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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
8.19.148.19.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.19.15

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Vāmanadevasince 8.19.10inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

भवानाचरितान्धर्मानास्थितो गृहमेधिभि: ।

ब्राह्मणै: पूर्वजै: शूरैरन्यैश्चोद्दामकीर्तिभि: ॥ १५ ॥

bhavān ācaritān dharmān

āsthito gṛhamedhibhiḥ

brāhmaṇaiḥ pūrvajaiḥ śūrair

anyaiś coddāma-kīrtibhiḥ

Translation

You also have observed the principles followed by great personalities who are householder brāhmaṇas, by your forefathers and by great heroes who are extremely famous for their exalted activities.

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.

Follow Principles Practiced by Great Personalities

  1. 1

    Bali Mahārāja is praised for observing principles followed by great personalities.

  2. 2

    These examples include householder brāhmaṇas and his own forefathers.

  3. 3

    He also followed the principles of great heroes famous for their exalted activities.

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:

When Bali Mahārāja, thinking Vāmanadeva to be the son of a brāhmaṇa, told Him to ask for anything He liked, Lord Vāmanadeva praised Hiraṇyakaśipu and Hiraṇyākṣa for their heroic activities, and after thus praising the family in which Bali Mahārāja had been born, He begged the King for three paces of land.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.19
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. bhavānyour good self
  2. ācaritānexecuted
  3. dharmānreligious principles
  4. āsthitaḥbeing situated
  5. gṛhamedhibhiḥby persons in household life
  6. brāhmaṇaiḥby the brāhmaṇas
  7. pūrva-jaiḥby your forefathers
  8. śūraiḥby great heroes
  9. anyaiḥ caand others also
  10. uddāma-kīrtibhiḥvery highly elevated and famous
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 8.19

    In this verse: “householder”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 8.19

    In this verse: “principles”

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

Which good principle do you admire in others but need to practice more consistently?

Practice

Choose one good principle you already recognize and deliberately put it into action today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFollow Principles Practiced by Great PersonalitiesThis 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 8.19.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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