> > Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 8
> > Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> > (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> > *****

> > Canto 8: 'Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations'

> > ****

> > Chapter Twenty-two: Bali Mahârâja Surrenders His Life

> > *****

> > TEXT 1

> > srî-suka uvâca

> > evam viprakrto râjan

> > balir bhagavatâsurah

> > bhidyamâno 'py abhinnâtmâ

> > pratyâhâviklavam vacah

> > srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; evam--thus, as aforementioned; viprakrtah--having been put into difficulty; râjan--O King; balih--Mahârâja Bali; bhagavatâ--by the Personality of Godhead Vâmanadeva; asurah--the King of the asuras; bhidyamânah api--although situated in this uncomfortable position; abhinna-âtmâ--without being disturbed in body or mind; pratyâha--replied; aviklavam--undisturbed; vacah--the following words.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sukadeva Gosvami said: O King, although the Supreme Personality of Godhead was superficially seen to have acted mischievously toward Bali Maharaja, Bali Maharaja was fixed in his determination. Considering himself not to have fulfilled his promise, he spoke as follows.

> > *****

> > TEXT 2

> > srî-balir uvâca

> > yady uttamasloka bhavân mameritam

> > vaco vyalîkam sura-varya manyate

> > karomy rtam tan na bhavet pralambhanam

> > padam trtîyam kuru sîrsni me nijam

> > srî-balih uvâca--Bali Mahârâja said; yadi--if; uttamasloka--O Supreme Lord; bhavân--Your good self; mama--my; îritam--promised; vacah--words; vyalîkam--false; sura-varya--O greatest of all suras (demigods); manyate--You think so; karomi--I shall make it; rtam--truth; tat--that (promise); na--not; bhavet--will become; pralambhanam--cheating; padam--step; trtîyam--the third; kuru--just do it; sîrsni--on the head; me--my; nijam--Your lotus feet.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Bali Maharaja said: O best Personality of Godhead, most worshipable for all the demigods, if You think that my promise has become false, I shall certainly rectify matters to make it truthful. I cannot allow my promise to be false. Please, therefore, place Your third lotus footstep on my head.

> > *****

> > TEXT 3

> > bibhemi nâham nirayât pada-cyuto

> > na pâsa-bandhâd vyasanâd duratyayât

> > naivârtha-krcchrâd bhavato vinigrahâd

> > asâdhu-vâdâd bhrsam udvije yathâ

> > bibhemi--I do fear; na--not; aham--I; nirayât--from a position in hell; pada-cyutah--nor do I fear being deprived of my position; na--nor; pâsa-bandhât--from being arrested by the ropes of Varuna; vyasanât--nor from the distress; duratyayât--which was unbearable for me; na--nor; eva--certainly; artha-krcchrât--because of poverty, or scarcity of money; bhavatah--of Your Lordship; vinigrahât--from the punishment I am now suffering; asâdhu-vâdât--from defamation; bhrsam--very much; udvije--I become anxious; yathâ--as.

> > TRANSLATION

> > I do not fear being deprived of all my possessions, living in hellish life, being arrested for poverty by the ropes of Varuna or being punished by You as much as I fear defamation.

> > *****

> > TEXT 4

> > pumsâm slâghyatamam manye

> > dandam arhattamârpitam

> > yam na mâtâ pitâ bhrâtâ

> > suhrdas câdisanti hi

> > pumsâm--of men; slâghya-tamam--the most exalted; manye--I consider; dandam--punishment; arhattama-arpitam--given by You, the supreme worshipable Lord; yam--which; na--neither; mâtâ--mother; pitâ--father; bhrâtâ--brother; suhrdah--friends; ca--also; âdisanti--offer; hi--indeed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Although a father, mother, brother or friend may sometimes punish one as a well-wisher, they never punish their subordinate like this. But because You are the most worshipable Lord, I regard the punishment You have given me as most exalted.

> > *****

> > TEXT 5

> > tvam nûam asurânâm nah

> > paroksah paramo guruh

> > yo no 'neka-madândhânâm

> > vibhramsam caksur âdisat

> > tvam--Your Lordship; nûnam--indeed; asurânâm--of the demons; nah--as we are; paroksah--indirect; paramah--the supreme; guruh--spiritual master; yah--Your Lordship; nah--of us; aneka--many; mada-andhânâm--blinded by material opulences; vibhramsam--destroying our false prestige; caksuh--the eye of knowledge; âdisat--gave.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Since Your Lordship is indirectly the greatest well-wisher of us demons, You act for our best welfare by posing as if our enemy. Because demons like us always aspire for a position of false prestige, by chastising us You give us the eyes by which to see the right path.

> > *****

> > TEXTS 6-7

> > yasmin vairânubandhena

> > vyûdhena vibudhetarâh

> > bahavo lebhire siddhim

> > yâm u haikânta-yoginah

> > tenâham nigrhîto 'smi

> > bhavatâ bhûri-karmanâ

> > baddhas ca vârunaih pâsair

> > nâtivrîde na ca vyathe

> > yasmin--unto You; vaira-anubandhena--by continuously treating as an enemy; vyûdhena--firmly fixed by such intelligence; vibudha-itarah--the demons (those other than the demigods); bahavah--many of them; lebhire--achieved; siddhim--perfection; yâm--which; u ha--it is well known; ekânta-yoginah--equal to the achievements of the greatly successful mystic yogîs;

> > tena--therefore; aham--I; nigrhîtah asmi--although I am being punished; bhavatâ--by Your Lordship; bhûri-karmanâ--who can do many wonderful things; baddhah ca--I am arrested and bound; vârunaih pâsaih--by the ropes of Varuna; na ati-vrîde--I am not at all ashamed of this; na ca vyathe--nor am I suffering very much.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Many demons who were continuously inimical toward You finally achieved the perfection of great mystic yogis. Your Lordship can perform one work to serve many purposes, and consequently, although You have punished me in many ways, I do not feel ashamed of having been arrested by the ropes of Varuna, nor do I feel aggrieved.

> > *****

> > TEXT 8

> > pitâmaho me bhavadîya-sammatah

> > prahrâda âviskrta-sâdhu-vâdah

> > bhavad-vipaksena vicitra-vaisasam

> > samprâpitas tvam paramah sva-pitrâ

> > pitâmahah--grandfather; me--my; bhavadîya-sammatah--approved by the devotees of Your Lordship; prahrâdah--Prahlâda Mahârâja; âviskrta-sâdhu-vâdah--famous, being celebrated everywhere as a devotee; bhavat-vipaksena--simply going against You; vicitra-vaisasam--inventing different kinds of harassments; samprâpitah--suffered; tvam--You; paramah--the supreme shelter; sva-pitrâ--by his own father.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My grandfather Prahlada Maharaja is famous, being recognized by all Your devotees. Although harassed in many ways by his father, Hiranyakasipu, he still remained faithful, taking shelter at Your lotus feet.

> > *****

> > TEXT 9

> > kim âtmanânena jahâti yo 'ntatah

> > kim riktha-hâraih svajanâkhya-dasyubhih

> > kim jâyayâ samsrti-hetu-bhûtayâ

> > martyasya gehaih kim ihâyuso vyayah

> > kim--what is the use; âtmanâ anena--of this body; jahâti--gives up; yah--which (body); antatah--at the end of life; kim--what is the use; riktha-hâraih--the plunderers of wealth; svajana-âkhya-dasyubhih--they who are actually plunderers but who pass by the name of relatives; kim--what is the use; jâyayâ--of a wife; samsrti-hetu-bhûtayâ--who is the source of increasing material conditions; martyasya--of a person sure to die; gehaih--of houses, family and community; kim--what is the use; iha--in which house; âyusah--of the duration of life; vyayah--simply wasting.

> > TRANSLATION

> > What is the use of the material body, which automatically leaves its owner at the end of life? And what is the use of all one's family members, who are actually plunderers taking away money that is useful for the service of the Lord in spiritual opulence? What is the use of a wife? She is only the source of increasing material conditions. And what is the use of family, home, country and community? Attachment for them merely wastes the valuable energy of one's lifetime.

> > *****

> > TEXT 10

> > ittham sa niscitya pitâmaho mahân

> > agâdha-bodho bhavatah pâda-padmam

> > dhruvam prapede hy akutobhayam janâd

> > bhîtah svapaksa-ksapanasya sattama

> > ittham--because of this (as stated above); sah--he, Prahlâda Mahârâja; niscitya--definitely deciding on this point; pitâmahah--my grandfather; mahân--the great devotee; agâdha-bodhah--my grandfather, who received unlimited knowledge because of his devotional service; bhavatah--of Your Lordship; pâda-padmam--the lotus feet; dhruvam--the infallible, eternal shelter; prapede--surrendered; hi--indeed; akutah-bhayam--completely free of fear; janât--from ordinary common people; bhîtah--being afraid; svapaksa-ksapanasya--of Your Lordship, who kill the demons on our own side; sat-tama--O best of the best.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My grandfather, the best of all men, who achieved unlimited knowledge and was worshipable for everyone, was afraid of the common men in this world. Being fully convinced of the substantiality afforded by shelter at Your lotus feet, He took shelter of Your lotus feet, against the will of his father and demoniac friends, who were killed by Your own self.

> > *****

> > TEXT 11

> > athâham apy âtma-ripos tavântikam

> > daivena nîtah prasabham tyâjita-srîh

> > idam krtântântika-varti jîvitam

> > yayâdhruvam stabdha-matir na budhyate

> > atha--therefore; aham--I; api--also; âtma-ripoh--who are the traditional enemy of the family; tava--of Your good self; antikam--the shelter; daivena--by providence; nîtah--brought in; prasabham--by force; tyâjita--bereft of; srîh--all opulence; idam--this philosophy of life; krta-anta-antika-varti--always given the facility for death; jîvitam--the duration of life; yayâ--by such material opulence; adhruvam--as temporary; stabdha-matih--such an unintelligent person; na budhyate--cannot understand.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Only by providence have I been forcibly brought under Your lotus feet and deprived of all my opulence. Because of the illusion created by temporary opulence, people in general, who live under material conditions, facing accidental death at every moment, do not understand that this life is temporary. Only by providence have I been saved from that condition.

> > *****

> > TEXT 12

> > srî-suka uvâca

> > tasyettham bhâsamânasya

> > prahrâdo bhagavat-priyah

> > âjagâma kuru-srestha

> > râkâ-patir ivotthitah

> > srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; tasya--Bali Mahârâja; ittham--in this way; bhâsamânasya--while describing his fortunate position; prahrâdah--Mahârâja Prahlâda, his grandfather; bhagavat-priyah--the most favored devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; âjagâma--appeared there; kuru-srestha--O best of the Kurus, Mahârâja Parîksit; râkâ-patih--the moon; iva--like; utthitah--having risen.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sukadeva Gosvami said: O best of the Kurus, while Bali Maharaja was describing his fortunate position in this way, the most dear devotee of the Lord, Prahlada Maharaja, appeared there, like the moon rising in the nighttime.

> > *****

> > TEXT 13

> > tam indra-senah sva-pitâmaham sriyâ

> > virâjamânam nalinâyateksanam

> > prâmsum pisangâmbaram anjana-tvisam

> > pralamba-bâhum subhagarsabham aiksata

> > tam--that Prahlâda Mahârâja; indra-senah--Bali Maharaja, who now possessed all the military force of Indra; sva-pitâmaham--unto his grandfather; sriyâ--present with all beautiful features; virâjamânam--standing there; nalina-âyata-îksanam--with eyes as broad as the petals of a lotus; prâmsum--a very beautiful body; pisanga-ambaram--dressed in yellow garments; anjana-tvisam--with his body resembling black ointment for the eyes; pralamba-bâhum--very long arms; subhaga-rsabham--the best of all auspicious persons; aiksata--he saw.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Then Bali Maharaja saw his grandfather Prahlada Maharaja, the most fortunate personality, whose dark body resembled black ointment for the eyes. His tall, elegant figure was dressed in yellow garments, he had long arms, and his beautiful eyes were like the petals of a lotus. He was very dear and pleasing to everyone.

> > *****

> > TEXT 14

> > tasmai balir vâruna-pâsa-yantritah

> > samarhanam nopajahâra pûrvavat

> > nanâma mûrdhnâsru-vilola-locanah

> > sa-vrîda-nîcîna-mukho babhûva ha

> > tasmai--unto Prahlâda Mahârâja; balih--Bali Mahârâja; vâruna-pâsa-yantritah--being bound by the ropes of Varuna; samarhanam--befitting respect; na--not; upajahâra--offered; pûrva-vat--like before; nanâma--he offered obeisances; mûrdhnâ--with the head; asru-vilola-locanah--eyes inundated with tears; sa-vrîda--with shyness; nîcîna--downward; mukhah--face; babhûva ha--he so became.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Being bound by the ropes of Varuna, Bali Maharaja could not offer befitting respect to Prahlada Maharaja as he had before. Rather, he simply offered respectful obeisances with his head, his eyes being inundated with tears and his face lowered in shame.

> > *****

> > TEXT 15

> > sa tatra hâsînam udîksya sat-patim

> > harim sunandâdy-anugair upâsitam

> > upetya bhûmau sirasâ mahâ-manâ

> > nanâma mûrdhnâ pulakâsru-viklavah

> > sah--Prahlâda Mahârâja; tatra--there; ha âsînam--seated; udîksya--after seeing; sat-patim--the Supreme Personality of Godhead, master of the liberated souls; harim--Lord Hari; sunanda-âdi-anugaih--by His followers, like Sunanda; upâsitam--being worshiped; upetya--reaching nearby; bhûmau--on the ground; sirasâ--with his head (bowed down); mahâ-manâh--the great devotee; nanâma--offered obeisances; mûrdhnâ--with his head; pulaka-asru-viklavah--agitated by tears of jubilation.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When the great personality Prahlada Maharaja saw that the Supreme Lord was sitting there, surrounded and worshiped by His intimate associates like Sunanda, he was overwhelmed with tears of jubilation. Approaching the Lord and falling to the ground, he offered obeisances to the Lord with his head.

> > *****

> > TEXT 16

> > srî-prahrâda uvâca

> > tvayaiva dattam padam aindram ûrjitam

> > hrtam tad evâdya tathaiva sobhanam

> > manye mahân asya krto hy anugraho

> > vibhramsito yac chriya âtma-mohanât

> > srî-prahrâdah uvâca--Prahlâda Mahârâja said; tvayâ--by Your Lordship; eva--indeed; dattam--which had been given; padam--this position; aindram--of the King of heaven; ûrjitam--very, very great; hrtam--has been taken away; tat--that; eva--indeed; adya--today; tathâ--as; eva--indeed; sobhanam--beautiful; manye--I consider; mahân--very great; asya--of him (Bali Mahârâja); krtah--has been done by You; hi--indeed; anugrahah--mercy; vibhramsitah--being bereft of; yat--because; sriyah--from that opulence; âtma-mohanât--which was covering the process of self-realization.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Prahlada Maharaja said: My Lord, it is Your Lordship who gave this Bali the very great opulence of the post of heavenly king, and now, today, it is You who have taken it all away. I think You have acted with equal beauty in both ways. Because his exalted position as King of heaven was putting him in the darkness of ignorance, You have done him a very merciful favor by taking away all his opulence.

> > *****

> > TEXT 17

> > yayâ hi vidvân api muhyate yatas

> > tat ko vicaste gatim âtmano yathâ

> > tasmai namas te jagad-îsvarâya vai

> > nârâyanâyâkhila-loka-sâksine

> > yayâ--by which material opulence; hi--indeed; vidvân api--even a person fortunately advanced in education; muhyate--becomes bewildered; yatah--self-controlled; tat--that; kah--who; vicaste--can search for; gatim--the progress; âtmanah--of the self; yathâ--properly; tasmai--unto Him; namah--I offer my respectful obeisances; te--unto You; jagat-îsvarâya--unto the Lord of the universe; vai--indeed; nârâyanâya--unto His Lordship Nârâyana; akhila-loka-sâksine--who are the witness of all creation.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Material opulence is so bewildering that it makes even a learned, self-controlled man forget to search for the goal of self-realization. But the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana, the Lord of the universe, can see everything by His will. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto Him.

> > *****

> > TEXT 18

> > srî-suka uvâca

> > tasyânusrnvato râjan

> > prahrâdasya krtânjaleh

> > hiranyagarbho bhagavân

> > uvâca madhusûdanam

> > srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; tasya--of Prahlâda Mahârâja; anusrnvatah--so that he could hear; râjan--O King Parîksit; prahrâdasya--of Prahlâda Mahârâja; krta-anjaleh--who was standing with folded hands; hiranyagarbhah--Lord Brahmâ; bhagavân--the most powerful; uvaca--said; madhusudanam--unto Madhusudana, the Personality of Godhead.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sukadeva Gosvami continued: O King Pariksit, Lord Brahma then began to speak to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, within the hearing of Prahlada Maharaja, who stood nearby with folded hands.

> > *****

> > TEXT 19

> > baddham viksya patim sadhvi

> > tat-patni bhaya-vihvala

> > pranjalih pranatopendram

> > babhase 'van-mukhi nrpa

> > baddham--arrested; viksya--seeing; patim--her husband; sadhvi--the chaste woman; tat-patni--Bali Maharaja's wife; bhaya-vihvala--being very disturbed by fear; pranjalih--with folded hands; pranata--having offered obeisances; upendram--unto Vamanadeva; babhase--addressed; avak-mukhi--with face downward; nrpa--O Maharaja Pariksit.

> > TRANSLATION

> > But Bali Maharaja's chaste wife, afraid and aggrieved at seeing her husband arrested, immediately offered obeisances to Lord Vamanadeva [Upendra]. She folded her hands and spoke as follows.

> > *****

> > TEXT 20

> > srî-vindhyâvalir uvâca

> > krîdârtham âtmana idam tri-jagat krtam te

> > svâmyam tu tatra kudhiyo 'para îsa kuryuh

> > kartuh prabhos tava kim asyata âvahanti

> > tyakta-hriyas tvad-avaropita-kartr-vâdâh

> > srî-vindhyâvalih uvâca--Vindhyâvali, the wife of Bali Mahârâja, said; krîdâ-artham--for the sake of pastimes; âtmanah--of Yourself; idam--this; tri-jagat--the three worlds (this universe); krtam--was created; te--by You; svâmyam--proprietorship; tu--but; tatra--thereon; kudhiyah--foolish rascals; apare--others; îsa--O my Lord; kuryuh--have established; kartuh--for the supreme creator; prabhoh--for the supreme maintainer; tava--for Your good self; kim--what; asyatah--for the supreme annihilator; âvahanti--they can offer; tyakta-hriyah--shameless, without intelligence; tvat--by You; avaropita--falsely imposed because of a poor fund of knowledge; kartr-vâdâh--the proprietorship of such foolish agnostics.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Srimati Vindhyavali said: O my Lord, You have created the entire universe for the enjoyment of Your personal pastimes, but foolish, unintelligent men have claimed proprietorship for material enjoyment. Certainly they are shameless agnostics. Falsely claiming proprietorship, they think they can give charity and enjoy. In such a condition, what good can they do for You, who are the independent creator, maintainer and annihilator of this universe?

> > *****

> > TEXT 21

> > srî-brahmovâca

> > bhûta-bhâvana bhûtesa

> > deva-deva jaganmaya

> > muncainam hrta-sarvasvam

> > nâyam arhati nigraham

> > srî-brahmâ uvâca--Lord Brahmâ said; bhûta-bhâvana--O Supreme Being, well-wisher of everyone, who can cause one to flourish; bhûta-îsa--O master of everyone; deva-deva--O worshipable Deity of the demigods; jagat-maya--O all-pervading one; munca--please release; enam--this poor Bali Mahârâja; hrta-sarvasvam--now bereft of everything; na--not; ayam--such a poor man; arhati--deserves; nigraham--punishment.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Brahma said: O well-wisher and master of all living entities, O worshipable Deity of all the demigods, O all-pervading Personality of Godhead, now this man has been sufficiently punished, for You have taken everything. Now You can release him. He does not deserve to be punished more.

> > *****

> > TEXT 22

> > krtsnâ te 'nena dattâ bhûr

> > lokâh karmârjitâs ca ye

> > niveditam ca sarvasvam

> > âtmâviklavayâ dhiyâ

> > krtsnâh--all; te--unto You; anena--by Bali Mahârâja; dattâh--have been given or returned; bhûh lokâh--all land and all planets; karma-arjitâh ca--whatever he achieved by his pious activities; ye--all of which; niveditam ca--have been offered to You; sarvasvam--everything he possessed; âtmâ--even his body; aviklavayâ--without hesitation; dhiyâ--by such intelligence.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Bali Maharaja had already offered everything to Your Lordship. Without hesitation, he has offered his land, the planets and whatever else he earned by his pious activities, including even his own body.

> > *****

> > TEXT 23

> > yat-pâdayor asatha-dhîh salilam pradâya

> > dûrvânkurair api vidhâya satîm saparyâm

> > apy uttamâm gatim asau bhajate tri-lokîm

> > dâsvân aviklava-manâh katham ârtim rcchet

> > yat-pâdayoh--at the lotus feet of Your Lordship; asatha-dhîh--a great-minded person who is without duplicity; salilam--water; pradâya--offering; dûrvâ--with fully grown grass; ankuraih--and with buds of flowers; api--although; vidhâya--offering; satîm--most exalted; saparyâm--with worship; api--although; uttamâm--the most highly elevated; gatim--destination; asau--such a worshiper; bhajate--deserves; tri-lokîm--the three worlds; dâsvân--giving to You; aviklava-manâh--without mental duplicity; katham--how; ârtim--the distressed condition of being arrested; rcchet--he deserves.

> > TRANSLATION

> > By offering even water, newly grown grass, or flower buds at Your lotus feet, those who maintain no mental duplicity can achieve the most exalted position within the spiritual world. This Bali Maharaja, without duplicity, has now offered everything in the three worlds. How then can he deserve to suffer from arrest?

> > *****

> > TEXT 24

> > srî-bhagavân uvâca

> > brahman yam anugrhnâmi

> > tad-viso vidhunomy aham

> > yan-madah purusah stabdho

> > lokam mâm câvamanyate

> > srî-bhagavân uvâca--the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; brahman--O Lord Brahmâ; yam--unto anyone to whom; anugrhnâmi--I show My mercy; tat--his; visah--material opulence or riches; vidhunomi--take away; aham--I; yat-madah--having false prestige due to this money; purusah--such a person; stabdhah--being dull-minded; lokam--the three worlds; mâm ca--unto Me also; avamanyate--derides.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Lord Brahma, because of material opulence a foolish person becomes dull-witted and mad. Thus he has no respect for anyone within the three worlds and defies even My authority. To such a person I show special favor by first taking away all his possessions.

> > *****

> > TEXT 25

> > yadâ kadâcij jîvâtmâ

> > samsaran nija-karmabhih

> > nânâ-yonisv anîso 'yam

> > paurusîm gatim âvrajet

> > yadâ--when; kadâcit--sometimes; jîva-âtmâ--the living entity; samsaran--rotating in the cycle of birth and death; nija-karmabhih--because of his own fruitive activities; nânâ-yonisu--in different species of life; anîsah--not independent (completely under the control of material nature); ayam--this living entity; paurusîm gatim--the situation of being human; âvrajet--wants to obtain.

> > TRANSLATION

> > While rotating in the cycle of birth and death again and again in different species because of his own fruitive activities, the dependent living entity, by good fortune, may happen to become a human being. This human birth is very rarely obtained.

> > *****

> > TEXT 26

> > janma-karma-vayo-rûpa-

> > vidyaisvarya-dhanâdibhih

> > yady asya na bhavet stambhas

> > tatrâyam mad-anugrahah

> > janma--by birth in an aristocratic family; karma--by wonderful activities, pious activities; vayah--by age, especially youth, when one is capable of doing many things; rûpa--by personal beauty, which attracts everyone; vidyâ--by education; aisvarya--by opulence; dhana--by wealth; âdibhih--by other opulences also; yadi--if; asya--of the possessor; na--not; bhavet--there is; stambhah--pride; tatra--in such a condition; ayam--a person; mat-anugrahah--should be considered to have received My special mercy.

> > TRANSLATION

> > If a human being is born in an aristocratic family or a higher status of life, if he performs wonderful activities, if he is youthful, if he has personal beauty, a good education and good wealth, and if he is nonetheless not proud of his opulences, it is to be understood that he is especially favored by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> > *****

> > TEXT 27

> > mâna-stambha-nimittânâm

> > janmâdînâm samantatah

> > sarva-sreyah-pratîpânâm

> > hanta muhyen na mat-parah

> > mâna--of false prestige; stambha--because of this impudence; nimittânâm--which are the causes; janma-âdînâm--such as birth in a high family; samantatah--taken together; sarva-sreyah--for the supreme benefit of life; pratîpânâm--which are impediments; hanta--also; muhyet--becomes bewildered; na--not; mat-parah--My pure devotee.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Although aristocratic birth and other such opulences are impediments to advancement in devotional service because they are causes of false prestige and pride, these opulences never disturb a pure devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> > *****

> > TEXT 28

> > esa dânava-daityânâm

> > agranîh kîrti-vardhanah

> > ajaisîd ajayâm mâyâm

> > sîdann api na muhyati

> > esah--this Bali Mahârâja; dânava-daityânâm--among the demons and unbelievers; agranîh--the foremost devotee; kîrti-vardhanah--the most famous; ajaisît--has already surpassed; ajayâm--the insurmountable; mâyâm--material energy; sîdan--being bereft (of all material opulences); api--although; na--not; muhyati--is bewildered.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Bali Maharaja has become the most famous among the demons and nonbelievers, for in spite of being bereft of all material opulences, he is fixed in his devotional service.

> > *****

> > TEXTS 29-30

> > ksîna-rikthas cyutah sthânât

> > ksipto baddhas ca satrubhih

> > jnâtibhis ca parityakto

> > yâtanâm anuyâpitah

> > gurunâ bhartsitah sapto

> > jahau satyam na suvratah

> > chalair ukto mayâ dharmo

> > nâyam tyajati satya-vâk

> > ksîna-rikthah--although bereft of all riches; cyutah--fallen; sthânât--from his superior position; ksiptah--forcefully thrown away; baddhah ca--and forcefully bound; satrubhih--by his enemies; jnâtibhih ca--and by his family members or relatives; parityaktah--deserted; yâtanâm--all kinds of suffering; anuyâpitah--unusually severely suffered; gurunâ--by his spiritual master; bhartsitah--rebuked; saptah--and cursed; jahau--gave up; satyam--truthfulness; na--not; su-vratah--being fixed in his vow; chalaih--pretentiously; uktah--spoken; mayâ--by Me; dharmah--the religious principles; na--not; ayam--this Bali Mahârâja; tyajati--does give up; satya-vâk--being true to his word.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Although bereft of his riches, fallen from his original position, defeated and arrested by his enemies, rebuked and deserted by his relatives and friends, although suffering the pain of being bound and although rebuked and cursed by his spiritual master, Bali Maharaja, being fixed in his vow, did not give up his truthfulness. It was certainly with pretension that I spoke about religious principles, but he did not give up religious principles, for he is true to his word.

> > *****

> > TEXT 31

> > esa me prâpitah sthânam

> > dusprâpam amarair api

> > sâvarner antarasyâyam

> > bhavitendro mad-âsrayah

> > esah--Bali Mahârâja; me--by Me; prâpitah--has achieved; sthânam--a place; dusprâpam--extremely difficult to obtain; amaraih api--even by the demigods; sâvarneh antarasya--during the period of the Manu known as Sâvarni; ayam--this Bali Mahârâja; bhavitâ--will become; indrah--the lord of the heavenly planet; mat-âsrayah--completely under My protection.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Lord continued: Because of his great tolerance, I have given him a place not obtainable even by the demigods. He will become King of the heavenly planets during the period of the Manu known as Savarni.

> > *****

> > TEXT 32

> > tâvat sutalam adhyâstâm

> > visvakarma-vinirmitam

> > yad âdhayo vyâdhayas ca

> > klamas tandrâ parâbhavah

> > nopasargâ nivasatâm

> > sambhavanti mameksayâ

> > tâvat--as long as you are not in the post of Lord Indra; sutalam--in the planet known as Sutala; adhyâstâm--go live there and occupy the place; visvakarma-vinirmitam--which is especially created by Visvakarmâ; yat--wherein; âdhayah--miseries pertaining to the mind; vyâdhayah--miseries pertaining to the body; ca--also; klamah--fatigue; tandrâ--dizziness or laziness; parâbhavah--becoming defeated; na--not; upasargâh--symptoms of other disturbances; nivasatâm--of those who live there; sambhavanti--become possible; mama--of Me; îksayâ--by the special vigilance.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Until Bali Maharaja achieves the position of King of heaven, he shall live on the planet Sutala, which was made by Visvakarma according to My order. Because it is especially protected by Me, it is free from mental and bodily miseries, fatigue, dizziness, defeat and all other disturbances. Bali Maharaja, you may now go live there peacefully.

> > *****

> > TEXT 33

> > indrasena mahârâja

> > yâhi bho bhadram astu te

> > sutalam svargibhih prârthyam

> > jnâtibhih parivâritah

> > indrasena--O Mahârâja Bali; mahârâja--O King; yâhi--better go; bhoh--O King; bhadram--all auspiciousness; astu--let there be; te--unto you; sutalam--in the planet known as Sutala; svargibhih--by the demigods; prârthyam--desirable; jnâtibhih--by your family members; parivâritah--surrounded.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O Bali Maharaja [Indrasena], now you may go to the planet Sutala, which is desired even by the demigods. Live there peacefully, surrounded by your friends and relatives. All good fortune unto you.

> > *****

> > TEXT 34

> > na tvâm abhibhavisyanti

> > lokesâh kim utâpare

> > tvac-châsanâtigân daityâms

> > cakram me sûdayisyati

> > na--not; tvâm--unto you; abhibhavisyanti--will be able to conquer; loka-îsâh--the predominating deities of the various planets; kim uta apare--what to speak of ordinary people; tvat-sâsana-atigân--who transgress your rulings; daityân--such demons; cakram--disc; me--My; sûdayisyati--will kill.

> > TRANSLATION

> > On the planet Sutala, not even the predominating deities of other planets, what to speak of ordinary people, will be able to conquer you. As far as the demons are concerned, if they transgress your rule, My disc will kill them.

> > *****

> > TEXT 35

> > raksisye sarvato 'ham tvâm

> > sânugam saparicchadam

> > sadâ sannihitam vîra

> > tatra mâm draksyate bhavân

> > raksisye--shall protect; sarvatah--in all respects; aham--I; tvâm--you; sa-anugam--with your associates; sa-paricchadam--with your paraphernalia; sadâ--always; sannihitam--situated nearby; vîra--O great hero; tatra--there, in your place; mâm--Me; draksyate--will be able to see; bhavân--you.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O great hero, I shall always be with you and give you protection in all respects along with your associates and paraphernalia. Moreover, you will always be able to see Me there.

> > *****

> > TEXT 36

> > tatra dânava-daityânâm

> > sangât te bhâva âsurah

> > drstvâ mad-anubhâvam vai

> > sadyah kuntho vinanksyati

> > tatra--in that place; dânava-daityânâm--of the demons and the Dânavas; sangât--because of the association; te--your; bhâvah--mentality; âsurah--demoniac; drstvâ--by observing; mat-anubhâvam--My superexcellent power; vai--indeed; sadyah--immediately; kunthah--anxiety; vinanksyati--will be destroyed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Because there you will see My supreme prowess, your materialistic ideas and anxieties that have arisen from your association with the demons and Danavas will immediately be vanquished.

> > Back to the running text