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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
8.18.128.18.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.18.13

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

तं वटुं वामनं द‍ृष्ट्वा मोदमाना महर्षय: ।

कर्माणि कारयामासु: पुरस्कृत्य प्रजापतिम् ॥ १३ ॥

taṁ vaṭuṁ vāmanaṁ dṛṣṭvā

modamānā maharṣayaḥ

karmāṇi kārayām āsuḥ

puraskṛtya prajāpatim

Translation

When the great sages saw the Lord as the brahmacārī-dwarf Vāmana, they were certainly very pleased. Thus they placed before them Kaśyapa Muni, the Prajāpati, and performed all the ritualistic ceremonies, such as the birthday ceremony.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Joyfully Honoring the Lord’s Appearance

  1. 1

    The great sages were very pleased to see the Lord as the brahmacārī-dwarf Vāmana. With Kaśyapa Muni before them, they performed the ceremonies.

  2. 2

    In Vedic civilization, the birth ceremony called jāta-karma is performed first for a child born in a brāhmaṇa family. Other ceremonies follow gradually.

  3. 3

    Because the Lord appeared as a brahmacārī, His sacred thread ceremony was performed immediately.

Key points from the purport
  • According to Vedic civilization, when a child is born in the family of a brāhmaṇa, the birthday ceremony, known as jāta-karma, is first performed, and then other ceremonies are also gradually performed.
  • But when this vāmana-rūpa appeared in the form of a vaṭu, or brahmacārī, His sacred thread ceremony was also performed immediately.

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

Further reading

Chapter 18: Lord Vāmanadeva, the Dwarf Incarnation

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

All the great sages expressed their jubilation, and with Kaśyapa Muni before them they performed the birthday ceremony of Lord Vāmana. At the time of Lord Vāmanadeva’s sacred thread ceremony, He was honored by the sun-god, Bṛhaspati, the goddess presiding over the planet earth, the deity of the heavenly planets, His mother, Lord Brahmā, Kuvera, the seven ṛṣis and others.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.18
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamHim
  2. vaṭumthe brahmacārī
  3. vāmanamdwarf
  4. dṛṣṭvāseeing
  5. modamānāḥin a happy mood
  6. mahā-ṛṣayaḥthe great saintly persons
  7. karmāṇiritualistic ceremonies
  8. kārayām āsuḥperformed
  9. puraskṛtyakeeping in front
  10. prajāpatimKaśyapa Muni, the Prajāpati
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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: “child”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What can I learn from the sages’ joy in welcoming the Lord?

Practice

Take a quiet moment today to read this account as a joyful welcome to the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayJoyfully Honoring the Lord’s AppearanceThis 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 8.18.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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