1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 8 · Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations · 24 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
8.21.2-38.21.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.21.4

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

धातु: कमण्डलुजलं तदुरुक्रमस्य

पादावनेजनपवित्रतया नरेन्द्र ।

स्वर्धुन्यभून्नभसि सा पतती निमार्ष्टि

लोकत्रयं भगवतो विशदेव कीर्ति: ॥ ४ ॥

dhātuḥ kamaṇḍalu-jalaṁ tad urukramasya

pādāvanejana-pavitratayā narendra

svardhuny abhūn nabhasi sā patatī nimārṣṭi

loka-trayaṁ bhagavato viśadeva kīrtiḥ

Translation

O King, the water from Lord Brahmā’s kamaṇḍalu washed the lotus feet of Lord Vāmanadeva, who is known as Urukrama, the wonderful actor. Thus that water became so pure that it was transformed into the water of the Ganges, which went flowing down from the sky, purifying the three worlds like the pure fame of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Ganges Purifies Through the Lord’s Connection

  1. 1

    Water from Lord Brahmā’s kamaṇḍalu washed Lord Vāmanadeva’s lotus feet and became the Ganges. It purifies the three worlds like the Lord’s pure fame.

  2. 2

    The purport also describes transcendental water entering when Vāmanadeva’s left foot pierced the universe’s covering. It further states that Lord Nārāyaṇa appeared as the Ganges water.

  3. 3

    Following Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura’s explanation, the Ganges combines three transcendental waters. Thus it can purify the three worlds.

Key points from the purport
  • Here we understand that the Ganges began when the water from Lord Brahmā’s kamaṇḍalu washed the lotus feet of Lord Vāmanadeva.
  • And elsewhere it is also stated that Lord Nārāyaṇa appeared as the water of the Ganges.
  • The water of the Ganges, therefore, is a combination of three transcendental waters, and thus the Ganges is able to purify the three worlds.

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:

With the second step the Supreme Personality of Godhead reached the topmost planet of the universe, Brahmaloka, which He diminished in beauty by the effulgence of His toenails. Thus Lord Brahmā, accompanied by great sages like Marīci and the predominating deities of all the higher planets, offered humble prayers and worship to the Lord.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.21
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dhātuḥof Lord Brahmā
  2. kamaṇḍalu-jalamwater from the kamaṇḍalu
  3. tatthat
  4. urukramasyaof Lord Viṣṇu
  5. pāda-avanejana-pavitratayābecause of washing the lotus feet of Lord Viṣṇu and thus being transcendentally pure
  6. nara-indraO King
  7. svardhunīthe river named Svardhunī of the celestial world
  8. abhūtso became
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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 8.21

    In this verse: “purifying”, “purifies”

  • 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 does the Ganges teach me about the purifying connection with the Lord?

Practice

Reread the description of the Ganges while remembering the Lord’s lotus feet.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Ganges Purifies Through the Lord’s ConnectionThis 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 8.21.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories