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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
8.20.238.20.25-29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.20.24

Sthāna· The universe in order
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.20.16inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

सन्ध्यां विभोर्वाससि गुह्य ऐक्षत्

प्रजापतीञ्जघने आत्ममुख्यान् ।

नाभ्यां नभ: कुक्षिषु सप्तसिन्धू-

नुरुक्रमस्योरसि चर्क्षमालाम् ॥ २४ ॥

sandhyāṁ vibhor vāsasi guhya aikṣat

prajāpatīñ jaghane ātma-mukhyān

nābhyāṁ nabhaḥ kukṣiṣu sapta-sindhūn

urukramasyorasi carkṣa-mālām

Translation

Bali Mahārāja saw beneath the garments of the Lord, who acts wonderfully, the evening twilight. In the Lord’s private parts he saw the Prajāpatis, and in the round portion of the waist he saw himself with his confidential associates. In the Lord’s navel he saw the sky, on the Lord’s waist he saw the seven oceans, and on the Lord’s bosom he saw all the clusters of stars.

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.

Bali Sees Himself Within the Lord

  1. 1

    Bali Mahārāja saw evening twilight beneath the Lord’s garments and the Prajāpatis in His private parts.

  2. 2

    In the round portion of the Lord’s waist, Bali saw himself with his confidential associates. He too was included in this wonderful vision.

  3. 3

    Bali saw the sky in the Lord’s navel, the seven oceans on His waist, and the clusters of stars on His bosom.

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 could see Lord Vāmanadeva as the Supreme Viṣṇu, wearing a helmet, yellow garments, the mark of Śrīvatsa, the Kaustubha jewel, a flower garland, and ornaments decorating His entire body. The Lord gradually covered the entire surface of the world, and by extending His body He covered the entire sky.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.20
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sandhyāmthe evening twilight
  2. vibhoḥof the Supreme
  3. vāsasiin the garment
  4. guhyeon the private parts
  5. aikṣathe saw
  6. prajāpatīnthe various Prajāpatis, who had given birth to all living entities
  7. jaghaneon the hips
  8. ātma-mukhyānthe confidential ministers of Bali Mahārāja
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Sthāna · Planetary systems

    How is the universe arranged, and what is our right place in it? · Subject 3 of 10

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What stands out to you about Bali seeing himself among everything within the Lord?

Practice

Spend a minute recalling the sky, oceans, and stars as Bali saw them within the Lord’s form.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBali Sees Himself Within the LordThis 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.

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