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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
8.21.48.21.6-7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.21.5

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

ब्रह्मादयो लोकनाथा: स्वनाथाय समाद‍ृता: ।

सानुगा बलिमाजह्रु: सङ्‌क्षिप्तात्मविभूतये ॥ ५ ॥

brahmādayo loka-nāthāḥ

sva-nāthāya samādṛtāḥ

sānugā balim ājahruḥ

saṅkṣiptātma-vibhūtaye

Translation

Lord Brahmā and all the predominating deities of the various planetary systems began to worship Lord Vāmanadeva, their supreme master, who had reduced Himself from His all-pervading form to His original form. They collected all the ingredients and paraphernalia for this worship.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Forms Express His Mercy

  1. 1

    Vāmanadeva expanded into the universal form and then returned to His Vāmana form. Similarly, Kṛṣṇa showed Arjuna His universal form and then resumed His original form.

  2. 2

    The Lord can assume any form He likes, but His original form is Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Out of causeless mercy, He assumes forms suited to the devotee’s capacity.

  3. 3

    Brahmā and the other planetary deities worshiped Vāmanadeva as their supreme master. They collected various articles of worship to please Him.

Key points from the purport
  • Vāmanadeva first expanded Himself to the universal form and then reduced Himself to the original Vāmana-rūpa.
  • Thus He acted exactly like Lord Kṛṣṇa, who, at the request of Arjuna, first showed His universal form and later resumed His original form as Kṛṣṇa.
  • When Lord Vāmanadeva resumed His original form, Lord Brahmā and his associates collected various paraphernalia for worship with which to please Him.

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:

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. They washed the Lord’s feet and worshiped Him with all paraphernalia.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.21
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. brahma-ādayaḥgreat personalities, headed by Lord Brahmā
  2. loka-nāthāḥthe predominating deities of various planets
  3. sva-nāthāyaunto their supreme master
  4. samādṛtāḥwith great respect
  5. sa-anugāḥwith their respective followers
  6. balimdifferent paraphernalia of worship
  7. ājahruḥcollected
  8. saṅkṣipta-ātma-vibhūtayeunto the Lord, who had expanded His personal opulence but had now reduced His size to the Vāmana form
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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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worship”, “devotee’s”, “worshiped”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 8.21

    In this verse: “mercy”, “causeless”

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 pleasing the Lord the purpose of my worship?

Practice

Prepare one simple offering, such as water, with the intention of pleasing the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Forms Express His MercyThis 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 8.21.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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