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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 18: Lord Vāmanadeva, the Dwarf Incarnation
8.18.118.18.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.18.12

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.18.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

यत् तद् वपुर्भाति विभूषणायुधै-

रव्यक्तचिद्वय‍क्तमधारयद्धरि: ।

बभूव तेनैव स वामनो वटु:

सम्पश्यतोर्दिव्यगतिर्यथा नट: ॥ १२ ॥

yat tad vapur bhāti vibhūṣaṇāyudhair

avyakta-cid-vyaktam adhārayad dhariḥ

babhūva tenaiva sa vāmano vaṭuḥ

sampaśyator divya-gatir yathā naṭaḥ

Translation

The Lord appeared in His original form, with ornaments and weapons in His hands. Although this ever-existing form is not visible in the material world, He nonetheless appeared in this form. Then, in the presence of His father and mother, He assumed the form of Vāmana, a brāhmaṇa-dwarf, a brahmacārī, just like a theatrical actor.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Many Forms, the Same Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    Like an actor who changes dress, the Lord assumes many forms while remaining the same person. His incarnations have the same potency, eternity and spiritual existence.

  2. 2

    Vāmanadeva appeared as four-handed Nārāyaṇa and then immediately became a brāhmaṇa-dwarf, a brahmacārī, before His parents.

  3. 3

    The Lord’s body is not material. We should learn to understand His appearance in His original transcendental body.

Key points from the purport
  • When Vāmanadeva appeared from the womb of His mother, He appeared in the form of Nārāyaṇa, with four hands equipped with the necessary symbolic weapons, and then immediately transformed Himself into a brahmacārī (vaṭu).
  • One who thinks that the Supreme Lord assumes a material body is not intelligent.
  • One has to understand the transcendental appearance of the Lord in His original transcendental body (sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha).

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 8.18.12 quotesBG 4.9

As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (4.9), janma karma ca me divyam evaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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 18: Lord Vāmanadeva, the Dwarf Incarnation

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

After His appearance, the Lord assumed the form of a dwarf (Vāmana). All the great sages expressed their jubilation, and with Kaśyapa Muni before them they performed the birthday ceremony of Lord Vāmana.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.18
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yatwhich
  2. tatthat
  3. vapuḥtranscendental body
  4. bhātimanifests
  5. vibhūṣaṇawith regular ornaments
  6. āyudhaiḥand with weapons
  7. avyaktaunmanifested
  8. cit-vyaktamspiritually manifested
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 8.18

    In this verse: “mother”, “father”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 8.18

    In this verse: “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 8.18

    In this verse: “understand”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the actor comparison help me understand the Lord’s different forms?

Practice

Reread the description of the Lord’s change of form, remembering that His body remains spiritual.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMany Forms, the Same Supreme LordThis 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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