhiḥ

saṁvartāgnir ivotthitaḥ

Translation

No one anywhere can counteract this military arrangement of Bali’s. It now appears that Bali is trying to drink up the entire universe with his mouth, lick up the ten directions with his tongue, and raise fire in every direction with his eyes. Indeed, he has arisen like the annihilating fire known as saṁvartaka.

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.

Recognizing the Scale of Bali’s Power

  1. 1

    Indra described Bali’s military arrangement as something no one anywhere could counteract.

  2. 2

    Bali appeared ready to drink up the universe, lick up the ten directions, and raise fire everywhere with his eyes.

  3. 3

    His overwhelming power was compared to the annihilating fire known as saṁvartaka.

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:

Indeed, there was no alternative. Under the circumstances, Bṛhaspati advised the demigods to leave the heavenly planets and keep themselves somewhere invisible.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanot
  2. enamthis arrangement
  3. kaścitanyone
  4. kutaḥfrom anywhere
  5. vā apieither
  6. prativyoḍhumto counteract
  7. adhīśvaraḥcapable
  8. piban ivaas if drinking
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

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 do these vivid comparisons help me understand the seriousness of the situation?

Practice

Reread the verse slowly and identify one image that conveys Bali’s overwhelming power.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRecognizing the Scale of Bali’s PowerThis 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 8.15.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.