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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 16: Executing the Payo-vrata Process of Worship

8.16.54 8.16.56

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.16.55

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Kaśyapa Munisince 8.16.38inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

दक्षिणां गुरवे दद्याद‍ृत्विग्भ्यश्च यथार्हत: ।

अन्नाद्येनाश्वपाकांश्च प्रीणयेत्समुपागतान् ॥ ५५ ॥

dakṣiṇāṁ gurave dadyād

ṛtvigbhyaś ca yathārhataḥ

annādyenāśva-pākāṁś ca

prīṇayet samupāgatān

Translation

One should satisfy the spiritual master and assistant priests by giving them cloth, ornaments, cows and also some monetary contribution. And by distributing prasāda one should satisfy everyone assembled, including even the lowest of men, the caṇḍālas [eaters of dog flesh].

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Welcome Everyone to Receive Prasāda

1
The spiritual master and assistant priests should be satisfied with gifts and a monetary contribution.
2
Prasāda should be distributed without discrimination. Everyone, including a caṇḍāla, should be welcome to accept it.
3
Nārāyaṇa is situated in everyone's heart, but this does not make anyone Nārāyaṇa. Giving everyone prasāda does not erase the distinction between the Lord and its recipients.

Key points from the purport

Regardless of whether one be a brāhmaṇa, śūdra, vaiśya, kṣatriya, or even the lowest of men, a caṇḍāla, he should be welcome to accept prasāda.
However, when the caṇḍālas, the lower class or poorer class, are taking prasāda, this does not mean that they have become Nārāyaṇa or Viṣṇu.
Everyone should be given the opportunity to take prasāda, but this does not mean that everyone has the right to become Nārāyaṇa.

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 16: Executing the Payo-vrata Process of Worship

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

He assured her that only Lord Vāsudeva could satisfy her and fulfill all her desires. When Aditi then expressed her desire to worship Lord Vāsudeva, Prajāpati Kaśyapa told her about a process of worship known as payo-vrata, which is executed in twelve days.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 8.16