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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 22: Bali Mahārāja Surrenders His Life
8.22.98.22.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.22.10

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Bali Mahārājasince 8.22.2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

इत्थं स निश्चित्य पितामहो महा-

नगाधबोधो भवत: पादपद्मम् ।

ध्रुवं प्रपेदे ह्यकुतोभयं जनाद्

भीत: स्वपक्षक्षपणस्य सत्तम ॥ १० ॥

itthaṁ sa niścitya pitāmaho mahān

agādha-bodho bhavataḥ pāda-padmam

dhruvaṁ prapede hy akutobhayaṁ janād

bhītaḥ svapakṣa-kṣapaṇasya sattama

Translation

My grandfather, the best of all men, who achieved unlimited knowledge and was worshipable for everyone, was afraid of the common men in this world. Being fully convinced of the substantiality afforded by shelter at Your lotus feet, He took shelter of Your lotus feet, against the will of his father and demoniac friends, who were killed by Your own self.

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.

Choose the Lord’s Dependable Shelter

  1. 1

    Bali Mahārāja described his grandfather as the best of men, possessing unlimited knowledge and worthy of everyone’s respect.

  2. 2

    His grandfather feared the common men of this world but was fully convinced of the dependable shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet.

  3. 3

    He took that shelter against the wishes of his father and demoniac friends, even though the Lord had killed those on his own side.

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:

In Bali Mahārāja’s dynasty there were many asuras who because of their enmity toward Viṣṇu had achieved a destination more exalted than that of many mystic yogīs. Bali Mahārāja specifically remembered the determination of Prahlāda Mahārāja in devotional service.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.22
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. itthambecause of this (as stated above)
  2. saḥhe, Prahlāda Mahārāja
  3. niścityadefinitely deciding on this point
  4. pitāmahaḥmy grandfather
  5. mahānthe great devotee
  6. agādha-bodhaḥmy grandfather, who received unlimited knowledge because of his devotional service
  7. bhavataḥof Your Lordship
  8. pāda-padmamthe lotus feet
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 8.22

    In this verse: “afraid”, “feared”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 8.22

    In this verse: “worshipable”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 8.22

    In this verse: “shelter”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Does the wish for others’ approval weaken my determination to take shelter of the Lord?

Practice

Offer a short prayer affirming your choice to seek the Lord’s shelter, even when others do not approve.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayChoose the Lord’s Dependable ShelterThis 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.

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