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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
8.18.198.18.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.18.20

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.18.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रुत्वाश्वमेधैर्यजमानमूर्जितं

बलिं भृगूणामुपकल्पितैस्तत: ।

जगाम तत्राखिलसारसम्भृतो

भारेण गां सन्नमयन्पदे पदे ॥ २० ॥

śrutvāśvamedhair yajamānam ūrjitaṁ

baliṁ bhṛgūṇām upakalpitais tataḥ

jagāma tatrākhila-sāra-sambhṛto

bhāreṇa gāṁ sannamayan pade pade

Translation

When the Lord heard that Bali Mahārāja was performing aśvamedha sacrifices under the patronage of brāhmaṇas belonging to the Bhṛgu dynasty, the Supreme Lord, who is full in every respect, proceeded there to show His mercy to Bali Mahārāja. By His weight, He pushed down the earth with every step.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Complete Lord Comes to Show Mercy

  1. 1

    The Lord heard that Bali Mahārāja was performing aśvamedha sacrifices under brāhmaṇas of the Bhṛgu dynasty. He went there to show Bali Mahārāja His mercy.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead possesses everything essential in this material world. Although He went to beg, He is always complete and needs nothing from anyone.

  3. 3

    The Lord is so powerful that, in His full opulence, He pressed down the earth with every step.

Key points from the purport
  • In other words, He is the proprietor of everything essential in this material world.
  • Thus although the Lord was going to Bali Mahārāja to beg something, He is always complete and has nothing to beg from anyone.
  • Indeed, He is so powerful that in His full opulence He pressed down the surface of the earth at every step.

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:

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrutvāafter hearing
  2. aśvamedhaiḥby aśvamedha sacrifices
  3. yajamānamthe performer
  4. ūrjitamvery glorious
  5. balimBali Mahārāja
  6. bhṛgūṇāmunder the guidance of the brāhmaṇas born in the Bhṛgu dynasty
  7. upakalpitaiḥperformed
  8. tataḥfrom that place
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 8.18

    In this verse: “heard”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 8.18

    In this verse: “mercy”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does knowing that the Lord needs nothing change my understanding of offering Him service?

Practice

Before one act of devotional service today, pause to remember that the Lord is complete and does not depend on your offering.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 8.18's connections

Live this todayThe Complete Lord Comes to Show MercyThis 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 8.18.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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