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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
8.22.138.22.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.22.14

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
A turning point forBali Mahārāja· His own head is offered

तस्मै बलिर्वारुणपाशयन्त्रित:

समर्हणं नोपजहार पूर्ववत् ।

ननाम मूर्ध्नाश्रुविलोललोचन:

सव्रीडनीचीनमुखो बभूव ह ॥ १४ ॥

tasmai balir vāruṇa-pāśa-yantritaḥ

samarhaṇaṁ nopajahāra pūrvavat

nanāma mūrdhnāśru-vilola-locanaḥ

sa-vrīḍa-nīcīna-mukho babhūva ha

Translation

Being bound by the ropes of Varuṇa, Bali Mahārāja could not offer befitting respect to Prahlāda Mahārāja as he had before. Rather, he simply offered respectful obeisances with his head, his eyes being inundated with tears and his face lowered in shame.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Offering Respect Despite Being Bound

  1. 1

    Bound by the ropes of Varuṇa, Bali Mahārāja could not offer Prahlāda Mahārāja the befitting respect he had offered before.

  2. 2

    He offered obeisances with his head, while tears filled his eyes and his face was lowered in shame.

  3. 3

    Having been arrested by Lord Vāmanadeva, Bali Mahārāja seriously felt himself an offender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He was ashamed, knowing that Prahlāda Mahārāja would not like this.

Key points from the purport
  • Since Bali Mahārāja had been arrested by Lord Vāmanadeva, he was certainly to be considered an offender.
  • Bali Mahārāja seriously felt that he was an offender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Therefore Bali Mahārāja was ashamed and hung his head.

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 22: Bali Mahārāja Surrenders His Life

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

While Bali Mahārāja, having been arrested by the ropes of Varuṇa, was offering prayers to the Lord, his grandfather Prahlāda Mahārāja appeared there and described how the Supreme Personality of Godhead had delivered Bali Mahārāja by taking his possessions in a tricky way. While Prahlāda Mahārāja was present, Lord Brahmā and Bali’s wife, Vindhyāvali, described the supremacy of the Supreme Lord.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.22
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasmaiunto Prahlāda Mahārāja
  2. baliḥBali Mahārāja
  3. vāruṇa-pāśa-yantritaḥbeing bound by the ropes of Varuṇa
  4. samarhaṇambefitting respect
  5. nanot
  6. upajahāraoffered
  7. pūrva-vatlike before
  8. nanāmahe offered obeisances
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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

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 8.22

    In this verse: “offender”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I offer sincere respect when my circumstances limit what I can do?

Practice

Offer a simple, respectful bow today, giving attention to the humility behind it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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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 todayOffering Respect Despite Being BoundThis 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 8.22.14? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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