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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
8.21.258.21.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.21.26

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.21.25inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अथ तार्क्ष्यसुतो ज्ञात्वा विराट्‌प्रभुचिकीर्षितम् ।

बबन्ध वारुणै: पाशैर्बलिं सूत्येऽहनि क्रतौ ॥ २६ ॥

atha tārkṣya-suto jñātvā

virāṭ prabhu-cikīrṣitam

babandha vāruṇaiḥ pāśair

baliṁ sūtye ’hani kratau

Translation

Thereafter, on the day of soma-pāna, after the sacrifice was finished, Garuḍa, king of the birds, understanding the desire of his master, arrested Bali Mahārāja with the ropes of Varuṇa.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Tolerance Revealed Through Difficulty

  1. 1

    Garuḍa, the constant companion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, knows the confidential part of the Lord’s desire.

  2. 2

    After the sacrifice, Garuḍa arrested Bali Mahārāja with the ropes of Varuṇa, understanding his master’s desire.

  3. 3

    Bali Mahārāja’s tolerance and devotion were superexcellent. His arrest showed the entire universe the greatness of his tolerance.

Key points from the purport
  • Garuḍa, the constant companion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, knows the confidential part of the Lord’s desire.
  • Bali Mahārāja’s tolerance and devotion were undoubtedly superexcellent.
  • Garuḍa arrested Bali Mahārāja to show the entire universe the greatness of the King’s tolerance.

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 21: Bali Mahārāja Arrested by the Lord

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Understanding Lord Viṣṇu’s purpose, Garuḍa, the carrier of Lord Viṣṇu, immediately arrested Bali Mahārāja with the ropes of Varuṇa. When Bali Mahārāja was thus reduced to a helpless position, Lord Viṣṇu asked him for the third step of land.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.21
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. athathereafter
  2. tārkṣya-sutaḥGaruḍa
  3. jñātvāknowing
  4. virāṭthe king of birds
  5. prabhu-cikīrṣitamthe desire of Lord Viṣṇu as Vāmanadeva
  6. babandhaarrested
  7. vāruṇaiḥbelonging to Varuṇa
  8. pāśaiḥby the ropes
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”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 8.21

    In this verse: “understanding”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 8.21

    In this verse: “devotion”

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 a difficulty become an occasion to practice tolerance in devotional service?

Practice

Meet one inconvenience today without complaining, remembering Bali Mahārāja’s tolerance.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTolerance Revealed Through DifficultyThis 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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