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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.
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Canto 8 · Chapter 22: Bali Mahārāja Surrenders His Life
8.21.348.22.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.22.1

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.22.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

एवं विप्रकृतो राजन् बलिर्भगवतासुर: ।

भिद्यमानोऽप्यभिन्नात्मा प्रत्याहाविक्लवं वच: ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

evaṁ viprakṛto rājan

balir bhagavatāsuraḥ

bhidyamāno ’py abhinnātmā

pratyāhāviklavaṁ vacaḥ

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King, although the Supreme Personality of Godhead was superficially seen to have acted mischievously toward Bali Mahārāja, Bali Mahārāja was fixed in his determination. Considering himself not to have fulfilled his promise, he spoke as follows.

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.

Remain Steady in Your Promise

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared outwardly to have acted mischievously toward Bali Mahārāja.

  2. 2

    Despite his difficulty, Bali Mahārāja remained fixed in his determination.

  3. 3

    Rather than blaming the Lord, Bali Mahārāja considered his own promise unfulfilled and prepared to respond.

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 22: Bali Mahārāja Surrenders His Life

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The summary of this Twenty-second Chapter is as follows. The Supreme Personality of Godhead was pleased by the behavior of Bali Mahārāja.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.22
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. evamthus, as aforementioned
  3. viprakṛtaḥhaving been put into difficulty
  4. rājanO King
  5. baliḥMahārāja Bali
  6. bhagavatāby the Personality of Godhead Vāmanadeva
  7. asuraḥthe King of the asuras
  8. bhidyamānaḥ apialthough situated in this uncomfortable position
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 8.22

    In this verse: “king”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When difficulties arise, do I focus on blame or on fulfilling my commitment to the Lord?

Practice

Recall one devotional commitment and take one small step toward fulfilling it today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRemain Steady in Your PromiseThis 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 8.22.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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