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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 23: The Demigods Regain the Heavenly Planets
8.23.188.23.20-21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.23.19

Sthāna· The universe in order
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.23.18inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एवं बलेर्महीं राजन् भिक्षित्वा वामनो हरि: ।

ददौ भ्रात्रे महेन्द्राय त्रिदिवं यत्परैर्हृतम् ॥ १९ ॥

evaṁ baler mahīṁ rājan

bhikṣitvā vāmano hariḥ

dadau bhrātre mahendrāya

tridivaṁ yat parair hṛtam

Translation

O King Parīkṣit, thus having taken all the land of Bali Mahārāja by begging, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Vāmanadeva, delivered to His brother Indra all the land taken away by Indra’s enemy.

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.

Lord Vāmanadeva Restores Indra’s Land

  1. 1

    Lord Vāmanadeva is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    He obtained all the land of Bali Mahārāja by begging.

  3. 3

    The Lord then delivered to His brother Indra the land that Indra’s enemy had taken away.

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 23: The Demigods Regain the Heavenly Planets

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

All the great saintly persons accepted Lord Vāmanadeva as the benefactor of Lord Indra because He had returned Indra to his heavenly planet. They accepted the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the maintainer of all the affairs of the universe.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.23
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evamthus
  2. baleḥfrom Bali Mahārāja
  3. mahīmthe land
  4. rājanO King Parīkṣit
  5. bhikṣitvāafter begging
  6. vāmanaḥHis Lordship Vāmana
  7. hariḥthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  8. dadaudelivered
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Sthāna · Planetary systems

    How is the universe arranged, and what is our right place in it? · Subject 3 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 8.23

    In this verse: “king”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What stands out to me about the Supreme Lord obtaining land by begging and then returning it to Indra?

Practice

Reread the translation and offer a brief expression of respect to Lord Vāmanadeva.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLord Vāmanadeva Restores Indra’s LandThis 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 8.23.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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