Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 19

Bali Liberated, Prahlāda Blessed, and Vāmana Accepted as Universal Protector

Devanagari script

एवं बलेर्महीं राजन् भिक्षित्वा वामनो हरि: । ददौ भ्रात्रे महेन्द्राय त्रिदिवं यत्परैर्हृतम् ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ baler mahīṁ rājan bhikṣitvā vāmano hariḥ dadau bhrātre mahendrāya tridivaṁ yat parair hṛtam

Translation

Ô roi Parīkṣit, ainsi Hari sous la forme de Vāmana, après avoir mendié et pris toute la terre de Bali Mahārāja, remit à son frère Mahendra, Indra, le Tridiva (ciel) que les ennemis lui avaient ravi.

Synonyms

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (thus/in this manner)

• बलेः: from Bali/of Bali
• बलेः: Apadana/Source (अपादान/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महीम्: the earth/land
• महीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• राजन्: O King
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भिक्षित्वा: having begged
• भिक्षित्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिक्ष् (धातु) + क्त्वा (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय-कृदन्त (gerund), ‘having begged/asked for alms’

• वामनः: Vāmana
• वामनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; वामनस्य अप्पोजिशन

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

• भ्रात्रे: to (his) brother
• भ्रात्रे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• महेन्द्राय: to Mahendra (Indra)
• महेन्द्राय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् इन्द्रः)

• त्रिदिवम्: heaven (the threefold heaven)
• त्रिदिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिदिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• परैः: by others (enemies)
• परैः: Kartr (कर्ता/Instrument in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘अन्यैः’

• हृतम्: taken away
• हृतम्: Karma (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘अपहृतम्’

Characters & Entities

• Bali
• Vāmana
• Hari
• Mahendra (Indra)
• Parīkṣit Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Vāmana returning heaven to Indra?

This verse states that after taking the earth from Bali by begging, Lord Hari as Vāmana gave the celestial kingdom (Svarga/Tridiva) back to Mahendra (Indra), which had been seized by the Asuras.

Why did Lord Vāmana give Tridiva to Mahendra (Indra) after approaching Bali?

In the narrative, Bali had conquered the heavens; Vāmana’s act reestablishes cosmic order and fulfills the devas’ protection, returning Indra’s rightful post while also honoring Bali’s destiny under the Lord’s arrangement.

Practical application of Bali and Vāmana’s lesson in modern life?

The verse highlights that true security comes from aligning with dharma and the Lord’s will—cultivating humility, integrity, and surrender rather than clinging to power or possessions.