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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
8.15.278.15.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.15.28

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Bṛhaspati, the spiritual master of the demigodssince 8.15.28inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीगुरुरुवाच

जानामि मघवञ्छत्रोरुन्नतेरस्य कारणम् ।

शिष्यायोपभृतं तेजो भृगुभिर्ब्रह्मवादिभि: ॥ २८ ॥

śrī-gurur uvāca

jānāmi maghavañ chatror

unnater asya kāraṇam

śiṣyāyopabhṛtaṁ tejo

bhṛgubhir brahma-vādibhiḥ

Translation

Bṛhaspati, the spiritual master of the demigods, said: O Indra, I know the cause for your enemy’s becoming so powerful. The brāhmaṇa descendants of Bhṛgu Muni, being pleased by Bali Mahārāja, their disciple, endowed him with such extraordinary power.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Spiritual Strength Comes Through the Guru

  1. 1

    The brāhmaṇa descendants of Bhṛgu Muni were pleased with their disciple, Bali Mahārāja, and endowed him with extraordinary power. His prowess came from his exalted guru, Śukrācārya, rather than from himself alone.

  2. 2

    The blessings of the spiritual master are more powerful than personal endeavor for spiritual advancement. By pleasing the spiritual master, one can receive extraordinary spiritual strength.

  3. 3

    One should carry out the bona fide order of the spiritual master. Through the paramparā system, the original spiritual power comes from the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • Bṛhaspati, the spiritual master of the demigods, informed Indra, “Ordinarily, Bali and his forces could not achieve such strength, but it appears that the brāhmaṇa descendants of Bhṛgu Muni, being pleased with Bali Mahārāja, endowed them with this spiritual power.”
  • By the pleasure of the spiritual master, one can get extraordinary power, especially in spiritual advancement.
  • Especially for spiritual advancement, one should carry out the bona fide order of the spiritual master.

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

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:

Bṛhaspati informed the demigods that because Bali had been endowed with extraordinary power by the brāhmaṇas, the demigods could not fight with him. Their only hope was to gain the favor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-guruḥ uvācaBṛhaspati said
  2. jānāmiI know
  3. maghavanO Indra
  4. śatroḥof the enemy
  5. unnateḥof the elevation
  6. asyaof him
  7. kāraṇamthe cause
  8. śiṣyāyaunto the disciple
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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 8.15

    In this verse: “blessings”

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 relying only on personal effort, or also valuing the spiritual master’s instructions and blessings?

Practice

Review one bona fide instruction from the spiritual master and take one small step to follow it today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 8.15's connections

Live this todaySpiritual Strength Comes Through the GuruThis 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 8.15.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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