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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.
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Canto 8 · Chapter 20: Bali Mahārāja Surrenders the Universe
8.20.178.20.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.20.18

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.20.16inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

यजमान: स्वयं तस्य श्रीमत् पादयुगं मुदा ।

अवनिज्यावहन्मूर्ध्नि तदपो विश्वपावनी: ॥ १८ ॥

yajamānaḥ svayaṁ tasya

śrīmat pāda-yugaṁ mudā

avanijyāvahan mūrdhni

tad apo viśva-pāvanīḥ

Translation

Bali Mahārāja, the worshiper of Lord Vāmanadeva, jubilantly washed the Lord’s lotus feet and then took the water on his head, for that water delivers the entire universe.

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.

Joyfully Honor the Lord’s Lotus Feet

  1. 1

    Bali Mahārāja worshiped Lord Vāmanadeva by washing His lotus feet.

  2. 2

    He performed this service jubilantly, showing joy in worshiping the Lord.

  3. 3

    He then took the water on his head. The translation describes this water as delivering the entire universe.

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:

Bali Mahārāja thought that even if this brahmacārī, Vāmanadeva, were Lord Viṣṇu, if the Lord accepted his charity and then again arrested him, Bali Mahārāja would not envy Him. Considering all these points, Bali Mahārāja finally gave in charity everything he possessed.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.20
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yajamānaḥthe worshiper (Bali Mahārāja)
  2. svayampersonally
  3. tasyaof Lord Vāmanadeva
  4. śrīmat pāda-yugamthe most auspicious and beautiful pair of lotus feet
  5. mudāwith great jubilation
  6. avanijyaproperly washing
  7. avahattook
  8. mūrdhnion his head
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: “worshiper”, “worshiped”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I bring more joy and reverence to my worship?

Practice

Spend one quiet minute remembering Bali Mahārāja’s joyful worship of Lord Vāmanadeva’s lotus feet.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayJoyfully Honor the Lord’s Lotus FeetThis 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 8.20.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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