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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
8.19.298.19.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.19.30

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukrācāryasince 8.19.30inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक्र उवाच

एष वैरोचने साक्षाद् भगवान्विष्णुरव्यय: ।

कश्यपाददितेर्जातो देवानां कार्यसाधक: ॥ ३० ॥

śrī-śukra uvāca

eṣa vairocane sākṣād

bhagavān viṣṇur avyayaḥ

kaśyapād aditer jāto

devānāṁ kārya-sādhakaḥ

Translation

Śukrācārya said: O son of Virocana, this brahmacārī in the form of a dwarf is directly the imperishable Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu. Accepting Kaśyapa Muni as His father and Aditi as His mother, He has now appeared in order to fulfill the interests of the demigods.

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.

Vāmanadeva Is the Imperishable Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    Śukrācārya identifies the dwarf brahmacārī as directly Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    The Lord is imperishable, even though He has appeared in this form.

  3. 3

    He accepted Kaśyapa Muni as His father and Aditi as His mother. He appeared to fulfill the interests of the demigods.

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. śrī-śukraḥ uvācaŚukrācārya said
  2. eṣaḥthis (boy in the form of a dwarf)
  3. vairocaneO son of Virocana
  4. sākṣātdirectly
  5. bhagavānthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  6. viṣṇuḥLord Viṣṇu
  7. avyayaḥwithout deterioration
  8. kaśyapātfrom His father, Kaśyapa
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “mother”, “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 knowing His divine identity change the way you understand the dwarf brahmacārī?

Practice

Read the translation once more, pausing to remember that this brahmacārī is the imperishable Supreme Personality of Godhead.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayVāmanadeva Is the Imperishable Supreme LordThis 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 8.19.30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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