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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 20: Bali Mahārāja Surrenders the Universe
8.19.438.20.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.20.1

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.20.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

बलिरेवं गृहपति: कुलाचार्येण भाषित: ।

तूष्णीं भूत्वा क्षणं राजन्नुवाचावहितो गुरुम् ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

balir evaṁ gṛha-patiḥ

kulācāryeṇa bhāṣitaḥ

tūṣṇīṁ bhūtvā kṣaṇaṁ rājann

uvācāvahito gurum

Translation

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King Parīkṣit, when Bali Mahārāja was thus advised by his spiritual master, Śukrācārya, his family priest, he remained silent for some time, and then, after full deliberation, he replied to his spiritual master as follows.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

True Guidance Leads to Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Bali Mahārāja remained silent and carefully considered his spiritual master's advice before replying.

  2. 2

    A spiritual master's duty is to help the disciple advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and return to Godhead. One who opposes devotion to Lord Viṣṇu should not be accepted as a guru.

  3. 3

    The goal of life is to become a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Bali Mahārāja decided that the Lord should be pleased even when his guru advised otherwise.

Key points from the purport
  • It is the duty of such a sober personality as Bali Mahārāja to abide by the orders of his spiritual master immediately, as his spiritual master had advised.
  • But Bali Mahārāja also considered that Śukrācārya was no longer to be accepted as a spiritual master, for he had deviated from the duty of a spiritual master.
  • Under the circumstances, therefore, Bali Mahārāja thought that there would be no fault if he disobeyed the order of his spiritual master.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 8.20.1 quotesSB 5.5.18

Gurur na sa syāt. One should not become a guru if he cannot enable his disciple to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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 20: Bali Mahārāja Surrenders the Universe

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The summary of this Twentieth Chapter is as follows. Despite his knowledge that Lord Vāmanadeva was cheating him, Bali Mahārāja gave everything to the Lord in charity, and thus the Lord extended His body and assumed a gigantic form as Lord Viṣṇu.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.20
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. baliḥBali Mahārāja
  3. evamthus
  4. gṛha-patiḥthe master of the household affairs, although guided by the priests
  5. kula-ācāryeṇaby the family ācārya or guide
  6. bhāṣitaḥbeing thus addressed
  7. tūṣṇīmsilent
  8. bhūtvābecoming
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 8.20

    In this verse: “devotion”, “devotee”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 8.20

    In this verse: “king”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 8.20

    In this verse: “duty”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Does the guidance I follow help me develop devotion to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Pause before one important decision today and consider whether it supports your devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 5.5.18

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 8.20's connections

Live this todayTrue Guidance Leads to KṛṣṇaThis 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 8.20.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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