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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
8.20.48.20.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.20.5

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Bali Mahārājasince 8.20.2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

नाहं बिभेमि निरयान्नाधन्यादसुखार्णवात् ।

न स्थानच्यवनान्मृत्योर्यथा विप्रप्रलम्भनात् ॥ ५ ॥

nāhaṁ bibhemi nirayān

nādhanyād asukhārṇavāt

na sthāna-cyavanān mṛtyor

yathā vipra-pralambhanāt

Translation

I do not fear hell, poverty, an ocean of distress, falldown from my position or even death itself as much as I fear cheating a brāhmaṇa.

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.

Fear Dishonesty More Than Personal Loss

  1. 1

    Bali Mahārāja fears cheating a brāhmaṇa more than hell or poverty.

  2. 2

    Even an ocean of distress or the loss of his position does not frighten him as much as such cheating.

  3. 3

    He places avoiding dishonesty above even preserving his own life.

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:

Despite his knowledge that Lord Vāmanadeva was cheating him, Bali Mahārāja gave everything to the Lord in charity, and thus the Lord extended His body and assumed a gigantic form as Lord Viṣṇu. After hearing the instructive advice of Śukrācārya, Bali Mahārāja became contemplative.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.20
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanot
  2. ahamI
  3. bibhemiam afraid of
  4. nirayātfrom a hellish condition of life
  5. nanor
  6. adhanyātfrom a poverty-stricken condition
  7. asukha-arṇavātnor from an ocean of distresses
  8. nanor
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 8.20

    In this verse: “fear”, “death”, “fears”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 8.20

    In this verse: “distress”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Would fear of discomfort or loss tempt me to cheat someone?

Practice

Honor one commitment today even if keeping it requires a small inconvenience.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFear Dishonesty More Than Personal LossThis 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 8.20.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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