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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"