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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
8.21.58.21.8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 8.21.6-7

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

तोयै: समर्हणै: स्रग्भिर्दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनै: ।

धूपैर्दीपै: सुरभिभिर्लाजाक्षतफलाङ्कुरै: ॥ ६ ॥

स्तवनैर्जयशब्दैश्च तद्वीर्यमहिमाङ्कितै: ।

नृत्यवादित्रगीतैश्च शङ्खदुन्दुभिनि:स्वनै: ॥ ७ ॥

toyaiḥ samarhaṇaiḥ sragbhir

divya-gandhānulepanaiḥ

dhūpair dīpaiḥ surabhibhir

lājākṣata-phalāṅkuraiḥ

stavanair jaya-śabdaiś ca

tad-vīrya-mahimāṅkitaiḥ

nṛtya-vāditra-gītaiś ca

śaṅkha-dundubhi-niḥsvanaiḥ

Translation

They worshiped the Lord by offering fragrant flowers, water, pādya and arghya, sandalwood pulp and aguru pulp, incense, lamps, fused rice, unbroken grains, fruits, roots and sprouts. While so doing, they offered prayers indicating the glorious activities of the Lord and shouted “Jaya! Jaya!” They also danced, played instruments, sang, sounded conchshells and beat kettledrums, in this way worshiping the Lord.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Worship With Offerings, Prayer and Song

  1. 1

    The worshipers offered flowers, water, fragrant pastes, incense, lamps, grains, fruits, roots and sprouts to the Lord.

  2. 2

    They offered prayers describing the Lord’s glorious activities and shouted “Jaya! Jaya!”

  3. 3

    They also danced, sang, played instruments, sounded conchshells and beat kettledrums. All these activities were ways of worshiping the Lord.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. toyaiḥby water required for washing the lotus feet and bathing
  2. samarhaṇaiḥby pādya, arghya and other such items for worshiping the Lord
  3. sragbhiḥby flower garlands
  4. divya-gandha-anulepanaiḥby many kinds of pulp, like sandalwood and aguru, to smear upon the body of Lord Vāmanadeva
  5. dhūpaiḥby incense
  6. dīpaiḥby lamps
  7. surabhibhiḥall of them extremely fragrant
  8. lājaby fried paddies
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worshiped”, “worshipers”

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

Which of these forms of worship can I offer attentively today?

Practice

Spend a minute singing or speaking a prayer glorifying the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWorship With Offerings, Prayer and SongThis 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 8.21.6-7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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