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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 21: Bali Mahārāja Arrested by the Lord
8.21.148.21.16-17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.21.15

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.21.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तानभिद्रवतो द‍ृष्ट्वा दितिजानीकपान् नृप ।

प्रहस्यानुचरा विष्णो: प्रत्यषेधन्नुदायुधा: ॥ १५ ॥

tān abhidravato dṛṣṭvā

ditijānīkapān nṛpa

prahasyānucarā viṣṇoḥ

pratyaṣedhann udāyudhāḥ

Translation

O King, when the associates of Lord Viṣṇu saw the soldiers of the demons coming forward in violence, they smiled. Taking up their weapons, they forbade the demons to continue their attempt.

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 Associates Stop the Attack

  1. 1

    The associates of Lord Viṣṇu saw the soldiers of the demons advancing in violence.

  2. 2

    The Lord's associates smiled when they saw the approaching soldiers.

  3. 3

    Taking up their weapons, they forbade the demons to continue their attempt against the Lord.

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:

When Bali Mahārāja was deprived of all his possessions, the demons were very angry. Although Bali Mahārāja warned them not to do so, they took up weapons against Lord Viṣṇu.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.21
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tānthem
  2. abhidravataḥthus going forward
  3. dṛṣṭvāseeing
  4. ditija-anīka-pānthe soldiers of the demons
  5. nṛpaO King
  6. prahasyasmiling
  7. anucarāḥthe associates
  8. viṣṇoḥof Lord Viṣṇu
  9. pratyaṣedhanforbade
  10. udāyudhāḥtaking up their weapons
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 8.21

    In this verse: “king”

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

What stands out to me about the response of Lord Viṣṇu's associates?

Practice

Read the translation slowly once, noticing how the Lord's associates responded to the violence.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord's Associates Stop the AttackThis 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 8.21.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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