1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter

Canto

Canto 8 · Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations · 24 chapters

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 18: Lord Vāmanadeva, the Dwarf Incarnation

8.18.24-25 8.18.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.18.26

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

यजमान: प्रमुदितो दर्शनीयं मनोरमम् ।

रूपानुरूपावयवं तस्मा आसनमाहरत् ॥ २६ ॥

yajamānaḥ pramudito

darśanīyaṁ manoramam

rūpānurūpāvayavaṁ

tasmā āsanam āharat

Translation

Bali Mahārāja, jubilant at seeing Lord Vāmanadeva, whose beautiful limbs contributed equally to the beauty of His entire body, offered Him a seat with great satisfaction.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Serve the Lord with Joy

1
Bali Mahārāja was jubilant at seeing Lord Vāmanadeva.
2
Each of the Lord’s beautiful limbs contributed equally to the beauty of His whole body.
3
With great satisfaction, Bali Mahārāja offered the Lord a seat. His joy found expression in a simple act of service.

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 18: Lord Vāmanadeva, the Dwarf Incarnation

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Because of His transcendentally effulgent presence, all the priests were diminished in their prowess, and thus they all stood from their seats and offered prayers to Lord Vāmanadeva. Even Lord Śiva accepts on his head the Ganges water generated from the toe of Lord Vāmanadeva.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 8.18

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

yajamānaḥBali Mahārāja, who had engaged all the priests in performing the sacrifice
pramuditaḥbeing very jubilant
darśanīyampleasing to see
manoramamso beautiful
rūpawith beauty
anurūpaequal to His bodily beauty
avayavamall the different parts of the body
tasmaiunto Him
āsanama sitting place
āharatoffered

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What can Bali Mahārāja’s joyful offering teach you about the mood of service?

Practice

Take a moment today to remember Bali Mahārāja’s happiness as he offered the Lord a seat.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayServe the Lord with JoyThis 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 8.18.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories