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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
8.19.288.19.30

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.19.29

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.19.28inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

विष्णवे क्ष्मां प्रदास्यन्तमुशना असुरेश्वरम् ।

जानंश्चिकीर्षितं विष्णो: शिष्यं प्राह विदां वर: ॥ २९ ॥

viṣṇave kṣmāṁ pradāsyantam

uśanā asureśvaram

jānaṁś cikīrṣitaṁ viṣṇoḥ

śiṣyaṁ prāha vidāṁ varaḥ

Translation

Understanding Lord Viṣṇu’s purpose, Śukrācārya, the best of the learned, immediately spoke as follows to his disciple, who was about to offer everything to Lord Vāmanadeva.

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.

Śukrācārya Understands the Lord's Purpose

  1. 1

    Śukrācārya understood Lord Viṣṇu's purpose.

  2. 2

    His disciple was about to offer everything to Lord Vāmanadeva.

  3. 3

    Śukrācārya, described as the best of the learned, immediately began speaking to his disciple.

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. viṣṇaveunto Lord Viṣṇu (Vāmanadeva)
  2. kṣmāmthe land
  3. pradāsyantamwho was ready to deliver
  4. uśanāḥŚukrācārya
  5. asura-īśvaramunto the King of the demons (Bali Mahārāja)
  6. jānanknowing well
  7. cikīrṣitamwhat was the plan
  8. viṣṇoḥof Lord Viṣṇu
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 8.19

    In this verse: “understanding”

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

What does the readiness to offer everything to the Lord invite you to consider about your own willingness to give?

Practice

Reflect for one minute on what you are willing to offer in service to the Lord today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayŚukrācārya Understands the Lord's PurposeThis 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 8.19.29? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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