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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
8.21.318.21.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.21.32

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.21.25inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

प्रतिश्रुतमदातुस्ते निरये वास इष्यते ।

विश त्वं निरयं तस्माद् गुरुणा चानुमोदित: ॥ ३२ ॥

pratiśrutam adātus te

niraye vāsa iṣyate

viśa tvaṁ nirayaṁ tasmād

guruṇā cānumoditaḥ

Translation

Because you have been unable to give charity according to your promise, the rule is that you should go down to live in the hellish planets. Therefore, in accordance with the order of Śukrācārya, your spiritual master, now go down and live there.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Beyond Every Material Condition

  1. 1

    Devotees solely engaged in Nārāyaṇa’s service do not fear any condition of life. Heaven, liberation and hell are equal to them because their interest is only the Lord’s service.

  2. 2

    Vāmanadeva ordered Bali Mahārāja to enter the hellish planets, apparently to show the universe his tolerance. Bali Mahārāja did not hesitate to obey.

  3. 3

    A devotee engaged in the Lord’s service lives transcendentally, always in Vaikuṇṭha. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura therefore prays even for birth as an insignificant insect in the association of devotees.

Key points from the purport
  • For them the heavenly planets, liberation and the hellish planets are all the same, for such devotees are interested only in the service of the Lord.”
  • Of course, everyone lives with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but because the devotee is engaged in His service, he actually does not live in any material condition.
  • Because devotees are engaged in the service of the Lord, anyone who lives with them also lives in Vaikuṇṭha.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 8.21.32 quotesSB 6.17.28

For them the heavenly planets, liberation and the hellish planets are all the same, for such devotees are interested only in the service of the Lord.”

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

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. Understanding Lord Viṣṇu’s purpose, Garuḍa, the carrier of Lord Viṣṇu, immediately arrested Bali Mahārāja with the ropes of Varuṇa.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.21
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pratiśrutamwhat had been promised
  2. adātuḥwho could not give
  3. teof you
  4. nirayein hell
  5. vāsaḥresidence
  6. iṣyateprescribed
  7. viśanow enter
  8. tvamyourself
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”, “bhaktivinoda”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 8.21

    In this verse: “fear”

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 make service to the Lord more important than having favorable circumstances?

Practice

Spend a few minutes today with someone engaged in the Lord’s service, joining or helping with that service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 6.17.28

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 8.21's connections

Live this todayDevotional Service Beyond Every Material ConditionThis 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 8.21.32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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