Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 13

Bali Mahārāja’s Surrender, Prahlāda’s Praise, and the Lord’s Mercy

Sutala and Future Indrahood

Devanagari script

तमिन्द्रसेन: स्वपितामहं श्रिया विराजमानं नलिनायतेक्षणम् । प्रांशुं पिशङ्गाम्बरमञ्जनत्विषं प्रलम्बबाहुं शुभगर्षभमैक्षत ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

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.

Synonyms

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (Accusative) एकवचन

• indra-senaḥ: Indrasena
• indra-senaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra + sena (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/नाम-समास; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; (proper name)

• sva-pitāmaham: his own grandfather
• sva-pitāmaham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva + pitāmaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष; ‘स्वस्य पितामहः’ (one’s own grandfather); पुंलिङ्ग द्वितीया एकवचन

• śriyā: with splendor
• śriyā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (Instrumental) एकवचन; साधन/सहभाव (with splendor)

• virājamānam: shining
• virājamānam: Karma (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-rāj (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्); पुंलिङ्ग द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘विराजमान’ = shining

• nalina-āyata-īkṣaṇam: having lotus-long eyes
• nalina-āyata-īkṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nalina + āyata + īkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-श्रृंखला; ‘नलिनवत् आयतं ईक्षणं यस्य’ (lotus-like long eyes); पुंलिङ्ग द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषण

• prāṁśum: tall
• prāṁśum: Karma (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāṁśu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषण (tall)

• piśaṅga-ambaram: wearing tawny garments
• piśaṅga-ambaram: Karma (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: piśaṅga + ambara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय; ‘पिशङ्गम् अम्बरम् यस्य’/‘पिशङ्गाम्बरः’ (wearing tawny garments); पुंलिङ्ग द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषण

• añjana-tviṣam: with collyrium-like radiance
• añjana-tviṣam: Karma (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: añjana + tviṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष; ‘अञ्जनस्य त्विट्’ (collyrium-like luster); पुंलिङ्ग द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषण

• pralamba-bāhum: long-armed
• pralamba-bāhum: Karma (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pralamba + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय; ‘प्रलम्बौ बाहू यस्य’ (long-armed); पुंलिङ्ग द्वितीया एकवचन

• śubha-garṣabham: the noble excellent one
• śubha-garṣabham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śubha + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय; ‘शुभः ऋषभः’ (auspicious/best bull; excellent person); पुंलिङ्ग द्वितीया एकवचन

• aikṣata: beheld
• aikṣata: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect, past); आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; ‘ऐक्षत’ = saw/beheld

Characters & Entities

• Indrasena (Bali Mahārāja)
• Brahmā (Pitāmaha)

FAQs

Who is Indrasena in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 8?

Indrasena is Bali Mahārāja; in this verse he beholds his grandfather, Brahmā, who appears before him in radiant majesty.

Why does Bali Mahārāja see Brahmā in this chapter?

In the narrative surrounding Vāmana’s līlā and the aftermath of Bali’s surrender, exalted beings like Brahmā appear, highlighting Bali’s extraordinary destiny and the Lord’s divine arrangement.

What is the practical lesson from this shloka for modern life?

Cultivate humility and reverence for higher guidance—when one accepts divine order with sincerity, clarity and auspicious direction naturally arise.