Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 16

Bali Mahārāja Upholds Truth; Vāmana Reveals the Universal Form and Takes the Two Steps

Devanagari script

एवं शप्त: स्वगुरुणा सत्यान्न चलितो महान् । वामनाय ददावेनामर्चित्वोदकपूर्वकम् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ śaptaḥ sva-guruṇā satyān na calito mahān vāmanāya dadāv enām arcitvodaka-pūrvakam

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Even after being cursed in this way by his own spiritual master, Bali Mahārāja, being a great personality, never deviated from his determination. Therefore, according to custom, he first offered water to Vāmanadeva and then offered Him the gift of land he had promised.

Synonyms

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक

• शप्तः: having been cursed
• शप्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (cursed)

• स्व-गुरुणा: by his own teacher
• स्व-गुरुणा: Kartr-karana (कर्ता-करण/agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य गुरुः = one’s own teacher)

• सत्यान्: from truth (his vow)
• सत्यान्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (सत्यात् → satyān, वैदिक/काव्य-रूप); अपादानार्थ

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• चलितः: was shaken/moved
• चलितः: Kriya (क्रिया; भावे)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चल् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (moved/shaken)

• महान्: great
• महान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वामनाय: to Vāmana
• वामनाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• एनाम्: this (gift/land)
• एनाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (enām = her/this)

• अर्चित्वा: having worshipped
• अर्चित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having worshipped)

• उदक-पूर्वकम्: preceded by water (libation)
• उदक-पूर्वकम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उदक (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषण (with water as the preliminary rite)

Characters & Entities

• Bali Mahārāja
• Vāmana (Lord Viṣṇu)
• Śukrācārya

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about keeping one’s promise even when cursed?

This verse praises Bali Mahārāja for not deviating from truthfulness despite being cursed by his own guru, showing that integrity and dharma are central to devotional character.

Why did Bali Mahārāja give charity to Lord Vāmana even after Śukrācārya opposed it?

Bali remained fixed in satya (truthfulness) and honored his vow to Vāmana, choosing righteous commitment and surrender over fear of consequences.

How can I apply Bali Mahārāja’s example in modern life?

Keep ethical promises, act with integrity under pressure, and offer your commitments to God—doing the right thing even when authority or circumstances discourage it.