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Chapter Eleven
King Indra Annihilates the Demons
As described in this chapter, the great saint Narada Muni, being very compassionate to the demons who had been killed by the demigods, forbade the demigods to continue killing. Then Sukracarya, by his mystic power, renewed the lives of all the demons.
Having been graced by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the demigods began fighting the demons again, with renewed energy. King Indra released his thunderbolt against Bali, and when Bali fell, his friend Jambhasura attacked Indra, who then cut off Jambhasura's head with his thunderbolt. When Narada Muni learned that Jambhasura had been killed, he informed Jambhasura's relatives Namuci, Bala and Paka, who then went to the battlefield and attacked the demigods. Indra, King of heaven, severed the heads of Bala and Paka and released the weapon known as kulisa, the thunderbolt, against Namuci's shoulder. The thunderbolt, however, returned unsuccessful, and thus Indra became morose. At that time, an unseen voice came from the sky. The voice declared, "A dry or wet weapon cannot kill Namuci." Hearing this voice, Indra began to think of how Namuci could be killed. He then thought of foam, which is neither moist nor dry. Using a weapon of foam, he was able to kill Namuci. Thus Indra and the other demigods killed many demons. Then, at the request of Lord Brahma, Narada went to the demigods and forbade them to kill the demons any longer. All the demigods then returned to their abodes. Following the instructions of Narada, whatever demons remained alive on the battlefield took Bali Maharaja to Asta Mountain. There, by the touch of Sukracarya's hand, Bali Maharaja regained his senses and consciousness, and those demons whose heads and bodies had not been completely lost were brought back to life by the mystic power of Sukracarya.
TEXT 1
TEXT
sri-suka uvaca
atho surah pratyupalabdha-cetasah
parasya pumsah parayanukampaya
jaghnur bhrsam sakra-samiranadayas
tams tan rane yair abhisamhatah pura
SYNONYMS
sri-sukah uvaca--Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; atho--thereafter; surah--all the demigods; pratyupalabdha-cetasah--being enlivened again by revival of their consciousness; parasya--of the Supreme; pumsah--of the Personality of Godhead; paraya--supreme; anukampaya--by the mercy; jaghnuh--began to beat; bhrsam--again and again; sakra--Indra; samirana--Vayu; adayah--and others; tan tan--to those demons; rane--in the fight; yaih--by whom; abhisamhatah--they were beaten; pura--before.
TRANSLATION
Sukadeva Gosvami said: Thereafter, by the supreme grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Hari, all the demigods, headed by Indra and Vayu, were brought back to life. Being enlivened, the demigods began severely beating the very same demons who had defeated them before.
TEXT 2
TEXT
vairocanaya samrabdho
bhagavan paka-sasanah
udayacchad yada vajram
praja ha heti cukrusuh
SYNONYMS
vairocanaya--unto Bali Maharaja (just to kill him); samrabdhah--being very angry; bhagavan--the most powerful; paka-sasanah--Indra; udayacchat--took in his hand; yada--at which time; vajram--the thunderbolt; prajah--all the demons; ha ha--alas, alas; iti--thus; cukrusuh--began to resound.
TRANSLATION
When the most powerful Indra became angry and took his thunderbolt in hand to kill Maharaja Bali, the demons began lamenting, "Alas, alas!"
TEXT 3
TEXT
vajra-panis tam ahedam
tiraskrtya purah-sthitam
manasvinam susampannam
vicarantam maha-mrdhe
SYNONYMS
vajra-panih--Indra, who always carries in his hand the thunderbolt; tam--unto Bali Maharaja; aha--addressed; idam--in this way; tiraskrtya--chastising him; purah-sthitam--standing before him; manasvinam--very sober and tolerant; su-sampannam--well equipped with paraphernalia for fighting; vicarantam--moving; maha-mrdhe--on the great battlefield.
TRANSLATION
Sober and tolerant and well equipped with paraphernalia for fighting, Bali Maharaja moved before Indra on the great battlefield. King Indra, who always carries the thunderbolt in his hand, rebuked Bali Maharaja as follows.
TEXT 4
TEXT
natavan mudha mayabhir
mayesan no jigisasi
jitva balan nibaddhaksan
nato harati tad-dhanam
SYNONYMS
nata-vat--like a cheater or rogue; mudha--you rascal; mayabhih--by exhibiting illusions; maya-isan--unto the demigods, who can control all such illusory manifestations; nah--unto us; jigisasi--you are trying to become victorious; jitva--conquering; balan--small children; nibaddha-aksan--by binding the eyes; natah--a cheater; harati--takes away; tat-dhanam--the property in the possession of a child.
TRANSLATION
Indra said: O rascal, as a cheater sometimes binds the eyes of a child and takes away his possessions, you are trying to defeat us by displaying some mystic power, although you know that we are the masters of all such mystic powers.
TEXT 5
TEXT
aruruksanti mayabhir
utsisrpsanti ye divam
tan dasyun vidhunomy ajnan
purvasmac ca padad adhah
SYNONYMS
aruruksanti--persons who desire to come to the upper planetary systems; mayabhih--by so-called mystic power or material advancement of science; utsisrpsanti--or want to be liberated by such false attempts; ye--such persons who; divam--the higher planetary system known as Svargaloka; tan--such rogues and ruffians; dasyun--such thieves; vidhunomi--I force to go down; ajnan--rascals; purvasmat--previous; ca--also; padat--from the position; adhah--downward.
TRANSLATION
Those fools and rascals who want to ascend to the upper planetary system by mystic power or mechanical means, or who endeavor to cross even the upper planets and achieve the spiritual world or liberation, I cause to be sent to the lowest region of the universe.
PURPORT
There are undoubtedly different planetary systems for different persons. As stated in Bhagavad-gita (14.18), urdhvam gacchanti sattva-sthah: persons in the mode of goodness can go to the upper planets. Those in the modes of darkness and passion, however, are not allowed to enter the higher planets. The word divam refers to the higher planetary system known as Svargaloka. Indra, King of the higher planetary system, has the power to push down any conditioned soul attempting to go from the lower to the higher planets without proper qualifications. The modern attempt to go to the moon is also an attempt by inferior men to go to Svargaloka by artificial, mechanical means. This attempt cannot be successful. From this statement of Indra it appears that anyone attempting to go to the higher planetary systems by mechanical means, which are here called maya, is condemned to go the hellish planets in the lower portion of the universe. To go to the higher planetary system, one needs sufficient good qualities. A sinful person situated in the mode of ignorance and addicted to drinking, meat-eating and illicit sex will never enter the higher planets by mechanical means.
TEXT 6
TEXT
so 'ham durmayinas te 'dya
vajrena sata-parvana
siro harisye mandatman
ghatasva jnatibhih saha
SYNONYMS
sah--I am the same powerful person; aham--I; durmayinah--of you, who can perform so much jugglery with illusions; te--of you; adya--today; vajrena--by the thunderbolt; sata-parvana--which has hundreds of sharp edges; sirah--the head; harisye--I shall separate; manda-atman--O you with a poor fund of knowledge; ghatasva--just try to exist on this battlefield; jnatibhih saha--with your relatives and assistants.
TRANSLATION
Today, with my thunderbolt, which has hundreds of sharp edges, I, the same powerful person, shall sever your head from your body. Although you can produce so much jugglery through illusion, you are endowed with a poor fund of knowledge. Now, try to exist on this battlefield with your relatives and friends.
TEXT 7
TEXT
sri-balir uvaca
sangrame vartamananam
kala-codita-karmanam
kirtir jayo 'jayo mrtyuh
sarvesam syur anukramat
SYNONYMS
sri-balih uvaca--Bali Maharaja said; sangrame--in the battlefield; vartamananam--of all persons present here; kala-codita--influenced by the course of time; karmanam--for persons engaged in fighting or any other activities; kirtih--reputation; jayah--victory; ajayah--defeat; mrtyuh--death; sarvesam--of all of them; syuh--must be done; anukramat--one after another.
TRANSLATION
Bali Maharaja replied: All those present on this battlefield are certainly under the influence of eternal time, and according to their prescribed activities, they are destined to receive fame, victory, defeat and death, one after another.
PURPORT
If one is victorious on the battlefield, he becomes famous; and if one is not victorious but is defeated, he may die. Both victory and defeat are possible, whether on such a battlefield as this or on the battlefield of the struggle for existence. Everything takes place according to the laws of nature (prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah). Since everyone, without exception, is subject to the modes of material nature, whether one is victorious or defeated he is not independent, but is under the control of material nature. Bali Maharaja, therefore, was very sensible. He knew that the fighting was arranged by eternal time and that under time's influence one must accept the results of one's own activities. Therefore even though Indra threatened that he would now kill Bali Maharaja by releasing the thunderbolt, Bali Maharaja was not at all afraid. This is the spirit of a ksatriya: yuddhe capy apalayanam (Bg. 18.43). A ksatriya must be tolerant in all circumstances, especially on the battlefield. Thus Bali Maharaja asserted that he was not at all afraid of death, although he was threatened by such a great personality as the King of heaven.
TEXT 8
TEXT
tad idam kala-rasanam
jagat pasyanti surayah
na hrsyanti na socanti
tatra yuyam apanditah
SYNONYMS
tat--therefore; idam--this whole material world; kala-rasanam--is moving because of time eternal; jagat--moving forward (this whole universe); pasyanti--observe; surayah--those who are intelligent by admission of the truth; na--not; hrsyanti--become jubilant; na--nor; socanti--lament; tatra--in such; yuyam--all of you demigods; apanditah--not very learned (having forgotten that you are working under eternal time).
TRANSLATION
Seeing the movements of time, those who are cognizant of the real truth neither rejoice nor lament for different circumstances. Therefore, because you are jubilant due to your victory, you should be considered not very learned.
PURPORT
Bali Maharaja knew that Indra, King of heaven, was extremely powerful, certainly more powerful than he himself. Nonetheless, Bali Maharaja challenged Indra by saying that Indra was not a very learned person. In Bhagavad-gita (2.11) Krsna rebuked Arjuna by saying:
asocyan anvasocas tvam
prajna-vadams ca bhasase
gatasun agatasums ca
nanusocanti panditah
"While speaking learned words, you are mourning for what is not worthy of grief. Those who are wise lament neither for the living nor the dead." Thus as Krsna challenged Arjuna by saying that he was not a pandita, or a learned person, Bali Maharaja also challenged King Indra and his associates. In this material world, everything happens under the influence of time. Consequently, for a learned person who sees how things are taking place, there is no question of being sorry or happy because of the waves of material nature. After all, since we are being carried away by these waves, what is the meaning of being jubilant or morose? One who is fully conversant with the laws of nature is never jubilant or morose because of nature's activities. In Bhagavad-gita (2.14), Krsna advises that one be tolerant: tams titiksasva bharata. Following this advice of Krsna's, one should not be morose or unhappy because of circumstantial changes. This is the symptom of a devotee. A devotee carries out his duty in Krsna consciousness and is never unhappy in awkward circumstances. He has full faith that in such circumstances, Krsna protects His devotee. Therefore a devotee never deviates from his prescribed duty of devotional service. The material qualities of jubilation and moroseness are present even in the demigods, who are very highly situated in the upper planetary system. Therefore, when one is undisturbed by the so-called favorable and unfavorable circumstances of this material world, he should be understood to be brahma-bhuta, or self-realized. As stated in Bhagavad-gita (18.54), brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kanksati: "One who is transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful." When one is undisturbed by material circumstances, he should be understood to be on the transcendental stage, above the reactions of the three modes of material nature.
TEXT 9
TEXT
na vayam manyamananam
atmanam tatra sadhanam
giro vah sadhu-socyanam
grhnimo marma-tadanah
SYNONYMS
na--not; vayam--we; manyamananam--who are considering; atmanam--the self; tatra--in victory or defeat; sadhanam--the cause; girah--the words; vah--of you; sadhu-socyanam--who are to be pitied by the saintly persons; grhnimah--accept; marma-tadanah--which afflict the heart.
TRANSLATION
You demigods think that your own selves are the cause of your attaining fame and victory. Because of your ignorance, saintly persons feel sorry for you. Therefore, although your words afflict the heart, we do not accept them.
TEXT 10
TEXT
sri-suka uvaca
ity aksipya vibhum viro
naracair vira-mardanah
akarna-purnairahanad
aksepair aha tam punah
SYNONYMS
sri-sukah uvaca--Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; iti--thus; aksipya--chastising; vibhum--unto King Indra; virah--the valiant Bali Maharaja; naracaih--by the arrows named naracas; vira-mardanah--Bali Maharaja, who could subdue even great heros; akarna-purnaih--drawn up to his ear; ahanat--attacked; aksepaih--by words of chastisement; aha--said; tam--unto him; punah--again.
TRANSLATION
Sukadeva Gosvami said: After thus rebuking Indra, King of heaven, with sharp words, Bali Maharaja, who could subdue any other hero, drew back to his ear the arrows known as naracas and attacked Indra with these arrows. Then he again chastised Indra with strong words.
TEXT 11
TEXT
evam nirakrto devo
vairina tathya-vadina
namrsyat tad-adhiksepam
totrahata iva dvipah
SYNONYMS
evam--thus; nirakrtah--being defeated; devah--King Indra; vairina--by his enemy; tathya-vadina--who was competent to speak the truth; na--not; amrsyat--lamented; tat--of him (Bali); adhiksepam--the chastisement; totra--by the scepter or rod; ahatah--being beaten; iva--just like; dvipah--an elephant.
TRANSLATION
Since Maharaja Bali's rebukes were truthful, King Indra did not at all become sorry, just as an elephant beaten by its driver's rod does not become agitated.
TEXT 12
TEXT
praharat kulisam tasma
amogham para-mardanah
sayano nyapatad bhumau
chinna-paksa ivacalah
SYNONYMS
praharat--inflicted; kulisam--thunderbolt scepter; tasmai--unto him (Bali Maharaja); amogham--infallible; para-mardanah--Indra, who is expert in defeating the enemy; sa-yanah--with his airplane; nyapatat--fell down; bhumau--on the ground; chinna-paksah--whose wings have been taken away; iva--like; acalah--a mountain.
TRANSLATION
When Indra, the defeater of enemies, released his infallible thunderbolt scepter at Bali Maharaja with a desire to kill him, Bali Maharaja indeed fell to the ground with his airplane, like a mountain with its wings cut off.
PURPORT
In many descriptions in Vedic literature it is found that mountains also fly in the sky with wings. When such mountains are dead, they fall to the ground, where they stay as very large dead bodies.
TEXT 13
TEXT
sakhayam patitam drstva
jambho bali-sakhah suhrt
abhyayat sauhrdam sakhyur
hatasyapi samacaran
SYNONYMS
sakhayam--his intimate friend; patitam--having fallen; drstva--after seeing; jambhah--the demon Jambha; bali-sakhah--a very intimate friend of Bali Maharaja; suhrt--and constant well-wisher; abhyayat--appeared on the scene; sauhrdam--very compassionate friendship; sakhyuh--of his friend; hatasya--who was injured and fallen; api--although; samacaran--just to perform friendly duties.
TRANSLATION
When the demon Jambhasura saw that his friend Bali had fallen, he appeared before Indra, the enemy, just to serve Bali Maharaja with friendly behavior.
TEXT 14
TEXT
sa simha-vaha asadya
gadam udyamya ramhasa
jatrav atadayac chakram
gajam ca sumaha-balah
SYNONYMS
sah--Jambhasura; simha-vahah--being carried by a lion; asadya--coming before King Indra; gadam--his club; udyamya--taking up; ramhasa--with great force; jatrau--on the base of the neck; atadayat--hit; sakram--Indra; gajam ca--as well as his elephant; su-maha-balah--the greatly powerful Jambhasura.
TRANSLATION
The greatly powerful Jambhasura, carried by a lion, approached Indra and forcefully struck him on the shoulder with his club. He also struck Indra's elephant.
TEXT 15
TEXT
gada-prahara-vyathito
bhrsam vihvalito gajah
janubhyam dharanim sprstva
kasmalam paramam yayau
SYNONYMS
gada-prahara-vyathitah--being aggrieved because of the blow from Jambhasura's club; bhrsam--very much; vihvalitah--upset; gajah--the elephant; janubhyam--with its two knees; dharanim--the earth; sprstva--touching; kasmalam--unconsciousness; paramam--ultimate; yayau--entered.
TRANSLATION
Being beaten by Jambhasura's club, Indra's elephant was confused and aggrieved. Thus it touched its knees to the ground and fell unconscious.
TEXT 16
TEXT
tato ratho matalina
haribhir dasa-satair vrtah
anito dvipam utsrjya
ratham aruruhe vibhuh
SYNONYMS
tatah--thereafter; rathah--chariot; matalina--by his chariot driver named Matali; haribhih--with horses; dasa-sataih--by ten times one hundred (one thousand); vrtah--yoked; anitah--being brought in; dvipam--the elephant; utsrjya--keeping aside; ratham--the chariot; aruruhe--got up; vibhuh--the great Indra.
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, Matali, Indra's chariot driver, brought Indra's chariot, which was drawn by one thousand horses. Indra then left his elephant and got onto the chariot.
TEXT 17
TEXT
tasya tat pujayan karma
yantur danava-sattamah
sulena jvalata tam tu
smayamano 'hanan mrdhe
SYNONYMS
tasya--of Matali; tat--that service (bringing the chariot before Indra); pujayan--appreciating; karma--such service to the master; yantuh--of the chariot driver; danava-sat-tamah--the best of the demons, namely Jambhasura; sulena--by his trident; jvalata--which was blazing fire; tam--Matali; tu--indeed; smayamanah--smiling; ahanat--struck; mrdhe--in the battle.
TRANSLATION
Appreciating Matali's service, Jambhasura, the best of the demons, smiled. Nonetheless, he struck Matali in the battle with a trident of blazing fire.
TEXT 18
TEXT
sehe rujam sudurmarsam
sattvam alambya matalih
indro jambhasya sankruddho
vajrenapaharac chirah
SYNONYMS
sehe--tolerated; rujam--the pain; su-durmarsam--intolerable; sattvam--patience; alambya--taking shelter of; matalih--the charioteer Matali; indrah--King Indra; jambhasya--of the great demon Jambha; sankruddhah--being very angry at him; vajrena--with his thunderbolt; apaharat--separated; sirah--the head.
TRANSLATION
Although the pain was extremely severe, Matali tolerated it with great patience. Indra, however, became extremely angry at Jambhasura. He struck Jambhasura with his thunderbolt and thus severed his head from his body.
TEXT 19
TEXT
jambham srutva hatam tasya
jnatayo naradad rseh
namucis ca balah pakas
tatrapetus tvaranvitah
SYNONYMS
jambham--Jambhasura; srutva--after hearing; hatam--had been killed; tasya--his; jnatayah--friends and relatives; naradat--from the source Narada; rseh--from the great saint; namucih--the demon Namuci; ca--also; balah--the demon Bala; pakah--the demon Paka; tatra--there; apetuh--immediately arrived; tvara-anvitah--with great haste.
TRANSLATION
When Narada Rsi informed Jambhasura's friends and relatives that Jambhasura had been killed, the three demons named Namuci, Bala and Paka arrived on the battlefield in great haste.
TEXT 20
TEXT
vacobhih parusair indram
ardayanto 'sya marmasu
sarair avakiran megha
dharabhir iva parvatam
SYNONYMS
vacobhih--with harsh words; parusaih--very rough and cruel; indram--King Indra; ardayantah--chastising, piercing; asya--of Indra; marmasu--in the heart, etc.; saraih--with arrows; avakiran--covered all around; meghah--clouds; dharabhih--with showers of rain; iva--just as; parvatam--a mountain.
TRANSLATION
Rebuking Indra with harsh, cruel words that were piercing to the heart, these demons showered him with arrows, just as torrents of rain wash a great mountain.
TEXT 21
TEXT
harin dasa-satany ajau
haryasvasya balah saraih
tavadbhir ardayam asa
yugapal laghu-hastavan
SYNONYMS
harin--horses; dasa-satani--ten times one hundred (one thousand); ajau--on the battlefield; haryasvasya--of King Indra; balah--the demon Bala; saraih--with arrows; tavadbhih--with so many; ardayam asa--put into tribulation; yugapat--simultaneously; laghu-hastavan--with quick handling.
TRANSLATION
Quickly handling the situation on the battlefield, the demon Bala put all of Indra's one thousand horses into tribulation by simultaneously piercing them all with an equal number of arrows.
TEXT 22
TEXT
satabhyam matalim pako
ratham savayavam prthak
sakrt sandhana-moksena
tad adbhutam abhud rane
SYNONYMS
satabhyam--with two hundred arrows; matalim--unto the chariot driver Matali; pakah--the demon named Paka; ratham--the chariot; sa-avayavam--with all paraphernalia; prthak--separately; sakrt--once, at one time; sandhana--by yoking the arrows to the bow; moksena--and releasing; tat--such an action; adbhutam--wonderful; abhut--so became; rane--on the battlefield.
TRANSLATION
Paka, another demon, attacked both the chariot, with all its paraphernalia, and the chariot driver, Matali, by fitting two hundred arrows to his bow and releasing them all simultaneously. This was indeed a wonderful act on the battlefield.
TEXT 23
TEXT
namucih panca-dasabhih
svarna-punkhair mahesubhih
ahatya vyanadat sankhye
satoya iva toyadah
SYNONYMS
namucih--the demon named Namuci; panca-dasabhih--with fifteen; svarna-punkhaih--with golden feathers attached; maha-isubhih--very powerful arrows; ahatya--piercing; vyanadat--resounded; sankhye--on the battlefield; sa-toyah--bearing water; iva--like; toya-dah--a cloud that delivers rain.
TRANSLATION
Then Namuci, another demon, attacked Indra and injured him with fifteen very powerful golden-feathered arrows, which roared like a cloud full of water.
TEXT 24
TEXT
sarvatah sara-kutena
sakram saratha-sarathim
chadayam asur asurah
pravrt-suryam ivambudah
SYNONYMS
sarvatah--all around; sara-kutena--by a dense shower of arrows; sakram--Indra; sa-ratha--with his chariot; sarathim--and with his chariot driver; chadayam asuh--covered; asurah--all the demons; pravrt--in the rainy season; suryam--the sun; iva--like; ambu-dah--clouds.
TRANSLATION
Other demons covered Indra, along with his chariot and chariot driver, with incessant showers of arrows, just as clouds cover the sun in the rainy season.
TEXT 25
TEXT
alaksayantas tam ativa vihvala
vicukrusur deva-ganah sahanugah
anayakah satru-balena nirjita
vanik-patha bhinna-navo yatharnave
SYNONYMS
alaksayantah--being unable to see; tam--King Indra; ativa--fiercely; vihvalah--bewildered; vicukrusuh--began to lament; deva-ganah--all the demigods; saha-anugah--with their followers; anayakah--without any captain or leader; satru-balena--by the superior power of their enemies; nirjitah--oppressed severely; vanik-pathah--traders; bhinna-navah--whose ship is wrecked; yatha arnave--as in the middle of the ocean.
TRANSLATION
The demigods, being severely oppressed by their enemies and being unable to see Indra on the battlefield, were very anxious. Having no captain or leader, they began lamenting like traders in a wrecked vessel in the midst of the ocean.
PURPORT
From this statement it appears that in the upper planetary system there is shipping and that traders there engage in navigation as their occupational duty. Sometimes, as on this planet, these traders are shipwrecked in the middle of the ocean. It appears that even in the upper planetary system, such calamities occasionally take place. The upper planetary system in the creation of the Lord is certainly not vacant or devoid of living entities. From Srimad-Bhagavatam we understand that every planet is full of living entities, just as earth is. There is no reason to accept that on other planetary systems there are no living beings.
TEXT 26
TEXT
tatas turasad isu-baddha-panjarad
vinirgatah sasva-ratha-dhvajagranih
babhau disah kham prthivim ca rocayan
sva-tejasa surya iva ksapatyaye
SYNONYMS
tatah--thereafter; turasat--another name of Indra; isu-baddha-panjarat--from the cage of the network of arrows; vinirgatah--being released; sa--with; asva--horses; ratha--chariot; dhvaja--flag; agranih--and chariot driver; babhau--became; disah--all directions; kham--the sky; prthivim--the earth; ca--and; rocayan--pleasing everywhere; sva-tejasa--by his personal effulgence; suryah--the sun; iva--like; ksapa-atyaye--at the end of night.
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, Indra released himself from the cage of the network of arrows. Appearing with his chariot, flag, horses and chariot driver and thus pleasing the sky, the earth and all directions, he shone effulgently like the sun at the end of night. Indra was bright and beautiful in the vision of everyone.
TEXT 27
TEXT
niriksya prtanam devah
parair abhyarditam rane
udayacchad ripum hantum
vajram vajra-dharo rusa
SYNONYMS
niriksya--after observing; prtanam--his own soldiers; devah--the demigod Indra; paraih--by the enemies; abhyarditam--put into great difficulties or oppressed; rane--in the battlefield; udayacchat--took up; ripum--the enemies; hantum--to kill; vajram--the thunderbolt; vajra-dharah--the carrier of the thunderbolt; rusa--in great anger.
TRANSLATION
When Indra, who is known as Vajra-dhara, the carrier of the thunderbolt, saw his own soldiers so oppressed by the enemies on the battlefield, he became very angry. Thus he took up his thunderbolt to kill the enemies.
TEXT 28
TEXT
sa tenaivasta-dharena
sirasi bala-pakayoh
jnatinam pasyatam rajan
jahara janayan bhayam
SYNONYMS
sah--he (Indra); tena--by that; eva--indeed; asta-dharena--by the thunderbolt; sirasi--the two heads; bala-pakayoh--of the two demons known as Bala and Paka; jnatinam pasyatam--while their relatives and soldiers were watching; rajan--O King; jahara--(Indra) cut off; janayan--creating; bhayam--fear (among them).
TRANSLATION
O King Pariksit, King Indra used his thunderbolt to cut off the heads of both Bala and Paka in the presence of all their relatives and followers. In this way he created a very fearful atmosphere on the battlefield.
TEXT 29
TEXT
namucis tad-vadham drstva
sokamarsa-rusanvitah
jighamsur indram nrpate
cakara paramodyamam
SYNONYMS
namucih--the demon Namuci; tat--of those two demons; vadham--the massacre; drstva--after seeing; soka-amarsa--lamentation and grief; rusa-anvitah--being very angry at this; jighamsuh--wanted to kill; indram--King Indra; nr-pate--O Maharaja Pariksit; cakara--made; parama--a great; udyamam--endeavor.
TRANSLATION
O King, when Namuci, another demon, saw the killing of both Bala and Paka, he was full of grief and lamentation. Thus he angrily made a great attempt to kill Indra.
TEXT 30
TEXT
asmasaramayam sulam
ghantavad dhema-bhusanam
pragrhyabhyadravat kruddho
hato 'siti vitarjayan
prahinod deva-rajaya
ninadan mrga-rad iva
SYNONYMS
asmasara-mayam--made of steel; sulam--a spear; ghanta-vat--bound with bells; hema-bhusanam--decorated with ornaments of gold; pragrhya--taking in his hand; abhyadravat--forcefully went; kruddhah--in an angry mood; hatah asi iti--now you are killed; vitarjayan--roaring like that; prahinot--struck; deva-rajaya--unto King Indra; ninadan--resounding; mrga-rat--a lion; iva--like.
TRANSLATION
Being angry and roaring like a lion, the demon Namuci took up a steel spear, which was bound with bells and decorated with ornaments of gold. He loudly cried, "Now you are killed!" Thus coming before Indra to kill him, Namuci released his weapon.
TEXT 31
TEXT
tadapatad gagana-tale maha-javam
vicicchide harir isubhih sahasradha
tam ahanan nrpa kulisena kandhare
rusanvitas tridasa-patih siro haran
SYNONYMS
tada--at that time; apatat--falling like a meteor; gagana-tale--beneath the sky or on the ground; maha-javam--extremely powerful; vicicchide--cut to pieces; harih--Indra; isubhih--by his arrows; sahasradha--into thousands of pieces; tam--that Namuci; ahanat--struck; nrpa--O King; kulisena--with his thunderbolt; kandhare--on the shoulder; rusa-anvitah--being very angry; tridasa-patih--Indra, the King of the demigods; sirah--the head; haran--to separate.
TRANSLATION
O King, when Indra, King of heaven, saw this very powerful spear falling toward the ground like a blazing meteor, he immediately cut it to pieces with his arrows. Then, being very angry, he struck Namuci's shoulder with his thunderbolt to cut off Namuci's head.
TEXT 32
TEXT
na tasya hi tvacam api vajra urjito
bibheda yah sura-patinaujaseritah
tad adbhutam param ativirya-vrtra-bhit
tiraskrto namuci-sirodhara-tvaca
SYNONYMS
na--not; tasya--of him (Namuci); hi--indeed; tvacam api--even the skin; vajrah--the thunderbolt; urjitah--very powerful; bibheda--could pierce; yah--the weapon which; sura-patina--by the king of the demigods; ojasa--very forcefully; iritah--had been released; tat--therefore; adbhutam param--it was extraordinarily wonderful; ativirya-vrtra-bhit--so powerful that it could pierce the body of the very powerful Vrtrasura; tiraskrtah--(now in the future) which had been repelled; namuci-sirodhara-tvaca--by the skin of Namuci's neck.
TRANSLATION
Although King Indra hurled his thunderbolt at Namuci with great force, it could not even pierce his skin. It is very wonderful that the famed thunderbolt that had pierced the body of Vrtrasura could not even slightly injure the skin of Namuci's neck.
TEXT 33
TEXT
tasmad indro 'bibhec chatror
vajrah pratihato yatah
kim idam daiva-yogena
bhutam loka-vimohanam
SYNONYMS
tasmat--therefore; indrah--the King of heaven; abibhet--became very fearful; satroh--from the enemy (Namuci); vajrah--the thunderbolt; pratihatah--was unable to hit and returned; yatah--because; kim idam--what is this; daiva-yogena--by some superior force; bhutam--it has happened; loka-vimohanam--so wonderful to the people in general.
TRANSLATION
When Indra saw the thunderbolt return from the enemy, he was very much afraid. He began to wonder whether this had happened because of some miraculous superior power.
PURPORT
Indra's thunderbolt is invincible, and therefore when Indra saw that it had returned without doing any injury to Namuci, he was certainly very much afraid.
TEXT 34
TEXT
yena me purvam adrinam
paksa-cchedah prajatyaye
krto nivisatam bharaih
patattraih patatam bhuvi
SYNONYMS
yena--by the same thunderbolt; me--by me; purvam--formerly; adrinam--of the mountains; paksa-cchedah--the cutting of the wings; praja-atyaye--when there was killing of the people in general; krtah--was done; nivisatam--of those mountains which entered; bharaih--by the great weight; patattraih--by wings; patatam--falling; bhuvi--on the ground.
TRANSLATION
Indra thought: Formerly, when many mountains flying in the sky with wings would fall to the ground and kill people, I cut their wings with this same thunderbolt.
TEXT 35
TEXT
tapah-saramayam tvastram
vrtro yena vipatitah
anye capi balopetah
sarvastrair aksata-tvacah
SYNONYMS
tapah--austerities; sara-mayam--greatly powerful; tvastram--performed by Tvasta; vrtrah--Vrtrasura; yena--by which; vipatitah--was killed; anye--others; ca--also; api--indeed; bala-upetah--very powerful persons; sarva--all kinds; astraih--by weapons; aksata--without being injured; tvacah--their skin.
TRANSLATION
Vrtrasura was the essence of the austerities undergone by Tvasta, yet the thunderbolt killed him. Indeed, not only he but also many other stalwart heroes, whose very skin could not be injured even by all kinds of weapons, were killed by the same thunderbolt.
TEXT 36
TEXT
so 'yam pratihato vajro
maya mukto 'sure 'lpake
naham tad adade dandam
brahma-tejo 'py akaranam
SYNONYMS
sah ayam--therefore, this thunderbolt; pratihatah--repelled; vajrah--thunderbolt; maya--by me; muktah--released; asure--unto that demon; alpake--less important; na--not; aham--I; tat--that; adade--hold; dandam--it is now just like a rod; brahma-tejah--as powerful as a brahmastra; api--although; akaranam--now it is useless.
TRANSLATION
But now, although the same thunderbolt has been released against a less important demon, it has been ineffectual. Therefore, although it was as good as a brahmastra, it has now become useless like an ordinary rod. I shall therefore hold it no longer.
TEXT 37
TEXT
iti sakram visidantam
aha vag asaririni
nayam suskair atho nardrair
vadham arhati danavah
SYNONYMS
iti--in this way; sakram--unto Indra; visidantam--lamenting; aha--spoke; vak--a voice; asaririni--without any body, or from the sky; na--not; ayam--this; suskaih--by anything dry; atho--also; na--nor; ardraih--by anything moist; vadham--annihilation; arhati--is befitting; danavah--this demon (Namuci).
TRANSLATION
Sukadeva Gosvami continued: While the morose Indra was lamenting in this way, an ominous, unembodied voice said from the sky, "This demon Namuci is not to be annihilated by anything dry or moist."
TEXT 38
TEXT
mayasmai yad varo datto
mrtyur naivardra-suskayoh
ato 'nyas cintaniyas te
upayo maghavan ripoh
SYNONYMS
maya--by me; asmai--unto him; yat--because; varah--a benediction; dattah--has been granted; mrtyuh--death; na--not; eva--indeed; ardra--by either a moist; suskayoh--or by a dry medium; atah--therefore; anyah--something else, another; cintaniyah--has to be thought of; te--by you; upayah--means; maghavan--O Indra; ripoh--of your enemy.
TRANSLATION
The voice also said, "O Indra, because I have given this demon the benediction that he will never be killed by any weapon that is dry or moist, you have to think of another way to kill him."
TEXT 39
TEXT
tam daivim giram akarnya
maghavan susamahitah
dhyayan phenam athapasyad
upayam ubhayatmakam
SYNONYMS
tam--that; daivim--ominous; giram--voice; akarnya--after hearing; maghavan--Lord Indra; su-samahitah--becoming very careful; dhyayan--meditating; phenam--appearance of foam; atha--thereafter; apasyat--he saw; upayam--the means; ubhaya-atmakam--simultaneously dry and moist.
TRANSLATION
After hearing the ominous voice, Indra, with great attention, began to meditate on how to kill the demon. He then saw that foam would be the means, for it is neither moist nor dry.
TEXT 40
TEXT
na suskena na cardrena
jahara namuceh sirah
tam tustuvur muni-gana
malyais cavakiran vibhum
SYNONYMS
na--neither; suskena--by dry means; na--nor; ca--also; ardrena--by a moist weapon; jahara--he separated; namuceh--of Namuci; sirah--the head; tam--him (Indra); tustuvuh--satisfied; muni-ganah--all the sages; malyaih--with flower garlands; ca--also; avakiran--covered; vibhum--that great personality.
TRANSLATION
Thus Indra, King of heaven, severed Namuci's head with a weapon of foam, which was neither dry nor moist. Then all the sages satisfied Indra, the exalted personality, by showering flowers and garlands upon him, almost covering him.
PURPORT
In this regard, the sruti-mantras say, apam phenena namuceh sira indro 'darayat: Indra killed Namuci with watery foam, which is neither moist nor dry.
TEXT 41
TEXT
gandharva-mukhyau jagatur
visvavasu-paravasu
deva-dundubhayo nedur
nartakyo nanrtur muda
SYNONYMS
gandharva-mukhyau--the two chiefs of the Gandharvas; jagatuh--began to sing nice songs; visvavasu--named Visvavasu; paravasu--named Paravasu; deva-dundubhayah--the kettledrums beaten by the demigods; neduh--made their sound; nartakyah--the dancers known as Apsaras; nanrtuh--began to dance; muda--in great happiness.
TRANSLATION
Visvavasu and Paravasu, the two chiefs of the Gandharvas, sang in great happiness. The kettledrums of the demigods sounded, and the Apsaras danced in jubilation.
TEXT 42
TEXT
anye 'py evam pratidvandvan
vayv-agni-varunadayah
sudayam asur asuran
mrgan kesarino yatha
SYNONYMS
anye--others; api--also; evam--in this way; pratidvandvan--the opposing party of belligerants; vayu--the demigod known as Vayu; agni--the demigod known as Agni; varuna-adayah--the demigod known as Varuna and others; sudayam asuh--began to kill vigorously; asuran--all the demons; mrgan--deer; kesarinah--lions; yatha--just as.
TRANSLATION
Vayu, Agni, Varuna and other demigods began killing the demons who opposed them, just as lions kill deer in a forest.
TEXT 43
TEXT
brahmana presito devan
devarsir narado nrpa
varayam asa vibudhan
drstva danava-sanksayam
SYNONYMS
brahmana--by Lord Brahma; presitah--sent; devan--unto the demigods; deva-rsih--the great sage of the heavenly planets; naradah--Narada Muni; nrpa--O King; varayam asa--forbade; vibudhan--all the demigods; drstva--after seeing; danava-sanksayam--the total annihilation of the demons.
TRANSLATION
O King, when Lord Brahma saw the imminent total annihilation of the demons, he sent a message with Narada, who went before the demigods to make them stop fighting.
TEXT 44
TEXT
sri-narada uvaca
bhavadbhir amrtam praptam
narayana-bhujasrayaih
sriya samedhitah sarva
uparamata vigrahat
SYNONYMS
sri-naradah uvaca--Narada Muni prayed to the demigods; bhavadbhih--by all of you; amrtam--nectar; praptam--has been obtained; narayana--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhuja-asrayaih--being protected by the arms; sriya--by all fortune; samedhitah--have flourished; sarve--all of you; uparamata--now cease; vigrahat--from this fighting.
TRANSLATION
The great sage Narada said: All of you demigods are protected by the arms of Narayana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and by His grace you have gotten the nectar. By the grace of the goddess of fortune, you are glorious in every way. Therefore, please stop this fighting.
TEXT 45
TEXT
sri-suka uvaca
samyamya manyu-samrambham
manayanto muner vacah
upagiyamananucarair
yayuh sarve trivistapam
SYNONYMS
sri-sukah uvaca--Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; samyamya--controlling; manyu--of anger; samrambham--the aggravation; manayantah--accepting; muneh vacah--the words of Narada Muni; upagiyamana--being praised; anucaraih--by their followers; yayuh--returned; sarve--all of the demigods; trivistapam--to the heavenly planets.
TRANSLATION
Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: Accepting the words of Narada, the demigods gave up their anger and stopped fighting. Being praised by their followers, they returned to their heavenly planets.
TEXT 46
TEXT
ye 'vasista rane tasmin
naradanumatena te
balim vipannam adaya
astam girim upagaman
SYNONYMS
ye--some of the demons who; avasistah--remained; rane--in the fight; tasmin--in that; narada-anumatena--by the order of Narada; te--all of them; balim--Maharaja Bali; vipannam--in reverses; adaya--taking; astam--named Asta; girim--to the mountain; upagaman--went.
TRANSLATION
Following the order of Narada Muni, whatever demons remained on the battlefield took Bali Maharaja, who was in a precarious condition, to the hill known as Astagiri.
TEXT 47
TEXT
tatravinastavayavan
vidyamana-sirodharan
usana jivayam asa
samjivanya sva-vidyaya
SYNONYMS
tatra--on that hill; avinasta-avayavan--the demons who had been killed but whose bodily parts had not been lost; vidyamana-sirodharan--whose heads were still existing on their bodies; usanah--Sukracarya; jivayam asa--brought to life; samjivanya--by the Samjivani mantra; sva-vidyaya--by his own achievement.
TRANSLATION
There, on that hill, Sukracarya brought to life all the dead demoniac soldiers who had not lost their heads, trunks and limbs. He achieved this by his own mantra, known as Samjivani.
TEXT 48
TEXT
balis cosanasa sprstah
pratyapannendriya-smrtih
parajito 'pi nakhidyal
loka-tattva-vicaksanah
SYNONYMS
balih--Maharaja Bali; ca--also; usanasa--by Sukracarya; sprstah--being touched; pratyapanna--was brought back; indriya-smrtih--realization of the actions of the senses and memory; parajitah--he was defeated; api--although; na akhidyat--he did not lament; loka-tattva-vicaksanah--because he was very experienced in universal affairs.
TRANSLATION
Bali Maharaja was very experienced in universal affairs. When he regained his senses and memory by the grace of Sukracarya, he could understand everything that had happened. Therefore, although he had been defeated, he did not lament.
PURPORT
It is significant that Bali Maharaja is here said to be very experienced. Although defeated, he was not at all sorry, for he knew that nothing can take place without the sanction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Since he was a devotee, he accepted his defeat without lamentation. As stated by the Supreme Personality of Godhead in Bhagavad-gita (2.47), karmany evadhikaras te ma phalesu kadacana. Everyone in Krsna consciousness should execute his duty, without regard for victory or defeat. One must execute his duty as ordered by Krsna or His representative, the spiritual master. Anukulyena krsnanusilanam bhaktir uttama. In first-class devotional service, one always abides by the orders and will of Krsna.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Eleventh Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled "King Indra Annihilates the Demons."