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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
8.20.318.20.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 8.20.32-33

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

सुनन्दमुख्या उपतस्थुरीशं

पार्षदमुख्या: सहलोकपाला: ।

स्फुरत्किरीटाङ्गदमीनकुण्डल:

श्रीवत्सरत्नोत्तममेखलाम्बरै: ॥ ३२ ॥

मधुव्रतस्रग्वनमालयावृतो

रराज राजन्भगवानुरुक्रम: ।

क्षितिं पदैकेन बलेर्विचक्रमे

नभ: शरीरेण दिशश्च बाहुभि: ॥ ३३ ॥

sunanda-mukhyā upatasthur īśaṁ

pārṣada-mukhyāḥ saha-loka-pālāḥ

sphurat-kirīṭāṅgada-mīna-kuṇḍalaḥ

śrīvatsa-ratnottama-mekhalāmbaraiḥ

madhuvrata-srag-vanamālayāvṛto

rarāja rājan bhagavān urukramaḥ

kṣitiṁ padaikena baler vicakrame

nabhaḥ śarīreṇa diśaś ca bāhubhiḥ

Translation

These associates, headed by Sunanda and other chief associates and accompanied by all the predominating deities of the various planets, offered prayers to the Lord, who wore a brilliant helmet, bracelets, and glittering earrings that resembled fish. On the Lord’s bosom were the lock of hair called Śrīvatsa and the transcendental jewel named Kaustubha. He wore a yellow garment, covered by a belt, and He was decorated by a flower garland, surrounded by bees. Manifesting Himself in this way, O King, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose activities are wonderful, covered the entire surface of the earth with one footstep, the sky with His body, and all directions with His arms.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Step Includes Above and Below

  1. 1

    Sunanda, the other chief associates, and the predominating deities offered prayers to the beautifully adorned Lord. His bosom bore Śrīvatsa and the Kaustubha jewel.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead covered the earth with one footstep, the sky with His body, and all directions with His arms.

  3. 3

    Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains that a step includes space both downward and upward. Thus occupying the sky with His body did not go beyond the land promised for His steps.

Key points from the purport
  • One might argue, “Since Bali Mahārāja promised Vāmanadeva only the land occupied by His steps, why did Lord Vāmanadeva occupy the sky also?”
  • When one stands up, he certainly occupies certain parts of the sky and certain portions of the earth below his feet.
  • Thus there was nothing uncommon for the Supreme Personality of Godhead when He occupied the entire sky with His body.

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 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. sunanda-mukhyāḥthe associates of the Lord headed by Sunanda
  2. upatasthuḥbegan to offer prayers
  3. īśamunto the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  4. pārṣada-mukhyāḥother chiefs of the associates
  5. saha-loka-pālāḥwith the predominant deities of all the planets
  6. sphurat-kirīṭawith a brilliant helmet
  7. aṅgadabracelets
  8. mīna-kuṇḍalaḥand earrings in the shape of fish
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 8.20

    In this verse: “king”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the explanation of space above and below help you understand the Lord’s step?

Practice

Stand still for a moment and notice the ground below and the space your body occupies above it; then reread the purport’s explanation.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Step Includes Above and BelowThis 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 8.20.32-33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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