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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
8.21.278.21.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.21.28

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
A turning point forBali Mahārāja· Bound but steadfast

तं बद्धं वारुणै: पाशैर्भगवानाह वामन: ।

नष्टश्रियं स्थिरप्रज्ञमुदारयशसं नृप ॥ २८ ॥

taṁ baddhaṁ vāruṇaiḥ pāśair

bhagavān āha vāmanaḥ

naṣṭa-śriyaṁ sthira-prajñam

udāra-yaśasaṁ nṛpa

Translation

O King, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāmanadeva, then spoke to Bali Mahārāja, the most liberal and celebrated personality whom He had arrested with the ropes of Varuṇa. Bali Mahārāja had lost all bodily luster, but he was nonetheless fixed in his determination.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Steady Service Despite Losing Everything

  1. 1

    Although Bali Mahārāja lost everything and his bodily luster diminished, he remained determined to satisfy Vāmanadeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    A pure devotee never deviates from the Lord’s service despite difficulties and impediments. Such steadiness is called sthita-prajña in Bhagavad-gītā.

  3. 3

    Bali Mahārāja became famous through being deprived of his possessions. The purport describes the Lord’s taking away a devotee’s wealth as special mercy; the devotee continues serving, and the Lord amply rewards him.

Key points from the purport
  • When one is bereft of all his possessions, he is certainly reduced in bodily luster.
  • But although Bali Mahārāja had lost everything, he was fixed in his determination to satisfy Vāmanadeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • As the first installment of His special favor, the Lord takes away all the possessions of His devotee.

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. tamunto him
  2. baddhamwho was so arrested
  3. vāruṇaiḥ pāśaiḥby the ropes of Varuṇa
  4. bhagavānthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  5. āhasaid
  6. vāmanaḥVāmanadeva
  7. naṣṭa-śriyamunto Bali Mahārāja, who had lost his bodily luster
  8. sthira-prajñambut was all the same determined in his decision
  9. udāra-yaśasamthe most magnanimous and celebrated
  10. nṛpaO King
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 8.21

    In this verse: “luster”, “wealth”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 8.21

    In this verse: “king”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

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

Is my willingness to serve the Lord dependent on comfort or possessions?

Practice

Complete one small act of devotional service today even if your circumstances are inconvenient.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySteady Service Despite Losing EverythingThis 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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