1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 8 · Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations · 24 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
8.19.378.19.39

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.19.38

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukrācāryasince 8.19.30inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अत्रापि बह्वृचैर्गीतं श‍ृणु मेऽसुरसत्तम ।

सत्यमोमिति यत् प्रोक्तं यन्नेत्याहानृतं हि तत् ॥ ३८ ॥

atrāpi bahvṛcair gītaṁ

śṛṇu me ’sura-sattama

satyam om iti yat proktaṁ

yan nety āhānṛtaṁ hi tat

Translation

One might argue that since you have already promised, how can you refuse? O best of the demons, just take from me the evidence of the Bahvṛca-śruti, which says that a promise is truthful preceded by the word om and untruthful if not.

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.

Scriptural Evidence Invoked About a Promise

  1. 1

    The verse raises an objection: after making a promise, how can one refuse to fulfill it?

  2. 2

    The speaker answers by asking the hearer to accept evidence from the Bahvṛca-śruti.

  3. 3

    The cited statement calls a promise truthful when preceded by om and untruthful when it is not. This distinction is offered in response to the objection.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. atra apiin this regard also (in deciding what is truth and what is not truth)
  2. bahu-ṛcaiḥby the śruti-mantras known as Bahvṛca-śruti, which are evidence from the Vedas
  3. gītamwhat has been spoken
  4. śṛṇujust hear
  5. mefrom me
  6. asura-sattamaO best of the asuras
  7. satyamthe truth is
  8. om itipreceded by the word om
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

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

When I want to withdraw a promise, how carefully do I examine the reason I give?

Practice

Before making a commitment today, state clearly what you intend to do.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayScriptural Evidence Invoked About a PromiseThis 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 8.19.38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories