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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
8.18.318.19.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.18.32

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Bali Mahārājasince 8.18.29inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

यद् वटो वाञ्छसि तत्प्रतीच्छ मे

त्वामर्थिनं विप्रसुतानुतर्कये ।

गां काञ्चनं गुणवद् धाम मृष्टं

तथान्नपेयमुत वा विप्रकन्याम् ।

ग्रामान् समृद्धांस्तुरगान् गजान् वा

रथांस्तथार्हत्तम सम्प्रतीच्छ ॥ ३२ ॥

yad yad vaṭo vāñchasi tat pratīccha me

tvām arthinaṁ vipra-sutānutarkaye

gāṁ kāñcanaṁ guṇavad dhāma mṛṣṭaṁ

tathānna-peyam uta vā vipra-kanyām

grāmān samṛddhāṁs turagān gajān vā

rathāṁs tathārhattama sampratīccha

Translation

O son of a brāhmaṇa, it appears that You have come here to ask me for something. Therefore, whatever You want You may take from me. O best of those who are worshipable. You may take from me a cow, gold, a furnished house, palatable food and drink, the daughter of a brāhmaṇa for Your wife, prosperous villages, horses, elephants, chariots or whatever You desire.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Offer Whatever the Lord Desires

  1. 1

    Bali Mahārāja thought that the Lord had come to ask him for something. He invited Him to take whatever He wanted.

  2. 2

    Addressing the Lord as the best of those who are worshipable, Bali Mahārāja offered gifts such as a cow, gold, a furnished house, and food and drink.

  3. 3

    His offer extended to prosperous villages, horses, elephants and chariots, or whatever the Lord desired. His words expressed a broad willingness to give.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Eighteenth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Lord Vāmanadeva, the Dwarf Incarnation.”

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:

Therefore, after washing the Lord’s feet, Bali Mahārāja immediately accepted the water from the Lord’s feet on his head and felt that he and his predecessors had certainly been glorified. Then Bali Mahārāja inquired of Lord Vāmanadeva’s welfare and requested the Lord to ask him for money, jewels or anything He might desire.
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. yat yatwhatever
  2. vaṭoO brahmacārī
  3. vāñchasiYou desire
  4. tatthat
  5. pratīcchaYou may take
  6. mefrom me
  7. tvāmYou
  8. arthinamdesiring something
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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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 8.18

    In this verse: “worshipable”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What could you willingly offer in service to the Lord today?

Practice

Choose one thing you can offer today, such as food or drink, and offer it respectfully to the Lord.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayOffer Whatever the Lord DesiresThis 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 8.18.32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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