Chapter Twenty-one

                  Bali Maharaja Arrested by the Lord

 

   This chapter describes how Lord Visnu, desiring to advertise the glories of Bali Maharaja, arrested him for not fulfilling his promise in regard to the Lord's third step.

   With the second step the Supreme Personality of Godhead reached the topmost planet of the universe, Brahmaloka, which He diminished in beauty by the effulgence of His toenails. Thus Lord Brahma, accompanied by great sages like Marici and the predominating deities of all the higher planets, offered humble prayers and worship to the Lord. They washed the Lord's feet and worshiped Him with all paraphernalia. Rksaraja, Jambavan, played his bugle to vibrate the glories of the Lord. When Bali Maharaja was deprived of all his possessions, the demons were very angry. Although Bali Maharaja warned them not to do so, they took up weapons against Lord Visnu. All of them were defeated, however, by Lord Visnu's eternal associates, and, in accordance with Bali Maharaja's order, they all entered the lower planets of the universe. Understanding Lord Visnu's purpose, Garuda, the carrier of Lord Visnu, immediately arrested Bali Maharaja with the ropes of Varuna. When Bali Maharaja was thus reduced to a helpless position, Lord Visnu asked him for the third step of land. Because Lord Visnu appreciated Bali Maharaja's determination and integrity, when Bali Maharaja was unable to fulfill his promise, Lord Visnu ascertained that the place for him would be the planet Sutala, which is better than the planets of heaven.

 

                                TEXT 1

 

                                 TEXT

 

                            sri-suka uvaca

                satyam samiksyabja-bhavo nakhendubhir

                 hata-svadhama-dyutir avrto 'bhyagat

                   marici-misra rsayo brhad-vratah

                    sanandanadya nara-deva yoginah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sri-sukah uvaca--Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; satyam--the planet Satyaloka; samiksya--by observing; abja-bhavah--Lord Brahma, who appeared on the lotus flower; nakha-indubhih--by the effulgence of the nails; hata--having been reduced; sva-dhama-dyutih--the illumination of his own residence; avrtah--being covered; abhyagat--came; marici-misrah--with sages like Marici; rsayah--great saintly persons; brhat-vratah--all of them absolutely brahmacari; sanandana-adyah--like Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanandana and Sanat-kumara; nara-deva--O King; yoginah--greatly powerful mystics.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sukadeva Gosvami continued: When Lord Brahma, who was born of a lotus flower, saw that the effulgence of his residence, Brahmaloka, had been reduced by the glaring effulgence from the toenails of Lord Vamanadeva, he approached the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lord Brahma was accompanied by all the great sages, headed by Marici, and by yogis like Sanandana, but in the presence of that glaring effulgence, O King, even Lord Brahma and his associates seemed insignificant.

 

                              TEXTS 2-3

 

                                 TEXT

 

                     vedopaveda niyama yamanvitas

                    tarketihasanga-purana-samhitah

                    ye capare yoga-samira-dipita-

                  jnanagnina randhita-karma-kalmasah

 

                   vavandire yat-smarananubhavatah

                  svayambhuvam dhama gata akarmakam

                   athanghraye pronnamitaya visnor

                   upaharat padma-bhavo 'rhanodakam

                samarcya bhaktyabhyagrnac chuci-srava

                 yan-nabhi-pankeruha-sambhavah svayam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   veda--the four Vedas (Sama, Yajur, Rg and Atharva), the original knowledge given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; upavedah--the complementary and supplementary Vedic knowledge, like Ayur-veda and Dhanur-veda; niyamah--regulative principles; yama--controlling processes; anvitah--fully expert in such matters; tarka--logic; itihasa--history; anga--Vedic education; purana--old history recorded in the stories of the puranas; samhitah--Vedic complementary studies like the Brahma-samhita; ye--others; ca--also; apare--other than Lord Brahma and his associates; yoga-samira-dipita--ignited by the air of mystic yoga practice; jnana-agnina--by the fire of knowledge; randhita-karma-kalmasah--those for whom all pollution of fruitive activities has been stopped; vavandire--offered their prayers; yat-smarana-anubhavatah--simply by meditating on whom; svayambhuvam--of Lord Brahma; dhama--the residence; gatah--had achieved; akarmakam--which cannot be achieved by fruitive activities; atha--thereupon; anghraye--unto the lotus feet; pronnamitaya--offered obeisances; visnoh--of Lord Visnu; upaharat--offered worship; padma-bhavah--Lord Brahma, who appeared from the lotus flower; arhana-udakam--oblation by water; samarcya--worshiping; bhaktya--in devotional service; abhyagrnat--pleased him; suci-sravah--the most celebrated Vedic authority; yat-nabhi-pankeruha-sambhavah svayam--Lord Brahma, who personally appeared from the lotus in the navel of whom (the Personality of Godhead).

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Among the great personalities who came to worship the lotus feet of the Lord were those who had attained perfection in self-control and regulative principles, as well as experts in logic, history, general education and the Vedic literature known as kalpe [dealing with old historical incidents]. Others were experts in the Vedic corollaries like Brahma-samhita, all the other knowledge of the Vedas [Sama, Yajur, Rg and Atharva], and also the supplementary Vedic knowledge [Ayur-veda, Dhanur-veda, etc.]. Others were those who had been freed of the reactions to fruitive activities by transcendental knowledge awakened by practice of yoga. And still others were those who had attained residence in Brahmaloka not by ordinary karma but by advanced Vedic knowledge. After devotedly worshiping the upraised lotus feet of the Supreme Lord with oblations of water, Lord Brahma, who was born of the lotus emanating from Lord Visnu's navel, offered prayers to the Lord.

 

                                TEXT 4

 

                                 TEXT

 

                dhatuh kamandalu-jalam tad urukramasya

                  padavanejana-pavitrataya narendra

              svardhuny abhun nabhasi sa patati nimarsti

                loka-trayam bhagavato visadeva kirtih

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dhatuh--of Lord Brahma; kamandalu-jalam--water from the kamandalu; tat--that; urukramasya--of Lord Visnu; pada-avanejana-pavitrataya--because of washing the lotus feet of Lord Visnu and thus being transcendentally pure; nara-indra--O King; svardhuni--the river named Svardhuni of the celestial world; abhut--so became; nabhasi--in outer space; sa--that water; patati--flowing down; nimarsti--purifying; loka-trayam--the three worlds; bhagavatah--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; visada--so purified; iva--just like; kirtih--the fame or the glorious activities.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   O King, the water from Lord Brahma's kamandalu washed the lotus feet of Lord Vamanadeva, who is known as Urukrama, the wonderful actor. Thus that water became so pure that it was transformed into the water of the Ganges, which went flowing down from the sky, purifying the three worlds like the pure fame of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Here we understand that the Ganges began when the water from Lord Brahma's kamandalu washed the lotus feet of Lord Vamanadeva. But in the Fifth Canto it is stated that the Ganges began when Vamanadeva's left foot pierced the covering of the universe so that the transcendental water of the Causal Ocean leaked through. And elsewhere it is also stated that Lord Narayana appeared as the water of the Ganges. The water of the Ganges, therefore, is a combination of three transcendental waters, and thus the Ganges is able to purify the three worlds. This is the description given by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura.

 

                                TEXT 5

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        brahmadayo loka-nathah

                        sva-nathaya samadrtah

                         sanuga balim ajahruh

                        sanksiptatma-vibhutaye

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   brahma-adayah--great personalities, headed by Lord Brahma; loka-nathah--the predominating deities of various planets; sva-nathaya--unto their supreme master; samadrtah--with great respect; sa-anugah--with their respective followers; balim--different paraphernalia of worship; ajahruh--collected; sanksipta-atma-vibhutaye--unto the Lord, who had expanded His personal opulence but had now reduced His size to the Vamana form.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Lord Brahma and all the predominating deities of the various planetary systems began to worship Lord Vamanadeva, their supreme master, who had reduced Himself from His all-pervading form to His original form. They collected all the ingredients and paraphernalia for this worship.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Vamanadeva first expanded Himself to the universal form and then reduced Himself to the original Vamana-rupa. Thus He acted exactly like Lord Krsna, who, at the request of Arjuna, first showed His universal form and later resumed His original form as Krsna. The Lord can assume any form He likes, but His original form is that of Krsna (krsnas tu bhagavan svayam). According to the capacity of the devotee, the Lord assumes various forms so that the devotee can handle Him. This is His causeless mercy. When Lord Vamanadeva resumed His original form, Lord Brahma and his associates collected various paraphernalia for worship with which to please Him.

 

                              TEXTS 6-7

 

                                 TEXT

 

                     toyaih samarhanaih sragbhir

                        divya-gandhanulepanaih

                      dhupair dipaih surabhibhir

                        lajaksata-phalankuraih

 

                      stavanair jaya-sabdais ca

                       tad-virya-mahimankitaih

                       nrtya-vaditra-gitais ca

                      sankha-dundubhi-nihsvanaih

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   toyaih--by water required for washing the lotus feet and bathing; samarhanaih--by padya, arghya and other such items for worshiping the Lord; sragbhih--by flower garlands; divya-gandha-anulepanaih--by many kinds of pulp, like sandalwood and aguru, to smear upon the body of Lord Vamanadeva; dhupaih--by incense; dipaih--by lamps; surabhibhih--all of them extremely fragrant; laja--by fried paddies; aksata--by unbroken grains; phala--by fruits; ankuraih--by roots and sprouts; stavanaih--by offering prayers; jaya-sabdaih--by saying "jaya, jaya"; ca--also; tat-virya-mahima-ankitaih--which indicated the glorious activities of the Lord; nrtya-vaditra-gitaih ca--by dancing, playing various musical instruments, and singing songs; sankha--of vibrating conchshells; dundubhi--of the beating on kettledrums; nihsvanaih--by the sound vibrations.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   They worshiped the Lord by offering fragrant flowers, water, padya and arghya, sandalwood pulp and aguru pulp, incense, lamps, fused rice, unbroken grains, fruits, roots and sprouts. While so doing, they offered prayers indicating the glorious activities of the Lord and shouted "Jaya! Jaya!" They also danced, played instruments, sang, sounded conchshells and beat kettledrums, in this way worshiping the Lord.

 

                                TEXT 8

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        jambavan rksa-rajas tu

                       bheri-sabdair mano-javah

                        vijayam diksu sarvasu

                         mahotsavam aghosayat

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   jambavan--who was named Jambavan; rksa-rajah tu--the king in the form of a bear also; bheri-sabdaih--by sounding the bugle; manah-javah--in mental ecstasy; vijayam--victory; diksu--in all directions; sarvasu--everywhere; maha-utsavam--festival; aghosayat--declared.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Jambavan, king of the bears, also joined in the ceremony. Sounding his bugle in all directions, he declared a great festival for Lord Vamanadeva's victory.

 

                                TEXT 9

 

                                 TEXT

 

                      mahim sarvam hrtam drstva

                        tripada-vyaja-yacnaya

                        ucuh sva-bhartur asura

                        diksitasyatyamarsitah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   mahim--land; sarvam--all; hrtam--lost; drstva--after seeing; tri-pada-vyaja-yacnaya--by simply asking three steps of land; ucuh--said; sva-bhartuh--of their master; asurah--the demons; diksitasya--of Bali Maharaja, who was so determined in the sacrifice; ati--very much; amarsitah--for whom the function was unbearable.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When the demoniac followers of Maharaja Bali saw that their master, who had been determined in performing sacrifice, had lost all his possessions to Vamanadeva, who had taken them away on the plea of begging three paces of land, they were very angry and spoke as follows.

 

                               TEXT 10

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       na vayam brahma-bandhur

                        visnur mayavinam varah

                       dvija-rupa-praticchanno

                        deva-karyam cikirsati

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   na--not; va--either; ayam--this; brahma-bandhuh--Vamanadeva, in the form of a brahmana; visnuh--He is Lord Visnu Himself; mayavinam--of all cheaters; varah--the greatest; dvija-rupa--by assuming the form of a brahmana; praticchannah--is disguised for the purpose of cheating; deva-karyam--the interest of the demigods; cikirsati--He is trying for.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "This Vamana is certainly not a brahmana but the best of cheaters, Lord Visnu. Assuming the form of a brahmana, He has covered His own form, and thus He is working for the interests of the demigods.

 

                               TEXT 11

 

                                 TEXT

 

                           anena yacamanena

                         satruna vatu-rupina

                      sarvasvam no hrtam bhartur

                       nyasta-dandasya barhisi

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   anena--by Him; yacamanena--who is in the position of a beggar; satruna--by the enemy; vatu-rupina--in the form of a brahmacari; sarvasvam--everything; nah--our; hrtam--has been taken away; bhartuh--of our master; nyasta--had been given up; dandasya--of whom the power of giving punishment; barhisi--because of taking the vow of a ritualistic ceremony.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Our lord, Bali Maharaja, because of his position in performing the yajna, has given up the power to punish. Taking advantage of this, our eternal enemy, Visnu, dressed in the form of a brahmacari beggar, has taken away all his possessions.

 

                               TEXT 12

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        satya-vratasya satatam

                         diksitasya visesatah

                       nanrtam bhasitum sakyam

                        brahmanyasya dayavatah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   satya-vratasya--of Maharaja Bali, who is fixed in truthfulness; satatam--always; diksitasya--of he who was initiated into performing yajna; visesatah--specifically; na--not; anrtam--untruth; bhasitum--to speak; sakyam--is able; brahmanyasya--to the brahminical culture, or to the brahmana; daya-vatah--of he who is always kind.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Our lord, Bali Maharaja, is always fixed in truthfulness, and this is especially so at present, since he has been initiated into performing a sacrifice. He is always kind and merciful toward the brahmanas, and he cannot at any time speak lies.

 

                               TEXT 13

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       tasmad asya vadho dharmo

                      bhartuh susrusanam ca nah

                         ity ayudhani jagrhur

                          baler anucarasurah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tasmat--therefore; asya--of this brahmacari Vamana; vadhah--the killing; dharmah--is our duty; bhartuh--of our master; susrusanam ca--and it is the way of serving; nah--our; iti--thus; ayudhani--all kinds of weapons; jagrhuh--they took up; baleh--of Bali Maharaja; anucara--followers; asurah--all the demons.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   "Therefore it is our duty to kill this Vamanadeva, Lord Visnu. It is our religious principle and the way to serve our master." After making this decision, the demoniac followers of Maharaja Bali took up their various weapons with a view to killing Vamanadeva.

 

                               TEXT 14

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       te sarve vamanam hantum

                         sula-pattisa-panayah

                        anicchanto bale rajan

                       pradravan jata-manyavah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   te--the demons; sarve--all of them; vamanam--Lord Vamanadeva; hantum--to kill; sula--tridents; pattisa--lances; panayah--all taking in hand; anicchantah--against the will; baleh--of Bali Maharaja; rajan--O King; pradravan--they pushed forward; jata-manyavah--aggravated by usual anger.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   O King, the demons, aggravated by their usual anger, took their lances and tridents in hand, and against the will of Bali Maharaja they pushed forward to kill Lord Vamanadeva.

 

                               TEXT 15

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        tan abhidravato drstva

                          ditijanikapan nrpa

                        prahasyanucara visnoh

                       pratyasedhann udayudhah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tan--them; abhidravatah--thus going forward; drstva--seeing; ditija-anika-pan--the soldiers of the demons; nrpa--O King; prahasya--smiling; anucarah--the associates; visnoh--of Lord Visnu; pratyasedhan--forbade; udayudhah--taking up their weapons.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   O King, when the associates of Lord Visnu saw the soldiers of the demons coming forward in violence, they smiled. Taking up their weapons, they forbade the demons to continue their attempt.

 

                             TEXTS 16-17

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       nandah sunando 'tha jayo

                        vijayah prabalo balah

                        kumudah kumudaksas ca

                       visvaksenah patattrirat

 

                        jayantah srutadevas ca

                       puspadanto 'tha satvatah

                        sarve nagayuta-pranas

                       camum te jaghnur asurim

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nandah sunandah--the associates of Lord Visnu such as Nanda and Sunanda; atha--in this way; jayah vijayah prabalah balah kumudah kumudaksah ca visvaksenah--as well as Jaya, Vijaya, Prabala, Bala, Kumada, Kumudaksa and Visvaksena; patattri-rat--Garuda, the king of the birds; jayantah srutadevah ca puspadantah atha satvatah--Jayanta, Srutadeva, Puspadanta and Satvata; sarve--all of them; naga-ayuta-pranah--as powerful as ten thousand elephants; camum--the soldiers of the demons; te--they; jaghnuh--killed; asurim--demoniac.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Nanda, Sunanda, Jaya, Vijaya, Prabala, Bala, Kumuda, Kumudaksa, Visvaksena, Patattrirat [Garuda], Jayanta, Srutadeva, Puspadanta and Satvata were all associates of Lord Visnu. They were as powerful as ten thousand elephants, and now they began killing the soldiers of the demons.

 

                               TEXT 18

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       hanyamanan svakan drstva

                         purusanucarair balih

                        varayam asa samrabdhan

                        kavya-sapam anusmaran

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   hanyamanan--being killed; svakan--his own soldiers; drstva--after seeing; purusa-anucaraih--by the associates of the Supreme Person; balih--Bali Maharaja; varayam asa--forbade; samrabdhan--even though they were very angry; kavya-sapam--the curse given by Sukracarya; anusmaran--remembering.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Bali Maharaja saw that his own soldiers were being killed by the associates of Lord Visnu, he remembered the curse of Sukracarya and forbade his soldiers to continue fighting.

 

                               TEXT 19

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        he vipracitte he raho

                        he neme sruyatam vacah

                       ma yudhyata nivartadhvam

                      na nah kalo 'yam artha-krt

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   he vipracitte--O Vipracitti; he raho--O Rahu; he neme--O Nemi; sruyatam--kindly hear; vacah--my words; ma--do not; yudhyata--fight; nivartadhvam--stop this fighting; na--not; nah--our; kalah--favorable time; ayam--this; artha-krt--which can give us success.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   O Vipracitti, O Rahu, O Nemi, please hear my words! Don't fight. Stop immediately, for the present time is not in our favor.

 

                               TEXT 20

 

                                 TEXT

 

                      yah prabhuh sarva-bhutanam

                        sukha-duhkhopapattaye

                       tam nativartitum daityah

                       paurusair isvarah puman

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yah prabhuh--that Supreme Person, the master; sarva-bhutanam--of all living entities; sukha-duhkha-upapattaye--for administering happiness and distress; tam--Him; na--not; ativartitum--to overcome; daityah--O demons; paurusaih--by human endeavors; isvarah--the supreme controller; puman--a person.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   O Daityas, by human efforts no one can supersede the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who can bring happiness and distress to all living entities.

 

                               TEXT 21

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       yo no bhavaya prag asid

                         abhavaya divaukasam

                         sa eva bhagavan adya

                        vartate tad-viparyayam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yah--the time factor, which represents the Supreme Personality of Godhead; nah--of us; bhavaya--for the improvement; prak--formerly; asit--was situated; abhavaya--for the defeat; diva-okasam--of the demigods; sah--that time factor; eva--indeed; bhagavan--the representative of the Supreme Person; adya--today; vartate--is existing; tat-viparyayam--just the opposite of our favor.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The supreme time factor, which represents the Supreme Person, was previously in our favor and not in favor of the demigods, but now that same time factor is against us.

 

                               TEXT 22

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       balena sacivair buddhya

                      durgair mantrausadhadibhih

                        samadibhir upayais ca

                       kalam natyeti vai janah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   balena--by material power; sacivaih--by the counsel of ministers; buddhya--by intelligence; durgaih--by fortresses; mantra-ausadha-adibhih--by mystic chanting or the influence of drugs and herbs; sama-adibhih--by diplomacy and other such means; upayaih ca--by similar other attempts; kalam--the time factor, representing the Supreme Lord; na--never; atyeti--can overcome; vai--indeed; janah--any person.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   No one can surpass the time representation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead by material power, by the counsel of ministers, by intelligence, by diplomacy, by fortresses, by mystic mantras, by drugs, by herbs or by any other means.

 

                               TEXT 23

 

                                 TEXT

 

                      bhavadbhir nirjita hy ete

                         bahuso 'nucara hareh

                       daivenarddhais ta evadya

                       yudhi jitva nadanti nah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhavadbhih--by all of you demons; nirjitah--have been defeated; hi--indeed; ete--all these soldiers of the demigods; bahusah--in great number; anucarah--followers; hareh--of Lord Visnu; daivena--by providence; rddhaih--whose opulence was increased; te--they (the demigods); eva--indeed; adya--today; yudhi--in the fight; jitva--defeating; nadanti--are vibrating in jubilation; nah--us.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Previously, being empowered by providence, you defeated a great number of such followers of Lord Visnu. But today those same followers, having defeated us, are roaring in jubilation like lions.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Bhagavad-gita mentions five causes of defeat or victory. Of these five, daiva (providence) is the most powerful (na ca daivat param balam). Bali Maharaja knew the secret of how he had formerly been victorious because providence was in his favor. Now, since that same providence was not in his favor, there was no possibility of his victory. Thus he very intelligently forbade his associates to fight.

 

                               TEXT 24

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         etan vayam vijesyamo

                        yadi daivam prasidati

                      tasmat kalam pratiksadhvam

                       yo no 'rthatvaya kalpate

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   etan--all these soldiers of the demigods; vayam--we; vijesyamah--shall gain victory over them; yadi--if; daivam--providence; prasidati--is in favor; tasmat--therefore; kalam--that favorable time; pratiksadhvam--wait until; yah--which; nah--our; arthatvaya kalpate--should be considered in our favor.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Unless providence is in our favor, we shall not be able to gain victory. Therefore we must wait for that favorable time when our defeating them will be possible.

 

                               TEXT 25

 

                                 TEXT

 

                            sri-suka uvaca

                       patyur nigaditam srutva

                        daitya-danava-yuthapah

                        rasam nirvivisu rajan

                        visnu-parsada taditah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sri-sukah uvaca--Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; patyuh--of their master (Bali Maharaja); nigaditam--what had been thus described; srutva--after hearing; daitya-danava-yutha-pah--the leaders of the Daityas and demons; rasam--the lower regions of the universe; nirvivisuh--entered; rajan--O King; visnu-parsada--by the associates of Lord Visnu; taditah--driven.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sukadeva Gosvami continued: O King, in accordance with the order of their master, Bali Maharaja, all the chiefs of the demons and the Daityas entered the lower regions of the universe, to which they were driven by the soldiers of Visnu.

 

                               TEXT 26

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       atha tarksya-suto jnatva

                       virat prabhu-cikirsitam

                       babandha varunaih pasair

                       balim sutye 'hani kratau

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   atha--thereafter; tarksya-sutah--Garuda; jnatva--knowing; virat--the king of birds; prabhu-cikirsitam--the desire of Lord Visnu as Vamanadeva; babandha--arrested; varunaih--belonging to Varuna; pasaih--by the ropes; balim--Bali; sutye--when soma-rasa is taken; ahani--on the day; kratau--at the time of sacrifice.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thereafter, on the day of soma-pana, after the sacrifice was finished, Garuda, king of the birds, understanding the desire of his master, arrested Bali Maharaja with the ropes of Varuna.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Garuda, the constant companion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, knows the confidential part of the Lord's desire. Bali Maharaja's tolerance and devotion were undoubtedly superexcellent. Garuda arrested Bali Maharaja to show the entire universe the greatness of the King's tolerance.

 

                               TEXT 27

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         hahakaro mahan asid

                        rodasyoh sarvato disam

                       nigrhyamane 'sura-patau

                        visnuna prabhavisnuna

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   haha-karah--a tumultuous roar of lamentation; mahan--great; asit--there was; rodasyoh--in both the lower and upper planetary systems; sarvatah--everywhere; disam--all directions; nigrhyamane--because of being suppressed; asura-patau--when Bali Maharaja, the King of the demons; visnuna--by Lord Visnu; prabhavisnuna--who is the most powerful everywhere.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Bali Maharaja was thus arrested by Lord Visnu, who is the most powerful, there was a great roar of lamentation in all directions throughout the upper and lower planetary systems of the universe.

 

                               TEXT 28

 

                                 TEXT

 

                     tam baddham varunaih pasair

                         bhagavan aha vamanah

                     nasta-sriyam sthira-prajnam

                          udara-yasasam nrpa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tam--unto him; baddham--who was so arrested; varunaih pasaih--by the ropes of Varuna; bhagavan--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; aha--said; vamanah--Vamanadeva; nasta-sriyam--unto Bali Maharaja, who had lost his bodily luster; sthira-prajnam--but was all the same determined in his decision; udara-yasasam--the most magnanimous and celebrated; nrpa--O King.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   O King, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vamanadeva, then spoke to Bali Maharaja, the most liberal and celebrated personality whom He had arrested with the ropes of Varuna. Bali Maharaja had lost all bodily luster, but he was nonetheless fixed in his determination.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   When one is bereft of all his possessions, he is certainly reduced in bodily luster. But although Bali Maharaja had lost everything, he was fixed in his determination to satisfy Vamanadeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In Bhagavad-gita, such a person is called sthita-prajna. A pure devotee is never deviated from the service of the Lord, despite all difficulties and impediments offered by the illusory energy. Generally men who have wealth and opulence are famous, but Bali Maharaja became famous for all time by being deprived of all his possessions. This is the special mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead toward His devotees. The Lord says, yasyaham anugrhnami harisye tad-dhanam sanaih. As the first installment of His special favor, the Lord takes away all the possessions of His devotee. A devotee, however, is never disturbed by such a loss. He continues his service, and the Lord amply rewards him, beyond the expectations of any common man.

 

                               TEXT 29

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         padani trini dattani

                       bhumer mahyam tvayasura

                      dvabhyam kranta mahi sarva

                          trtiyam upakalpaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   padani--footsteps; trini--three; dattani--have been given; bhumeh--of land; mahyam--unto Me; tvaya--by you; asura--O King of the demons; dvabhyam--by two steps; kranta--have been occupied; mahi--all the land; sarva--completely; trtiyam--for the third step; upakalpaya--now find the means.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   O King of the demons, you have promised to give Me three steps of land, but I have occupied the entire universe with two steps. Now think about where I should put My third.

 

                               TEXT 30

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       yavat tapaty asau gobhir

                        yavad induh sahodubhih

                       yavad varsati parjanyas

                        tavati bhur iyam tava

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yavat--as far as; tapati--is shining; asau--the sun; gobhih--by the sunshine; yavat--as long or as far as; induh--the moon; saha-udubhih--with the luminaries or stars; yavat--as far as; varsati--are pouring rain; parjanyah--the clouds; tavati--to that much distance; bhuh--land; iyam--this; tava--in your possession.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   As far as the sun and moon shine with the stars and as far as the clouds pour rain, all the land throughout the universe is in your possession.

 

                               TEXT 31

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         padaikena mayakranto

                      bhurlokah kham disas tanoh

                        svarlokas te dvitiyena

                       pasyatas te svam atmana

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   pada ekena--by one step only; maya--by Me; akrantah--have been covered; bhurlokah--the entire planetary system known as Bhurloka; kham--the sky; disah--and all directions; tanoh--by My body; svarlokah--the upper planetary system; te--in your possession; dvitiyena--by the second step; pasyatah te--while you were seeing; svam--your own; atmana--by Myself.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Of these possessions, with one step I have occupied Bhurloka, and with My body I have occupied the entire sky and all directions. And in your presence, with My second step, I have occupied the upper planetary system.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   According to the Vedic description of the planetary system, all the planets move from east to west. The sun, the moon and five other planets, such as Mars and Jupiter, orbit one above another. Vamanadeva, however, expanding His body and extending His steps, occupied the entire planetary system.

 

                               TEXT 32

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        pratisrutam adatus te

                          niraye vasa isyate

                       visa tvam nirayam tasmad

                          guruna canumoditah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   pratisrutam--what had been promised; adatuh--who could not give; te--of you; niraye--in hell; vasah--residence; isyate--prescribed; visa--now enter; tvam--yourself; nirayam--the hellish planet; tasmat--therefore; guruna--by your spiritual master; ca--also; anumoditah--approved.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Because you have been unable to give charity according to your promise, the rule is that you should go down to live in the hellish planets. Therefore, in accordance with the order of Sukracarya, your spiritual master, now go down and live there.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   It is said:

 

                         narayana-parah sarve

                        na kutascana bibhyati

                        svargapavarga-narakesv

                        api tulyartha-darsinah

 

   "Devotees solely engaged in the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana, never fear any condition of life. For them the heavenly planets, liberation and the hellish planets are all the same, for such devotees are interested only in the service of the Lord." (Bhag. 6.12.28) A devotee engaged in the service of Narayana is always in equilibrium. A devotee actually lives transcendentally. Although he may appear to have gone to hell or heaven, he does not live in either place; rather, he always lives in Vaikuntha (sa gunan samatityaitan brahma-bhuyaya kalpate). Vamanadeva asked Bali Maharaja to go to the hellish planets, apparently just to show the entire universe how tolerant he was, and Bali Maharaja did not hesitate to carry out the order. A devotee does not live alone. Of course, everyone lives with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but because the devotee is engaged in His service, he actually does not live in any material condition. Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, kita janma hao yatha tuya dasa. Thus he prays to take birth as an insignificant insect in the association of devotees. Because devotees are engaged in the service of the Lord, anyone who lives with them also lives in Vaikuntha.

 

                               TEXT 33

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        vrtha manorathas tasya

                      durah svargah pataty adhah

                         pratisrutasyadanena

                      yo 'rthinam vipralambhate

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vrtha--without any good result; manorathah--mental concoction; tasya--of him; durah--far away; svargah--elevation to the higher planetary system; patati--falls down; adhah--to a hellish condition of life; pratisrutasya--things promised; adanena--being unable to give; yah--anyone who; arthinam--a beggar; vipralambhate--cheats.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Far from being elevated to the heavenly planets or fulfilling one's desire, one who does not properly give a beggar what he has promised falls down to a hellish condition of life.

 

                               TEXT 34

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         vipralabdho dadamiti

                        tvayaham cadhya-manina

                     tad vyalika-phalam bhunksva

                        nirayam katicit samah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vipralabdhah--now I am cheated; dadami--I promise I shall give you; iti--thus; tvaya--by you; aham--I am; ca--also; adhya-manina--by being very proud of your opulence; tat--therefore; vyalika-phalam--as a result of cheating; bhunksva--you enjoy; nirayam--in hellish life; katicit--a few; samah--years.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Being falsely proud of your possessions, you promised to give Me land, but you could not fulfill your promise. Therefore, because your promise was false, you must live for a few years in hellish life.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The false prestige of thinking "I am very rich, and I possess such vast property" is another side of material life. Everything belongs to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and no one else possesses anything. This is the real fact. Isavasyam idam samam yat kinca jagatyam jagat. Bali Maharaja was undoubtedly the most exalted devotee, whereas previously he had maintained a misunderstanding due to false prestige. By the supreme will of the Lord, he now had to go to the hellish planets, but because he went there by the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he lived there more opulently than one could expect to live in the planets of heaven. A devotee always lives with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, engaging in His service, and therefore he is always transcendental to hellish or heavenly residences.

 

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Twenty-first Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled "Bali Maharaja Arrested by the Lord"


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