FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.20.24

सन्ध्यां विभोर्वाससि गुह्य ऐक्षत् प्रजापतीञ्जघने आत्ममुख्यान् । नाभ्यां नभ: कुक्षिषु सप्तसिन्धू- नुरुक्रमस्योरसि चर्क्षमालाम् ॥ २४ ॥
sandhyāṁ vibhor vāsasi guhya aikṣat
[sandhyaam vibhor vaasasi guhya aikshat]
prajāpatīṣ jaghane ātma-mukhyān
[prajaapateesh jaghane aatma-mukhyaan]
nābhyāṁ nabhaḥ kukṣiṣu sapta-sindhūn
[naabhyaam nabhah kukshishu sapta-sindhoon]
urukramasyorasi carkṣa-mālām
[urukramasyorasi charksha-maalaam]
Word-for-word
sandhyām — the evening twilight vibhoḥ — of the Supreme vāsasi — in the garment guhye — on the private parts aikṣat — he saw prajāpatīn — the various Prajāpatis, who had given birth to all living entities jaghane — on the hips ātma-mukhyān — the confidential ministers of Bali Mahārāja nābhyām — on the navel nabhaḥ — the whole sky kukṣiṣu — on the waist sapta — seven sindhūn — oceans urukramasya — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who was acting wonderfully urasi — on the bosom ca — also ṛkṣa-mālām — the clusters of stars.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
sandhyāṁ vibhor vāsasi guhya aikṣat
sandhyām
the evening twilight
vibhoḥ
of the Supreme
vāsasi
in the garment
guhye
on the private parts
aikṣat
he saw
prajāpatīṣ jaghane ātma-mukhyān
prajāpatīn
the various Prajāpatis, who had given birth to all living entities
jaghane
on the hips
ātma-mukhyān
the confidential ministers of Bali Mahārāja
nābhyāṁ nabhaḥ kukṣiṣu sapta-sindhūn
nābhyām
on the navel
nabhaḥ
the whole sky
kukṣiṣu
on the waist
sapta
seven
sindhūn
oceans
urukramasyorasi carkṣa-mālām
urukramasya
of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who was acting wonderfully
urasi
on the bosom
ca
also
ṛkṣa-mālām
the clusters of stars.
Bali Mahārāja saw beneath the garments of the Lord, who acts wonderfully, the evening twilight. In the Lord’s private parts he saw the Prajāpatis, and in the round portion of the waist he saw himself with his confidential associates. In the Lord’s navel he saw the sky, on the Lord’s waist he saw the seven oceans, and on the Lord’s bosom he saw all the clusters of stars.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Bali Mahārāja saw the twilight on the garments of the Lord. On the Lord's private parts he saw the Prajāpatis, and on the Lord’s buttocks he saw his chief demon associates. On the Lord's navel he saw the sky, on the Lord's waist he saw the seven oceans, and on the Lord's bosom he saw all the clusters of stars. Ātma-mukhyān means Bali’s chief demons. Though Bali was seeing the earth, he saw on the buttocks of the form his own men, since that is where they reside on the universal form. The other things he sees should be understood in the same way.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Beneath His garments was the evening twilight; in private parts the Prajāpatis; on the waist himself with associates; in the navel the sky; in the bosom the stars. Even Bali sees himself in the body. We are not outside His form; we are in it.
Reflection Questions
  • Where do I imagine myself as external observer of the divine body rather than a part of it?
  • What 'waist' or 'navel' of the cosmos do I currently inhabit — and what role does that suggest?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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