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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
8.15.38.15.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.15.4

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.15.3inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तं ब्राह्मणा भृगव: प्रीयमाणा

अयाजयन्विश्वजिता त्रिणाकम् ।

जिगीषमाणं विधिनाभिषिच्य

महाभिषेकेण महानुभावा: ॥ ४ ॥

taṁ brāhmaṇā bhṛgavaḥ prīyamāṇā

ayājayan viśvajitā tri-ṇākam

jigīṣamāṇaṁ vidhinābhiṣicya

mahābhiṣekeṇa mahānubhāvāḥ

Translation

The brāhmaṇa descendants of Bhṛgu Muni were very pleased with Bali Mahārāja, who desired to conquer the kingdom of Indra. Therefore, after purifying him and properly bathing him according to regulative principles, they engaged him in performing the yajña known as Viśvajit.

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.

Preparation Before the Sacrifice

  1. 1

    The brāhmaṇa descendants of Bhṛgu Muni were very pleased with Bali Mahārāja.

  2. 2

    Bali Mahārāja desired to conquer the kingdom of Indra.

  3. 3

    The brāhmaṇas purified and properly bathed him according to regulative principles. Then they engaged him in the sacrifice known as Viśvajit.

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 descendants of Bhṛgu, being pleased with him, engaged him in the Viśvajit-yajña. When this yajña was performed, from the fire of yajña came a chariot, horses, a flag, a bow, armor and two quivers of arrows.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamupon him (Bali Mahārāja)
  2. brāhmaṇāḥall the brāhmaṇas
  3. bhṛgavaḥthe descendants of Bhṛgu Muni
  4. prīyamāṇāḥbeing very pleased
  5. ayājayanengaged him in performing a sacrifice
  6. viśvajitāknown as Viśvajit
  7. tri-nākamthe heavenly planets
  8. jigīṣamāṇamdesiring to conquer
3

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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 8.15

    In this verse: “purifying”, “purified”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 8.15

    In this verse: “principles”

  • 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 do you notice about the care taken before Bali Mahārāja performed the sacrifice?

Practice

Reread the verse and note the steps of preparation that came before the sacrifice.

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 todayPreparation Before the SacrificeThis 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 8.15.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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