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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 · Texts 8.15.8-9

Who is speaking and story frame

अथारुह्य रथं दिव्यं भृगुदत्तं महारथ: ।

सुस्रग्धरोऽथ सन्नह्य धन्वी खड्‌गी धृतेषुधि: ॥ ८ ॥

हेमाङ्गदलसब्दाहु: स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डल: ।

रराज रथमारूढो धिष्ण्यस्थ इव हव्यवाट् ॥ ९ ॥

athāruhya rathaṁ divyaṁ

bhṛgu-dattaṁ mahārathaḥ

susrag-dharo ’tha sannahya

dhanvī khaḍgī dhṛteṣudhiḥ

hemāṅgada-lasad-bāhuḥ

sphuran-makara-kuṇḍalaḥ

rarāja ratham ārūḍho

dhiṣṇya-stha iva havyavāṭ

Translation

Then, after getting on the chariot given by Śukrācārya, Bali Mahārāja, decorated with a nice garland, put protective armor on his body, equipped himself with a bow, and took up a sword and a quiver of arrows. When he sat down on the seat of the chariot, his arms decorated with golden bangles and his ears with sapphire earrings, he shone like a worshipable fire.

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 Appears Brilliant and Fully Equipped

  1. 1

    Bali Mahārāja mounted the chariot given by Śukrācārya, wearing a beautiful garland.

  2. 2

    He put on protective armor and equipped himself with a bow, sword, and quiver of arrows.

  3. 3

    Seated on the chariot, with golden bangles and sapphire earrings, he shone like a worshipable fire.

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:

When this yajña was performed, from the fire of yajña came a chariot, horses, a flag, a bow, armor and two quivers of arrows. Mahārāja Prahlāda, Bali Mahārāja’s grandfather, gave Bali an eternal garland of flowers, and Śukrācārya gave him a conchshell.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. athathereupon
  2. āruhyagetting on
  3. rathamthe chariot
  4. divyamcelestial
  5. bhṛgu-dattamgiven by Śukrācārya
  6. mahā-rathaḥBali Mahārāja, the great charioteer
  7. su-srak-dharaḥdecorated with a nice garland
  8. athathus
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 8.15

    In this verse: “worshipable”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 8.15

    In this verse: “protective”

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 does the comparison to a worshipable fire help you picture Bali Mahārāja?

Practice

Read the description slowly and recall one detail of Bali Mahārāja’s equipment and one detail of his appearance.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBali Appears Brilliant and Fully EquippedThis 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 8.15.8-9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.