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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
8.19.428.20.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.19.43

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

स्त्रीषु नर्मविवाहे च वृत्त्यर्थे प्राणसङ्कटे ।

गोब्राह्मणार्थे हिंसायां नानृतं स्याज्जुगुप्सितम् ॥ ४३ ॥

strīṣu narma-vivāhe ca

vṛtty-arthe prāṇa-saṅkaṭe

go-brāhmaṇārthe hiṁsāyāṁ

nānṛtaṁ syāj jugupsitam

Translation

In flattering a woman to bring her under control, in joking, in a marriage ceremony, in earning one’s livelihood, when one’s life is in danger, in protecting cows and brahminical culture, or in protecting a person from an enemy’s hand, falsity is never condemned.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Falsity Is Not Condemned in Certain Circumstances

  1. 1

    The translation lists particular circumstances in which falsity is not condemned. These include flattering a woman to bring her under control, joking, and a marriage ceremony.

  2. 2

    Earning one’s livelihood and facing danger to one’s life are also included. The teaching names specific circumstances rather than giving an unrestricted approval of falsity.

  3. 3

    Protecting cows and brahminical culture, or protecting someone from an enemy’s hand, are further circumstances listed. These examples concern protection from harm.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Nineteenth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Lord Vāmanadeva Begs Charity from Bali Mahārāja.”

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. strīṣuto encourage a woman and bring her under control
  2. narma-vivāhein joking or in a marriage ceremony
  3. caalso
  4. vṛtti-arthefor earning one’s livelihood, as in business
  5. prāṇa-saṅkaṭeor in time of danger
  6. go-brāhmaṇa-arthefor the sake of cow protection and brahminical culture
  7. hiṁsāyāmfor any person who is going to be killed because of enmity
  8. nanot
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 8.19

    In this verse: “danger”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

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

    In this verse: “protecting”

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 the inclusion of protecting someone from harm affect my understanding of this teaching?

Practice

Write down the protective circumstances named in the translation, keeping them distinct from a general permission to speak falsely.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFalsity Is Not Condemned in Certain CircumstancesThis 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 8.19.43? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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