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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 19: Lord Vāmanadeva Begs Charity from Bali Mahārāja
8.19.138.19.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.19.14

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Vāmanadevasince 8.19.10inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

पिता प्रह्लादपुत्रस्ते तद्विद्वान्द्विजवत्सल: ।

स्वमायुर्द्विजलिङ्गेभ्यो देवेभ्योऽदात् स याचित: ॥ १४ ॥

pitā prahrāda-putras te

tad-vidvān dvija-vatsalaḥ

svam āyur dvija-liṅgebhyo

devebhyo ’dāt sa yācitaḥ

Translation

Your father, Virocana, the son of Mahārāja Prahlāda, was very affectionate toward brāhmaṇas. Although he knew very well that it was the demigods who had come to him in the dress of brāhmaṇas, at their request he delivered to them the duration of his life.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Virocana’s Deep Affection for Brāhmaṇas

  1. 1

    Virocana, the son of Mahārāja Prahlāda, was very affectionate toward brāhmaṇas.

  2. 2

    He knew that the people approaching him were demigods dressed as brāhmaṇas.

  3. 3

    Nevertheless, his affection for the brāhmaṇa community was so strong that he granted their request and gave them the duration of his life.

Key points from the purport
  • Mahārāja Virocana, Bali’s father, was so pleased with the brāhmaṇa community that even though he knew that those approaching him for charity were the demigods in the dress of brāhmaṇas, he nonetheless agreed to give it.

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

Public loss and humiliation → Total surrender. An apparent external defeat conceals a devotional triumph.

Chapters 19–23 of Canto 8: Vāmana tests Bali; Bali offers everything. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 19: Lord Vāmanadeva Begs Charity from Bali Mahārāja

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Bali Mahārāja agreed to give this land in charity, since this was very insignificant, but Śukrācārya, who could understand that Vāmanadeva was Viṣṇu, the friend of the demigods, forbade Bali Mahārāja to give this land. Śukrācārya advised Bali Mahārāja to withdraw his promise.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.19
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pitāfather
  2. prahrāda-putraḥthe son of Mahārāja Prahlāda
  3. teyour
  4. tat-vidvānalthough it was known to him
  5. dvija-vatsalaḥstill, because of his affinity for brāhmaṇas
  6. svamhis own
  7. āyuḥduration of life
  8. dvija-liṅgebhyaḥwho were dressed like 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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 8.19

    In this verse: “father”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does Virocana’s willingness to give help you examine the depth of your own generosity?

Practice

Offer one small, safe act of generosity today with genuine respect for the recipient.

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 8.19's connections

Live this todayVirocana’s Deep Affection for BrāhmaṇasThis 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 8.19.14? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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