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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
8.20.32-338.21.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.20.34

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
A turning point forBali Mahārāja· The universe is measured

पदं द्वितीयं क्रमतस्त्रिविष्टपं

न वै तृतीयाय तदीयमण्वपि ।

उरुक्रमस्याङ्‍‍घ्रिरुपर्युपर्यथो

महर्जनाभ्यां तपस: परं गत: ॥ ३४ ॥

padaṁ dvitīyaṁ kramatas triviṣṭapaṁ

na vai tṛtīyāya tadīyam aṇv api

urukramasyāṅghrir upary upary atho

mahar-janābhyāṁ tapasaḥ paraṁ gataḥ

Translation

As the Lord took His second step, He covered the heavenly planets. And not even a spot remained for the third step, for the Lord’s foot extended higher and higher, beyond Maharloka, Janaloka, Tapoloka and even Satyaloka.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Foot Opens the Ganges’ Path

  1. 1

    The Lord’s second step covered the heavenly planets and extended beyond Maharloka, Janaloka, Tapoloka, and Satyaloka. Not even a spot remained for His third step.

  2. 2

    His nails pierced the universe’s coverings of five material elements. Although each layer is ten times thicker than the previous one, His nails penetrated them all into the spiritual world.

  3. 3

    Through that opening, the water of the Ganges entered the material world. The purport explains that it came to deliver all the fallen souls.

Key points from the purport
  • When the Lord’s footstep exceeded the height of all the lokas, including Maharloka, Janaloka, Tapoloka and Satyaloka, His nails certainly pierced the covering of the universe.
  • From this hole, the water of the Ganges infiltrated into this material world, and therefore it is said, pada-nakha-nīra janita jana-pāvana (Daśāvatāra-stotra 5).
  • Because the Lord kicked a hole in the covering of the universe, the water of the Ganges came into this material world to deliver all the fallen souls.

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:

With His hands He covered all directions, and with His second footstep He covered the entire upper planetary system. Therefore there was no vacant place where He could take His third footstep.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.20
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. padamstep
  2. dvitīyamsecond
  3. kramataḥadvancing
  4. tri-viṣṭapamall of the heavenly planets
  5. nanot
  6. vaiindeed
  7. tṛtīyāyafor the third step
  8. tadīyamof the Lord
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 8.20

    In this verse: “material”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the Ganges’ arrival help you see mercy in this display of the Lord’s power?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer of gratitude for the Lord’s act of bringing the Ganges to deliver fallen souls.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Foot Opens the Ganges’ PathThis 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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