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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 21: Bali Mahārāja Arrested by the Lord
8.21.128.21.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.21.13

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.21.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तस्मादस्य वधो धर्मो भर्तु: शुश्रूषणं च न: ।

इत्यायुधानि जगृहुर्बलेरनुचरासुरा: ॥ १३ ॥

tasmād asya vadho dharmo

bhartuḥ śuśrūṣaṇaṁ ca naḥ

ity āyudhāni jagṛhur

baler anucarāsurāḥ

Translation

“Therefore it is our duty to kill this Vāmanadeva, Lord Viṣṇu. It is our religious principle and the way to serve our master.” After making this decision, the demoniac followers of Mahārāja Bali took up their various weapons with a view to killing Vāmanadeva.

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.

Mistaking Opposition to the Lord for Duty

  1. 1

    The demoniac followers of Mahārāja Bali decided that killing Vāmanadeva, Lord Viṣṇu, was their duty.

  2. 2

    They called this their religious principle and a way to serve their master.

  3. 3

    Acting on this decision, they took up various weapons against the Lord. Calling an action religious does not make it service to Him.

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 21: Bali Mahārāja Arrested by the Lord

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Although Bali Mahārāja warned them not to do so, they took up weapons against Lord Viṣṇu. All of them were defeated, however, by Lord Viṣṇu’s eternal associates, and, in accordance with Bali Mahārāja’s order, they all entered the lower planets of the universe.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.21
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasmāttherefore
  2. asyaof this brahmacārī Vāmana
  3. vadhaḥthe killing
  4. dharmaḥis our duty
  5. bhartuḥof our master
  6. śuśrūṣaṇam caand it is the way of serving
  7. naḥour
  8. itithus
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 8.21

    In this verse: “religious”, “duty”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I examine whether what I call duty is truly service to the Lord?

Practice

Before one action today, pause and ask whether it expresses service to the Lord or opposition to Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMistaking Opposition to the Lord for DutyThis 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 8.21.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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