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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
8.18.188.18.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.18.19

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

समिद्धमाहितं वह्निं कृत्वा परिसमूहनम् ।

परिस्तीर्य समभ्यर्च्य समिद्भ‍िरजुहोद् द्विज: ॥ १९ ॥

samiddham āhitaṁ vahniṁ

kṛtvā parisamūhanam

paristīrya samabhyarcya

samidbhir ajuhod dvijaḥ

Translation

After Lord Śrī Vāmanadeva set a sacrificial fire, He offered worship and performed a fire sacrifice on the sacrificial field.

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.

The Lord Personally Performs Worship

  1. 1

    Lord Śrī Vāmanadeva set a sacrificial fire.

  2. 2

    After setting the fire, He offered worship.

  3. 3

    He performed a fire sacrifice on the sacrificial field.

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:

Lord Vāmanadeva then visited the sacrificial arena on the northern side of the Narmadā River, at the field known as Bhṛgukaccha, where brāhmaṇas of the Bhṛgu dynasty were performing yajñas. Wearing a belt made of muñja straw, an upper garment of deerskin and a sacred thread and carrying in His hands a daṇḍa, an umbrella and a waterpot ( kamaṇḍalu), Lord Vāmanadeva appeared in the sacrificial arena of Mahārāja Bali.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.18
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. samiddhamblazing
  2. āhitambeing situated
  3. vahnimthe fire
  4. kṛtvāafter making
  5. parisamūhanamproperly
  6. paristīryasurpassing
  7. samabhyarcyaafter offering worship
  8. samidbhiḥwith sacrificial offerings
  9. ajuhotcompleted the fire sacrifice
  10. dvijaḥthe best of the brāhmaṇas.
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 8.18

    In this verse: “worship”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can this account encourage me to give attentive time to worship?

Practice

Set aside a brief, undistracted time for your worship today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Personally Performs WorshipThis 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 8.18.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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