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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
8.22.128.22.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.22.13

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.22.12inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तमिन्द्रसेन: स्वपितामहं श्रिया

विराजमानं नलिनायतेक्षणम् ।

प्रांशुं पिशङ्गाम्बरमञ्जनत्विषं

प्रलम्बबाहुं शुभगर्षभमैक्षत ॥ १३ ॥

tam indra-senaḥ sva-pitāmahaṁ śriyā

virājamānaṁ nalināyatekṣaṇam

prāṁśuṁ piśaṅgāmbaram añjana-tviṣaṁ

pralamba-bāhuṁ śubhagarṣabham aikṣata

Translation

Then Bali Mahārāja saw his grandfather Prahlāda Mahārāja, the most fortunate personality, whose dark body resembled black ointment for the eyes. His tall, elegant figure was dressed in yellow garments, he had long arms, and his beautiful eyes were like the petals of a lotus. He was very dear and pleasing to everyone.

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.

Prahlāda Mahārāja’s Beautiful Presence

  1. 1

    Bali Mahārāja saw his grandfather Prahlāda Mahārāja, described as the most fortunate personality.

  2. 2

    Prahlāda Mahārāja had a dark body, a tall, elegant figure, yellow garments and long arms.

  3. 3

    His beautiful eyes resembled lotus petals, and he was very dear and pleasing to everyone.

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:

Being unable to keep his promise, he was very much afraid, for he knew that one who has deviated from truthfulness is insignificant in the eyes of society. An exalted person can suffer the consequences of hellish life, but he is very much afraid of being defamed for deviation from the truth.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.22
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamthat Prahlāda Mahārāja
  2. indra-senaḥBali Mahārāja, who now possessed all the military force of Indra
  3. sva-pitāmahamunto his grandfather
  4. śriyāpresent with all beautiful features
  5. virājamānamstanding there
  6. nalina-āyata-īkṣaṇamwith eyes as broad as the petals of a lotus
  7. prāṁśuma very beautiful body
  8. piśaṅga-ambaramdressed in yellow garments
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

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which detail of Prahlāda Mahārāja’s presence stands out to me?

Practice

Spend a quiet moment recalling the verse’s description of Prahlāda Mahārāja.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 8.22's connections

Live this todayPrahlāda Mahārāja’s Beautiful PresenceThis 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 8.22.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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