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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.
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Canto 8 · Chapter 15: Bali Mahārāja Conquers the Heavenly Planets
8.15.328.15.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.15.33

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.15.32inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

देवेष्वथ निलीनेषु बलिर्वैरोचन: पुरीम् ।

देवधानीमधिष्ठाय वशं निन्ये जगत्‍त्रयम् ॥ ३३ ॥

deveṣv atha nilīneṣu

balir vairocanaḥ purīm

deva-dhānīm adhiṣṭhāya

vaśaṁ ninye jagat-trayam

Translation

When the demigods had disappeared, Bali Mahārāja, the son of Virocana, entered the heavenly kingdom, and from there he brought the three worlds under his control.

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 Gains Control of Three Worlds

  1. 1

    The demigods had disappeared before Bali Mahārāja entered the heavenly kingdom.

  2. 2

    Bali Mahārāja, the son of Virocana, took possession of that kingdom.

  3. 3

    From the heavenly kingdom, he brought the three worlds under his control.

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:

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 summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. deveṣuall the demigods
  2. athain this way
  3. nilīneṣuwhen they disappeared
  4. baliḥBali Mahārāja
  5. vairocanaḥthe son of Virocana
  6. purīmthe heavenly kingdom
  7. deva-dhānīmthe residence of the demigods
  8. adhiṣṭhāyataking possession of
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 8.15

    In this verse: “kingdom”

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

What does the sequence of events show me about how Bali Mahārāja gained control?

Practice

Summarize the verse in one sentence, keeping the order of events clear.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBali Gains Control of Three WorldsThis 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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