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Chapter Fifteen
Bali Maharaja Conquers the Heavenly Planets
This chapter describes how Bali, after performing the Visvajit-yajna, received the benediction of a chariot and various kinds of paraphernalia for war, with which he attacked the King of heaven. All the demigods, being afraid of him, left the heavenly planets and went away, following the instructions of their guru.
Maharaja Pariksit wanted to understand how Lord Vamanadeva, on the plea of taking three paces of land from Bali Maharaja, took everything away from him and arrested him. Sukadeva Gosvami responded to this inquiry with the following explanation. In the fight between the demons and the demigods, as described in the Eleventh Chapter of this canto, Bali was defeated, and he died in the fight, but by the grace of Sukracarya he regained his life. Thus he engaged himself in the service of Sukracarya, his spiritual master. The descendants of Bhrgu, being pleased with him, engaged him in the Visvajit-yajna. When this yajna was performed, from the fire of yajna came a chariot, horses, a flag, a bow, armor and two quivers of arrows. Maharaja Prahlada, Bali Maharaja's grandfather, gave Bali an eternal garland of flowers, and Sukracarya gave him a conchshell. Bali Maharaja, after offering obeisances to Prahlada, the brahmanas and his spiritual master, Sukracarya, equipped himself to fight with Indra and went to Indrapuri with his soldiers. Blowing his conchshell, he attacked the outskirts of Indra's kingdom. When Indra saw Bali Maharaja's prowess, he went to his own spiritual master, Brhaspati, told him about Bali's strength, and inquired about his duty. Brhaspati informed the demigods that because Bali had been endowed with extraordinary power by the brahmanas, the demigods could not fight with him. Their only hope was to gain the favor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Indeed, there was no alternative. Under the circumstances, Brhaspati advised the demigods to leave the heavenly planets and keep themselves somewhere invisible. The demigods followed his orders, and Bali Maharaja, along with his associates, gained the entire kingdom of Indra. The descendants of Bhrgu Muni, being very affectionate to their disciple Bali Maharaja, engaged him in performing one hundred asvamedha-yajnas. In this way, Bali enjoyed the opulences of the heavenly planets.
TEXTS 1-2
TEXT
sri-rajovaca
baleh pada-trayam bhumeh
kasmad dharir ayacata
bhutesvarah krpana-val
labdhartho 'pi babandha tam
etad veditum icchamo
mahat kautuhalam hi nah
yacnesvarasya purnasya
bandhanam capy anagasah
SYNONYMS
sri-raja uvaca--the King said; baleh--of Bali Maharaja; pada-trayam--three steps; bhumeh--of land; kasmat--why; harih--the Supreme Personality of Godhead (in the form of Vamana); ayacata--begged; bhuta-isvarah--the proprietor of all the universe; krpana-vat--like a poor man; labdha-arthah--He got the gift; api--although; babandha--arrested; tam--him (Bali); etat--all this; veditum--to understand; icchamah--we desire; mahat--very great; kautuhalam--eagerness; hi--indeed; nah--our; yacna--begging; isvarasya--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; purnasya--who is full in everything; bandhanam--arresting; ca--also; api--although; anagasah--of he who was faultless.
TRANSLATION
Maharaja Pariksit inquired: The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the proprietor of everything. Why did He beg three paces of land from Bali Maharaja like a poor man, and when He got the gift for which He had begged, why did He nonetheless arrest Bali Maharaja? I am very much anxious to know the mystery of these contradictions.
TEXT 3
TEXT
sri-suka uvaca
parajita-srir asubhis ca hapito
hindrena rajan bhrgubhih sa jivitah
sarvatmana tan abhajad bhrgun balih
sisyo mahatmartha-nivedanena
SYNONYMS
sri-sukah uvaca--Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; parajita--being defeated; srih--opulences; asubhih ca--of life also; hapitah--deprived; hi--indeed; indrena--by King Indra; rajan--O King; bhrgubhih--by the descendants of Bhrgu Muni; sah--he (Bali Maharaja); jivitah--brought back to life; sarva-atmana--in full submission; tan--them; abhajat--worshiped; bhrgun--the descendants of Bhrgu Muni; balih--Maharaja Bali; sisyah--a disciple; mahatma--the great soul; artha-nivedanena--by giving them everything.
TRANSLATION
Sukadeva Gosvami said: O King, when Bali Maharaja lost all his opulence and died in the fight, Sukracarya, a descendant of Bhrgu Muni, brought him back to life. Because of this, the great soul Bali Maharaja became a disciple of Sukracarya and began to serve him with great faith, offering everything he had.
TEXT 4
TEXT
tam brahmana bhrgavah priyamana
ayajayan visvajita tri-nakam
jigisamanam vidhinabhisicya
mahabhisekena mahanubhavah
SYNONYMS
tam--upon him (Bali Maharaja); brahmanah--all the brahmanas; bhrgavah--the descendants of Bhrgu Muni; priyamanah--being very pleased; ayajayan--engaged him in performing a sacrifice; visvajita--known as Visvajit; tri-nakam--the heavenly planets; jigisamanam--desiring to conquer; vidhina--according to regulative principles; abhisicya--after purifying; maha-abhisekena--by bathing him in a great abhiseka ceremony; maha-anubhavah--the exalted brahmanas.
TRANSLATION
The brahmana descendants of Bhrgu Muni were very pleased with Bali Maharaja, who desired to conquer the kingdom of Indra. Therefore, after purifying him and properly bathing him according to regulative principles, they engaged him in performing the yajna known as Visvajit.
TEXT 5
TEXT
tato rathah kancana-patta-naddho
hayas ca haryasva-turanga-varnah
dhvajas ca simhena virajamano
hutasanad asa havirbhir istat
SYNONYMS
tatah--thereafter; rathah--a chariot; kancana--with gold; patta--and silk garments; naddhah--wrapped; hayah ca--horses also; haryasva-turanga-varnah--exactly of the same color as the horses of Indra (yellow); dhvajah ca--a flag also; simhena--with the mark of a lion; virajamanah--existing; huta-asanat--from the blazing fire; asa--there was; havirbhih--by offerings of clarified butter; istat--worshiped.
TRANSLATION
When ghee [clarified butter] was offered in the fire of sacrifice, there appeared from the fire a celestial chariot covered with gold and silk. There also appeared yellow horses like those of Indra, and a flag marked with a lion.
TEXT 6
TEXT
dhanus ca divyam puratopanaddham
tunav ariktau kavacam ca divyam
pitamahas tasya dadau ca malam
amlana-puspam jalajam ca sukrah
SYNONYMS
dhanuh--a bow; ca--also; divyam--uncommon; purata-upanaddham--covered with gold; tunau--two quivers; ariktau--infallible; kavacam ca--and armor; divyam--celestial; pitamahah tasya--his grandfather, namely Prahlada Maharaja; dadau--gave; ca--and; malam--a garland; amlana-puspam--made of flowers that do not fade away; jala jam--a conchshell (which is born in water); ca--as well as; sukrah--Sukracarya.
TRANSLATION
A gilded bow, two quivers of infallible arrows, and celestial armor also appeared. Bali Maharaja's grandfather Prahlada Maharaja offered Bali a garland of flowers that would never fade, and Sukracarya gave him a conchshell.
TEXT 7
TEXT
evam sa viprarjita-yodhanarthas
taih kalpita-svastyayano 'tha vipran
pradaksini-krtya krta-pranamah
prahradam amantrya namas-cakara
SYNONYMS
evam--in this way; sah--he (Bali Maharaja); vipra-arjita--gained by the grace of the brahmanas; yodhana-arthah--possessing equipment for fighting; taih--by them (the brahmanas); kalpita--advice; svastyayanah--ritualistic performance; atha--as; vipran--all the brahmanas (Sukracarya and others); pradaksini-krtya--circumambulating; krta-pranamah--offered his respectful obeisances; prahradam--unto Prahlada Maharaja; amantrya--addressing; namah-cakara--offered him obeisances.
TRANSLATION
When Maharaja Bali had thus performed the special ritualistic ceremony advised by the brahmanas and had received, by their grace, the equipment for fighting, he circumambulated the brahmanas and offered them obeisances. He also saluted Prahlada Maharaja and offered obeisances to him.
TEXTS 8-9
TEXT
atharuhya ratham divyam
bhrgu-dattam maharathah
susrag-dharo 'tha sannahya
dhanvi khadgi dhrtesudhih
hemangada-lasad-bahuh
sphuran-makara-kundalah
raraja ratham arudho
dhisnya-stha iva havyavat
SYNONYMS
atha--thereupon; aruhya--getting on; ratham--the chariot; divyam--celestial; bhrgu-dattam--given by Sukracarya; maha-rathah--Bali Maharaja, the great charioteer; su-srak-dharah--decorated with a nice garland; atha--thus; sannahya--covering his body with armor; dhanvi--equipped with a bow; khadgi--taking a sword; dhrta-isudhih--taking a quiver of arrows; hema-angada-lasat-bahuh--decorated with golden bangles on his arms; sphurat-makara-kundalah--decorated with brilliant earrings resembling sapphires; raraja--was illuminating; ratham arudhah--getting on the chariot; dhisnya-sthah--situated on the altar of sacrifice; iva--like; havya-vat--worshipable fire.
TRANSLATION
Then, after getting on the chariot given by Sukracarya, Bali Maharaja, decorated with a nice garland, put protective armor on his body, equipped himself with a bow, and took up a sword and a quiver of arrows. When he sat down on the seat of the chariot, his arms decorated with golden bangles and his ears with sapphire earrings, he shone like a worshipable fire.
TEXTS 10-11
TEXT
tulyaisvarya-bala-sribhih
sva-yuthair daitya-yuthapaih
pibadbhir iva kham drgbhir
dahadbhih paridhin iva
vrto vikarsan mahatim
asurim dhvajinim vibhuh
yayav indra-purim svrddham
kampayann iva rodasi
SYNONYMS
tulya-aisvarya--equal in opulence; bala--strength; sribhih--and in beauty; sva-yuthaih--by his own men; daitya-yutha-paih--and by the chiefs of the demons; pibadbhih--drinking; iva--as if; kham--the sky; drgbhih--with the sight; dahadbhih--burning; paridhin--all directions; iva--as if; vrtah--surrounded; vikarsan--attracting; mahatim--very great; asurim--demoniac; dhvajinim--soldiers; vibhuh--most powerful; yayau--went; indra-purim--to the capital of King Indra; su-rddham--very opulent; kampayan--causing to tremble; iva--as if; rodasi--the complete surface of the world.
TRANSLATION
When he assembled with his own soldiers and the demon chiefs, who were equal to him in strength, opulence and beauty, they appeared as if they would swallow the sky and burn all directions with their vision. After thus gathering the demoniac soldiers, Bali Maharaja departed for the opulent capital of Indra. Indeed, he seemed to make the entire surface of the world tremble.
TEXT 12
TEXT
ramyam upavanodyanaih
srimadbhir nandanadibhih
kujad-vihanga-mithunair
gayan-matta-madhuvrataih
pravala-phala-pusporu-
bhara-sakhamara-drumaih
SYNONYMS
ramyam--very pleasing; upavana--with orchards; udyanaih--and gardens; srimadbhih--very beautiful to see; nandana-adibhih--such as Nandana; kujat--chirping; vihanga--birds; mithunaih--with pairs; gayat--singing; matta--mad; madhu-vrataih--with bees; pravala--of leaves; phala-puspa--fruits and flowers; uru--very great; bhara--bearing the weight; sakha--whose branches; amara-drumaih--with eternal trees.
TRANSLATION
King Indra's city was full of pleasing orchards and gardens, such as the Nandana garden. Because of the weight of the flowers, leaves and fruit, the branches of the eternally existing trees were bending down. The gardens were visited by pairs of chirping birds and singing bees. The entire atmosphere was celestial.
TEXT 13
TEXT
hamsa-sarasa-cakrahva-
karandava-kulakulah
nalinyo yatra kridanti
pramadah sura-sevitah
SYNONYMS
hamsa--of swans; sarasa--cranes; cakrahva--birds known as cakravakas; karandava--and water fowl; kula--by groups; akulah--congested; nalinyah--lotus flowers; yatra--where; kridanti--enjoyed sporting; pramadah--beautiful women; sura-sevitah--protected by the demigods.
TRANSLATION
Beautiful women protected by the demigods sported in the gardens, which had lotus ponds full of swans, cranes, cakravakas and ducks.
TEXT 14
TEXT
akasa-gangaya devya
vrtam parikha-bhutaya
prakarenagni-varnena
sattalenonnatena ca
SYNONYMS
akasa-gangaya--by Ganges water known as Akasa-ganga; devya--the always-worshipable goddess; vrtam--surrounded; parikha-bhutaya--as a trench; prakarena--by ramparts; agni-varnena--resembling fire; sa-attalena--with places for fighting; unnatena--very high; ca--and.
TRANSLATION
The city was surrounded by trenches full of Ganges water, known as Akasa-ganga, and by a high wall, which was the color of fire. Upon this wall were parapets for fighting.
TEXT 15
TEXT
rukma-patta-kapatais ca
dvaraih sphatika-gopuraih
justam vibhakta-prapatham
visvakarma-vinirmitam
SYNONYMS
rukma-patta--possessing plates made of gold; kapataih--the doors of which; ca--and; dvaraih--with entrances; sphatika-gopuraih--with gates made of excellent marble; justam--linked; vibhakta-prapatham--with many different public roads; visvakarma-vinirmitam--constructed by Visvakarma, the heavenly architect.
TRANSLATION
The doors were made of solid gold plates, and the gates were of excellent marble. These were linked by various public roads. The entire city had been constructed by Visvakarma.
TEXT 16
TEXT
sabha-catvara-rathyadhyam
vimanair nyarbudair yutam
srngatakair manimayair
vajra-vidruma-vedibhih
SYNONYMS
sabha--with assembly houses; catvara--courtyards; rathya--and public roads; adhyam--opulent; vimanaih--by airplanes; nyarbudaih--not less than ten crores (one hundred million); yutam--endowed; srnga-atakaih--with crossroads; mani-mayaih--made of pearls; vajra--made of diamonds; vidruma--and coral; vedibhih--with places to sit.
TRANSLATION
The city was full of courtyards, wide roads, assembly houses, and not less than one hundred million airplanes. The crossroads were made of pearl, and there were sitting places made of diamond and coral.
TEXT 17
TEXT
yatra nitya-vayo-rupah
syama viraja-vasasah
bhrajante rupavan-naryo
hy arcirbhir iva vahnayah
SYNONYMS
yatra--in that city; nitya-vayah-rupah--who were ever beautiful and young; syamah--possessing the quality of syama; viraja-vasasah--always dressed with clean garments; bhrajante--glitter; rupa-vat--well decorated; naryah--women; hi--certainly; arcirbhih--with many flames; iva--like; vahnayah--fires.
TRANSLATION
Everlastingly beautiful and youthful women, who were dressed with clean garments, glittered in the city like fires with flames. They all possessed the quality of syama.
PURPORT
Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura gives a hint of the quality of the syama woman.
sita-kale bhaved usna
usma-kale susitalah
stanau sukathinau yasam
tah syamah parikirtitah
A woman whose body is very warm during the winter and cool during the summer and who generally has very firm breasts is called syama.
TEXT 18
TEXT
sura-stri-kesa-vibhrasta-
nava-saugandhika-srajam
yatramodam upadaya
marga avati marutah
SYNONYMS
sura-stri--of the women of the demigods; kesa--from the hair; vibhrasta--fallen; nava-saugandhika--made of fresh, fragrant flowers; srajam--of the flower garlands; yatra--wherein; amodam--the fragrance; upadaya--carrying; marge--on the roads; avati--blows; marutah--the breeze.
TRANSLATION
The breezes blowing in the streets of the city bore the fragrance of the flowers falling from the hair of the women of the demigods.
TEXT 19
TEXT
hema-jalaksa-nirgacchad-
dhumenaguru-gandhina
pandurena praticchanna-
marge yanti sura-priyah
SYNONYMS
hema-jala-aksa--from dainty little windows made of networks of gold; nirgacchat--emanating; dhumena--by smoke; aguru-gandhina--fragrant due to burning incense known as aguru; pandurena--very white; praticchanna--covered; marge--on the street; yanti--pass; sura-priyah--beautiful public women known as Apsaras, celestial girls.
TRANSLATION
Apsaras passed on the streets, which were covered with the white, fragrant smoke of aguru incense emanating from windows with golden filigree.
TEXT 20
TEXT
mukta-vitanair mani-hema-ketubhir
nana-pataka-valabhibhir avrtam
sikhandi-paravata-bhrnga-naditam
vaimanika-stri-kala-gita-mangalam
SYNONYMS
mukta-vitanaih--by canopies decorated with pearls; mani-hema-ketubhih--with flags made with pearls and gold; nana-pataka--possessing various kinds of flags; valabhibhih--with the domes of the palaces; avrtam--covered; sikhandi--of birds like peacocks; paravata--pigeons; bhrnga--bees; naditam--vibrated by the respective sounds; vaimanika--getting on airplanes; stri--of women; kala-gita--from the choral singing; mangalam--full of auspiciousness.
TRANSLATION
The city was shaded by canopies decorated with pearls, and the domes of the palaces had flags of pearl and gold. The city always resounded with the vibrations of peacocks, pigeons and bees, and above the city flew airplanes full of beautiful women who constantly chanted auspicious songs that were very pleasing to the ear.
TEXT 21
TEXT
mrdanga-sankhanaka-dundubhi-svanaih
satala-vina-murajesta-venubhih
nrtyaih savadyair upadeva-gitakair
manoramam sva-prabhaya jita-prabham
SYNONYMS
mrdanga--of drums; sankha--conchshells; anaka-dundubhi--and kettledrums; svanaih--by the sounds; sa-tala--in perfect tune; vina--a stringed instrument; muraja--a kind of drum; ista-venubhih--accompanied by the very nice sound of the flute; nrtyaih--with dancing; sa-vadyaih--with concert instruments; upadeva-gitakaih--with singing by the secondary demigods like the Gandharvas; manoramam--beautiful and pleasing; sva-prabhaya--by its own brilliance; jita-prabham--the personification of beauty was conquered.
TRANSLATION
The city was filled with the sounds of mrdangas, conchshells, kettledrums, flutes and well-tuned stringed instruments all playing in concert. There was constant dancing and the Gandharvas sang. The combined beauty of Indrapuri defeated beauty personified.
TEXT 22
TEXT
yam na vrajanty adharmisthah
khala bhuta-druhah sathah
maninah kamino lubdha
ebhir hina vrajanti yat
SYNONYMS
yam--in the streets of the city; na--not; vrajanti--pass; adharmisthah--irreligious persons; khalah--envious persons; bhuta-druhah--persons violent toward other living entities; sathah--cheaters; maninah--falsely prestigious; kaminah--lusty; lubdhah--greedy; ebhih--these; hinah--completely devoid of; vrajanti--walk; yat--on the street.
TRANSLATION
No one who was sinful, envious, violent toward other living entities, cunning, falsely proud, lusty or greedy could enter that city. The people who lived there were all devoid of these faults.
TEXT 23
TEXT
tam deva-dhanim sa varuthini-patir
bahih samantad rurudhe prtanyaya
acarya-dattam jalajam maha-svanam
dadhmau prayunjan bhayam indra-yositam
SYNONYMS
tam--that; deva-dhanim--place where Indra lived; sah--he (Bali Maharaja); varuthini-patih--the commander of the soldiers; bahih--outside; samantat--in all directions; rurudhe--attacked; prtanyaya--by soldiers; acarya-dattam--given by Sukracarya; jala-jam--the conchshell; maha-svanam--a loud sound; dadhmau--resounded; prayunjan--creating; bhayam--fear; indra-yositam--of all the ladies protected by Indra.
TRANSLATION
Bali Maharaja, who was the commander of numberless soldiers, gathered his soldiers outside this abode of Indra and attacked it from all directions. He sounded the conchshell given him by his spiritual master, Sukracarya, thus creating a fearful situation for the women protected by Indra.
TEXT 24
TEXT
maghavams tam abhipretya
baleh paramam udyamam
sarva-deva-ganopeto
gurum etad uvaca ha
SYNONYMS
maghavan--Indra; tam--the situation; abhipretya--understanding; baleh--of Bali Maharaja; paramam udyamam--great enthusiasm; sarva-deva-gana--by all the demigods; upetah--accompanied; gurum--unto the spiritual master; etat--the following words; uvaca--said; ha--indeed.
TRANSLATION
Seeing Bali Maharaja's indefatigable endeavor and understanding his motive, King Indra, along with the other demigods, approached his spiritual master, Brhaspati, and spoke as follows.
TEXT 25
TEXT
bhagavann udyamo bhuyan
baler nah purva-vairinah
avisahyam imam manye
kenasit tejasorjitah
SYNONYMS
bhagavan--O my lord; udyamah--enthusiasm; bhuyan--great; baleh--of Bali Maharaja; nah--our; purva-vairinah--past enemy; avisahyam--unbearable; imam--this; manye--I think; kena--by whom; asit--got; tejasa--prowess; urjitah--achieved.
TRANSLATION
My lord, our old enemy Bali Maharaja now has new enthusiasm, and he has obtained such astonishing power that we think that perhaps we cannot resist his prowess.
TEXT 26
TEXT
nainam kascit kuto vapi
prativyodhum adhisvarah
pibann iva mukhenedam
lihann iva diso dasa
dahann iva diso drgbhih
samvartagnir ivotthitah
SYNONYMS
na--not; enam--this arrangement; kascit--anyone; kutah--from anywhere; va api--either; prativyodhum--to counteract; adhisvarah--capable; piban iva--as if drinking; mukhena--by the mouth; idam--this (world); lihan iva--as if licking up; disah dasa--all ten directions; dahan iva--as if burning; disah--all directions; drgbhih--by his vision; samvarta-agnih--the fire known as samvarta; iva--like; utthitah--now arisen.
TRANSLATION
No one anywhere can counteract this military arrangement of Bali's. It now appears that Bali is trying to drink up the entire universe with his mouth, lick up the ten directions with his tongue, and raise fire in every direction with his eyes. Indeed, he has arisen like the annihilating fire known as samvartaka.
TEXT 27
TEXT
bruhi karanam etasya
durdharsatvasya mad-ripoh
ojah saho balam tejo
yata etat samudyamah
SYNONYMS
bruhi--kindly inform us; karanam--the cause; etasya--of all this; durdharsatvasya--of the formidableness; mat-ripoh--of my enemy; ojah--prowess; sahah--energy; balam--strength; tejah--influence; yatah--wherefrom; etat--all this; samudyamah--endeavor.
TRANSLATION
Kindly inform me. What is the cause for Bali Maharaja's strength, endeavor, influence and victory? How has he become so enthusiastic?
TEXT 28
TEXT
sri-gurur uvaca
janami maghavan chatror
unnater asya karanam
sisyayopabhrtam tejo
bhrgubhir brahma-vadibhih
SYNONYMS
sri-guruh uvaca--Brhaspati said; janami--I know; maghavan--O Indra; satroh--of the enemy; unnateh--of the elevation; asya--of him; karanam--the cause; sisyaya--unto the disciple; upabhrtam--endowed; tejah--power; bhrgubhih--by the descendants of Bhrgu; brahma-vadibhih--all-powerful brahmanas.
TRANSLATION
Brhaspati, the spiritual master of the demigods, said: O Indra, I know the cause for your enemy's becoming so powerful. The brahmana descendants of Bhrgu Muni, being pleased by Bali Maharaja, their disciple, endowed him with such extraordinary power.
PURPORT
Brhaspati, the spiritual master of the demigods, informed Indra, "Ordinarily, Bali and his forces could not achieve such strength, but it appears that the brahmana descendants of Bhrgu Muni, being pleased with Bali Maharaja, endowed them with this spiritual power." In other words, Brhaspati informed Indra that Bali Maharaja's prowess was not his own but that of his exalted guru, Sukracarya. We sing in our daily prayers, yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto 'pi. By the pleasure of the spiritual master, one can get extraordinary power, especially in spiritual advancement. The blessings of the spiritual master are more powerful than one's personal endeavor for such advancement. Narottama dasa Thakura therefore says:
guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete kariya aikya,
ara na kariha mane asa
Especially for spiritual advancement, one should carry out the bona fide order of the spiritual master. By the parampara system, one can thus be endowed with the original spiritual power coming from the Supreme personality of Godhead (evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh).
TEXT 29
TEXT
ojasvinam balim jetum
na samartho 'sti kascana
bhavad-vidho bhavan vapi
varjayitvesvaram harim
vijesyati na ko 'py enam
brahma-tejah-samedhitam
nasya saktah purah sthatum
krtantasya yatha janah
SYNONYMS
ojasvinam--so powerful; balim--Bali Maharaja; jetum--to conquer; na--not; samarthah--able; asti--is; kascana--anyone; bhavat-vidhah--like you; bhavan--you yourself; va api--either; varjayitva--excepting; isvaram--the supreme controller; harim--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; vijesyati--will conquer; na--not; kah api--anyone; enam--him (Bali Maharaja); brahma-tejah-samedhitam--now empowered with brahma-tejas, extraordinary spiritual power; na--not; asya--of him; saktah--is able; purah--in front; sthatum--to stay; krta-antasya--of Yamaraja; yatha--as; janah--people.
TRANSLATION
Neither you nor your men can conquer the most powerful Bali. Indeed, no one but the Supreme Personality of Godhead can conquer him, for he is now equipped with the supreme spiritual power [brahma-tejas]. As no one can stand before Yamaraja, no one can now stand before Bali Maharaja.
TEXT 30
TEXT
tasman nilayam utsrjya
yuyam sarve tri-vistapam
yata kalam pratiksanto
yatah satror viparyayah
SYNONYMS
tasmat--therefore; nilayam--not visible; utsrjya--giving up; yuyam--you; sarve--all; tri-vistapam--the heavenly kingdom; yata--go somewhere else; kalam--time; pratiksantah--waiting for; yatah--whereof; satroh--of your enemy; viparyayah--the reverse condition arrives.
TRANSLATION
Therefore, waiting until the situation of your enemies is reversed, you should all leave this heavenly planet and go elsewhere, where you will not be seen.
TEXT 31
TEXT
esa vipra-balodarkah
sampraty urjita-vikramah
tesam evapamanena
sanubandho vinanksyati
SYNONYMS
esah--this (Bali Maharaja); vipra-bala-udarkah--flourishing because of the brahminical power invested in him; samprati--at the present moment; urjita-vikramah--extremely powerful; tesam--of the same brahmanas; eva--indeed; apamanena--by insult; sa-anubandhah--with friends and assistants; vinanksyati--will be vanquished.
TRANSLATION
Bali Maharaja has now become extremely powerful because of the benedictions given him by the brahmanas, but when he later insults the brahmanas, he will be vanquished, along with his friends and assistants.
PURPORT
Bali Maharaja and Indra were enemies. Therefore, when Brhaspati, the spiritual master of the demigods, predicted that Bali Maharaja would be vanquished when he insulted the brahmanas by whose grace he had become so powerful, Bali Maharaja's enemies were naturally anxious to know when that opportune moment would come. To pacify King Indra, Brhaspati assured him that the time would certainly come, for Brhaspati could see that in the future Bali Maharaja would defy the orders of Sukracarya in order to pacify Lord Visnu, Vamanadeva. Of course, to advance in Krsna consciousness, one can take all risks. To please Vamanadeva, Bali Maharaja risked defying the orders of his spiritual master, Sukracarya. Because of this, he would lose all his property, yet because of devotional service to the Lord, he would get more than he expected, and in the future, in the eighth manvantara, he would occupy the throne of Indra again.
TEXT 32
TEXT
evam sumantritarthas te
gurunarthanudarsina
hitva tri-vistapam jagmur
girvanah kama-rupinah
SYNONYMS
evam--thus; su-mantrita--being well advised; arthah--about duties; te--they (the demigods); guruna--by their spiritual master; artha-anudarsina--whose instructions were quite befitting; hitva--giving up; tri-vistapam--the heavenly kingdom; jagmuh--went; girvanah--the demigods; kama-rupinah--who could assume any form they liked.
TRANSLATION
Sukadeva Gosvami continued: The demigods, being thus advised by Brhaspati for their benefit, immediately accepted his words. Assuming forms according to their desire, they left the heavenly kingdom and scattered, without being observed by the demons.
PURPORT
The word kama-rupinah indicates that the demigods, the inhabitants of the heavenly planets, can assume any form they desire. Thus it was not at all difficult for them to remain incognito before the eyes of the demons.
TEXT 33
TEXT
devesv atha nilinesu
balir vairocanah purim
deva-dhanim adhisthaya
vasam ninye jagat-trayam
SYNONYMS
devesu--all the demigods; atha--in this way; nilinesu--when they disappeared; balih--Bali Maharaja; vairocanah--the son of Virocana; purim--the heavenly kingdom; deva-dhanim--the residence of the demigods; adhisthaya--taking possession of; vasam--under control; ninye--brought; jagat-trayam--the three worlds.
TRANSLATION
When the demigods had disappeared, Bali Maharaja, the son of Virocana, entered the heavenly kingdom, and from there he brought the three worlds under his control.
TEXT 34
TEXT
tam visva-jayinam sisyam
bhrgavah sisya-vatsalah
satena hayamedhanam
anuvratam ayajayan
SYNONYMS
tam--unto him (Bali Maharaja); visva-jayinam--the conqueror of the entire universe; sisyam--because of his being a disciple; bhrgavah--the brahmanas, descendants of Bhrgu like Sukracarya; sisya-vatsalah--being very pleased with the disciple; satena--by one hundred; haya-medhanam--sacrifices known as asvamedha; anuvratam--following the instruction of the brahmanas; ayajayan--caused to execute.
TRANSLATION
The brahmana descendants of Bhrgu, being very pleased with their disciple, who had conquered the entire universe, now engaged him in performing one hundred asvamedha sacrifices.
PURPORT
We have seen in the dispute between Maharaja Prthu and Indra that when Maharaja Prthu wanted to perform one hundred asvamedha-yajnas, Indra wanted to impede him, for it is because of such great sacrifices that Indra was made King of heaven. Here the brahmana descendants of Bhrgu decided that although Maharaja Bali was situated on the throne of Indra, he would not be able to stay there unless he performed such sacrifices. Therefore they advised Maharaja Bali to perform at least as many asvamedha-yajnas as Indra. The word ayajayan indicates that all the brahmanas induced Bali Maharaja to perform such sacrifices.
TEXT 35
TEXT
tatas tad-anubhavena
bhuvana-traya-visrutam
kirtim diksu-vitanvanah
sa reja udurad iva
SYNONYMS
tatah--thereafter; tat-anubhavena--because of performing such great sacrifices; bhuvana-traya--throughout the three worlds; visrutam--celebrated; kirtim--reputation; diksu--in all directions; vitanvanah--spreading; sah--he (Bali Maharaja); reje--became effulgent; udurat--the moon; iva--like.
TRANSLATION
When Bali Maharaja performed these sacrifices, he gained a great reputation in all directions, throughout the three worlds. Thus he shone in his position, like the brilliant moon in the sky.
TEXT 36
TEXT
bubhuje ca sriyam svrddham
dvija-devopalambhitam
krta-krtyam ivatmanam
manyamano mahamanah
SYNONYMS
bubhuje--enjoyed; ca--also; sriyam--opulence; su-rddham--prosperity; dvija--of the brahmanas; deva--as good as the demigods; upalambhitam--achieved because of the favor; krta-krtyam--very satisfied by his activities; iva--like that; atmanam--himself; manyamanah--thinking; maha-manah--the great-minded.
TRANSLATION
Because of the favor of the brahmanas, the great soul Bali Maharaja, thinking himself very satisfied, became very opulent and prosperous and began to enjoy the kingdom.
PURPORT
The brahmanas are called dvija-deva, and ksatriyas are generally called nara-deva. The word deva actually refers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The brahmanas guide human society in becoming happy by satisfying Lord Visnu, and according to their advice, the ksatriyas, who are called nara-deva, keep law and order so that other people, namely the vaisyas and sudras, may properly follow regulative principles. In this way, people are gradually elevated to Krsna consciousness.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Fifteenth Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled "Bali Maharaja Conquers the Heavenly Planets."