Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

नाहं बिभेमि निरयान्नाधन्यादसुखार्णवात् । न स्थानच्यवनान्मृत्योर्यथा विप्रप्रलम्भनात् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

nāhaṁ bibhemi nirayān nādhanyād asukhārṇavāt na sthāna-cyavanān mṛtyor yathā vipra-pralambhanāt

Translation

ನಾನು ನರಕ, ದಾರಿದ್ರ್ಯ, ದುಃಖಸಾಗರ, ಸ್ಥಾನಚ್ಯುತಿ ಅಥವಾ ಮರಣವನ್ನೂ ಅಷ್ಟಾಗಿ ಭಯಪಡುವುದಿಲ್ಲ; ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣನನ್ನು ಮೋಸಗೊಳಿಸುವುದನ್ನು ಮಾತ್ರ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಭಯಪಡುತ್ತೇನೆ.

Synonyms

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• bibhemi: fear
• bibhemi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhī (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• nirayān: hells
• nirayān: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• na: nor
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• adhanyāt: from misfortune
• adhanyāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhanya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘misfortune/inauspiciousness’

• asukhārṇavāt: from the ocean of misery
• asukhārṇavāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asukha (प्रातिपदिक) + arṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (असुखस्य अर्णवः)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• sthāna-cyavanāt: from falling from one’s position
• sthāna-cyavanāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāna (प्रातिपदिक) + cyavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (स्थानात् च्यवनम्)

• mṛtyoḥ: from death
• mṛtyoḥ: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛtyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative; form समान to Genitive), एकवचन

• yathā: as/like
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारार्थ-अव्यय (comparative: as/like)

• vipra-pralambhanāt: from deceiving a brāhmaṇa
• vipra-pralambhanāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक) + pralambhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (विप्रस्य प्रलम्भनम्)

Characters & Entities

• Bali Maharaja
• Brāhmaṇa (Vāmana implied)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about cheating a brāhmaṇa?

This verse teaches that deceiving a brāhmaṇa—especially after giving one’s word—is a grave adharma, feared even more than hell, poverty, loss of status, or death.

Why did Bali Maharaja say he feared cheating a brāhmaṇa more than death?

In the Vāmana episode, Bali had promised charity to a brāhmaṇa (Vāmana). Though warned to withdraw, Bali upholds dharma and truthfulness, considering breaking his promise a worse fate than any worldly loss.

How can I apply Bali Maharaja’s teaching in modern life?

Keep your word, avoid exploiting or misleading sincere spiritual people, and treat integrity as higher than personal gain, reputation, or comfort.