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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.
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Canto 8 · Chapter 20: Bali Mahārāja Surrenders the Universe
8.20.308.20.32-33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.20.31

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

पर्जन्यघोषो जलज: पाञ्चजन्य:

कौमोदकी विष्णुगदा तरस्विनी ।

विद्याधरोऽसि: शतचन्द्रयुक्त-

स्तूणोत्तमावक्षयसायकौ च ॥ ३१ ॥

parjanya-ghoṣo jalajaḥ pāñcajanyaḥ

kaumodakī viṣṇu-gadā tarasvinī

vidyādharo ’siḥ śata-candra-yuktas

tūṇottamāv akṣayasāyakau ca

Translation

The Lord’s conchshell, named Pāñcajanya, which made sounds like that of a cloud; the very forceful club named Kaumodakī; the sword named Vidyādhara, with a shield decorated with hundreds of moonlike spots; and also Akṣayasāyaka, the best of quivers — all of these appeared together to offer prayers to the Lord.

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.

The Lord’s Weapons Offer Prayers

  1. 1

    The Lord’s conchshell, Pāñcajanya, sounded like a cloud. His club, Kaumodakī, was very forceful.

  2. 2

    His sword, Vidyādhara, appeared with a shield decorated with hundreds of moonlike spots. Akṣayasāyaka, the best of quivers, also appeared.

  3. 3

    All these appeared together to offer prayers to the Lord. The description presents them not merely as weapons, but as offering Him praise.

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 Lord gradually covered the entire surface of the world, and by extending His body He covered the entire sky. With His hands He covered all directions, and with His second footstep He covered the entire upper planetary system.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.20
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. parjanya-ghoṣaḥhaving a sound vibration like that of the clouds
  2. jalajaḥthe Lord’s conchshell
  3. pāñcajanyaḥwhich is known as Pāñcajanya
  4. kaumodakīknown by the name Kaumodakī
  5. viṣṇu-gadāthe club of Lord Viṣṇu
  6. tarasvinīwith great force
  7. vidyādharaḥnamed Vidyādhara
  8. asiḥthe sword
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

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does seeing the Lord’s weapons offer prayers inspire your own prayer?

Practice

Offer one short prayer of praise to the Lord today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Weapons Offer PrayersThis 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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