1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 8 · Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations · 24 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
8.22.148.22.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.22.15

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

स तत्र हासीनमुदीक्ष्य सत्पतिं

हरिं सुनन्दाद्यनुगैरुपासितम् ।

उपेत्य भूमौ शिरसा महामना

ननाम मूर्ध्ना पुलकाश्रुविक्लव: ॥ १५ ॥

sa tatra hāsīnam udīkṣya sat-patiṁ

hariṁ sunandādy-anugair upāsitam

upetya bhūmau śirasā mahā-manā

nanāma mūrdhnā pulakāśru-viklavaḥ

Translation

When the great personality Prahlāda Mahārāja saw that the Supreme Lord was sitting there, surrounded and worshiped by His intimate associates like Sunanda, he was overwhelmed with tears of jubilation. Approaching the Lord and falling to the ground, he offered obeisances to the Lord with his head.

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.

Joyful Obeisances to the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    Prahlāda Mahārāja saw the Supreme Lord seated among His intimate associates.

  2. 2

    The Lord was being worshiped by associates such as Sunanda, and Prahlāda Mahārāja was overwhelmed with tears of jubilation.

  3. 3

    Prahlāda Mahārāja approached the Lord, fell to the ground and offered obeisances with his head.

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:

Bali Mahārāja agreed with great pleasure to accept the punishment awarded him by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. 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.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.22
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥPrahlāda Mahārāja
  2. tatrathere
  3. ha āsīnamseated
  4. udīkṣyaafter seeing
  5. sat-patimthe Supreme Personality of Godhead, master of the liberated souls
  6. harimLord Hari
  7. sunanda-ādi-anugaiḥby His followers, like Sunanda
  8. upāsitambeing worshiped
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 8.22

    In this verse: “worshiped”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I bring more heartfelt attention to offering respect to the Lord?

Practice

Offer one deliberate obeisance to the Supreme Lord, remembering Prahlāda Mahārāja’s joyful reverence.

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 todayJoyful Obeisances to the Supreme LordThis 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 8.22.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories