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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 15: Bali Mahārāja Conquers the Heavenly Planets

8.15.30 8.15.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.15.31

Ūti· What drives us to act

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

एष विप्रबलोदर्क: सम्प्रत्यूर्जितविक्रम: ।

तेषामेवापमानेन सानुबन्धो विनङ्‌क्ष्यति ॥ ३१ ॥

eṣa vipra-balodarkaḥ

sampraty ūrjita-vikramaḥ

teṣām evāpamānena

sānubandho vinaṅkṣyati

Translation

Bali Mahārāja has now become extremely powerful because of the benedictions given him by the brāhmaṇas, but when he later insults the brāhmaṇas, he will be vanquished, along with his friends and assistants.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Matters More Than Possessions

1
Bali Mahārāja’s power came from the brāhmaṇas’ benedictions. Bṛhaspati predicted that insulting those brāhmaṇas would bring defeat upon him, his friends, and his assistants.
2
Bṛhaspati foresaw that Bali Mahārāja would defy Śukrācārya’s orders to please Lord Viṣṇu, Vāmanadeva. The purport explains that one can take all risks to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
3
Bali Mahārāja would lose all his property, yet through devotional service receive more than he expected. In the eighth manvantara, he would occupy Indra’s throne again.

Key points from the purport

Therefore, when Bṛhaspati, the spiritual master of the demigods, predicted that Bali Mahārāja would be vanquished when he insulted the brāhmaṇas by whose grace he had become so powerful, Bali Mahārāja’s enemies were naturally anxious to know when that opportune moment would come.
To pacify King Indra, Bṛhaspati assured him that the time would certainly come, for Bṛhaspati could see that in the future Bali Mahārāja would defy the orders of Śukrācārya in order to pacify Lord Viṣṇu, Vāmanadeva.
To please Vāmanadeva, Bali Mahārāja risked defying the orders of his spiritual master, Śukrācārya.

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

Chapter 15: Bali Mahārāja Conquers the Heavenly Planets

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The demigods followed his orders, and Bali Mahārāja, along with his associates, gained the entire kingdom of Indra. The descendants of Bhṛgu Muni, being very affectionate to their disciple Bali Mahārāja, engaged him in performing one hundred aśvamedha-yajñas.

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

eṣaḥthis (Bali Mahārāja)
vipra-bala-udarkaḥflourishing because of the brahminical power invested in him
sampratiat the present moment
ūrjita-vikramaḥextremely powerful
teṣāmof the same brāhmaṇas
evaindeed
apamānenaby insult
sa-anubandhaḥwith friends and assistants
vinaṅkṣyatiwill be vanquished

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

Ūti · The creative impetus
Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10
Sakhya · Sacred friendship
The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 8.15
In this verse: “friends”
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 8.15
In this verse: “devotional service”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I value pleasing the Lord through devotional service more than protecting my possessions?

Practice

Set aside one small personal convenience today to make time for devotional service.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Matters More Than PossessionsThis 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.

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