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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
8.19.338.19.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.19.34

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukrācāryasince 8.19.30inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

क्रमतो गां पदैकेन द्वितीयेन दिवं विभो: ।

खं च कायेन महता तार्तीयस्य कुतो गति: ॥ ३४ ॥

kramato gāṁ padaikena

dvitīyena divaṁ vibhoḥ

khaṁ ca kāyena mahatā

tārtīyasya kuto gatiḥ

Translation

Vāmanadeva will first occupy the three worlds with one step, then He will take His second step and occupy everything in outer space, and then He will expand His universal body to occupy everything. Where will you offer Him the third step?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Protects His Devotee

  1. 1

    Śukrācārya calculated that Lord Vāmanadeva would occupy everything with two steps, leaving no place for the third.

  2. 2

    He did not understand how the Lord protects His devotee. His judgment rested on materialistic calculations.

  3. 3

    The devotee must be ready to risk everything in the Lord's service, yet is always protected and never defeated.

Key points from the purport
  • Śukrācārya wanted to tell Bali Mahārāja how he would be cheated by Lord Vāmana.
  • Śukrācārya did not know how the Lord protects His devotee.
  • By materialistic calculations, Śukrācārya thought that Bali Mahārāja would under no circumstances be able to keep his promise to the brahmacārī, Lord Vāmanadeva.

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:

He explained that in subduing others, in joking, in responding to danger, in acting for the welfare of others, and so on, one could refuse to fulfill one’s promise, and there would be no fault. By this philosophy, Śukrācārya tried to dissuade Bali Mahārāja from giving land to Lord Vāmanadeva.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.19
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kramataḥgradually
  2. gāmthe surface of the land
  3. padā ekenaby one step
  4. dvitīyenaby the second step
  5. divamthe whole of outer space
  6. vibhoḥof the universal form
  7. kham cathe sky also
  8. kāyenaby the expansion of His transcendental body
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 8.19

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “materialistic”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 8.19

    In this verse: “protects”

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 trust in the Lord's protection affect my willingness to serve Him?

Practice

Offer a little of your time to the Lord's service today, even if it means setting aside a personal convenience.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Protects His DevoteeThis 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 8.19.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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