Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 8 · Chapter 15

Bali Mahārāja Conquers the Heavenly Planets

8.15.1-2

श्रीराजोवाच बले: पदत्रयं भूमे: कस्माद्धरिरयाचत । भूतेश्वर: कृपणवल्ल‍ब्धार्थोऽपि बबन्ध तम् ॥ १ ॥ एतद् वेदितुमिच्छामो महत्कौतूहलं हि न: । याच्ञेश्वरस्य पूर्णस्य बन्धनं चाप्यनागस: ॥ २ ॥

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

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.

8.15.3

श्रीशुक उवाच पराजितश्रीरसुभिश्च हापितो हीन्द्रेण राजन्भृगुभि: स जीवित: । सर्वात्मना तानभजद् भृगून्बलि: शिष्यो महात्मार्थनिवेदनेन ॥ ३ ॥

sri-suka uvaca parajita-srir asubhis ca hapito hindrena rajan bhrgubhih sa jivitah sarvatmana tan abhajad bhrgun balih sisyo mahatmartha-nivedanena

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.

8.15.4

तं ब्राह्मणा भृगव: प्रीयमाणा अयाजयन्विश्वजिता त्रिणाकम् । जिगीषमाणं विधिनाभिषिच्य महाभिषेकेण महानुभावा: ॥ ४ ॥

tam brahmana bhrgavah priyamana ayajayan visvajita tri-nakam jigisamanam vidhinabhisicya mahabhisekena mahanubhavah

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.

8.15.5

ततो रथ: काञ्चनपट्टनद्धो हयाश्च हर्यश्वतुरङ्गवर्णा: । ध्वजश्च सिंहेन विराजमानो हुताशनादास हविर्भिरिष्टात् ॥ ५ ॥

tato rathah kancana-patta-naddho hayas ca haryasva-turanga-varnah dhvajas ca simhena virajamano hutasanad asa havirbhir istat

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.

8.15.6

धनुश्च दिव्यं पुरटोपनद्धं तूणावरिक्तौ कवचं च दिव्यम् । पितामहस्तस्य ददौ च माला- मम्‍लानपुष्पां जलजं च शुक्र: ॥ ६ ॥

dhanus ca divyam puratopanaddham tunav ariktau kavacam ca divyam pitamahas tasya dadau ca malam amlana-puspam jalajam ca sukrah

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.

8.15.7

एवं स विप्रार्जितयोधनार्थ- स्तै: कल्पितस्वस्त्ययनोऽथ विप्रान् । प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य कृतप्रणाम: प्रह्लादमामन्‍त्र्य नमश्चकार ॥ ७ ॥

evam sa viprarjita-yodhanarthas taih kalpita-svastyayano ’tha vipran pradaksini-krtya krta-pranamah prahradam amantrya namas-cakara

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.

8.15.8-9

अथारुह्य रथं दिव्यं भृगुदत्तं महारथ: । सुस्रग्धरोऽथ सन्नह्य धन्वी खड्‌गी धृतेषुधि: ॥ ८ ॥ हेमाङ्गदलसब्दाहु: स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डल: । रराज रथमारूढो धिष्ण्यस्थ इव हव्यवाट् ॥ ९ ॥

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

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.

8.15.10-11

तुल्यैश्वर्यबलश्रीभि: स्वयूथैर्दैत्ययूथपै: । पिबद्भ‍िरिव खं द‍ृग्भिर्दहद्भ‍ि: परिधीनिव ॥ १० ॥ वृतो विकर्षन् महतीमासुरीं ध्वजिनीं विभु: । ययाविन्द्रपुरीं स्वृद्धां कम्पयन्निव रोदसी ॥ ११ ॥

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

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.

8.15.12

रम्यामुपवनोद्यानै: श्रीमद्भ‍िर्नन्दनादिभि: । कूजद्विहङ्गमिथुनैर्गायन्मत्तमधुव्रतै: । प्रवालफलपुष्पोरुभारशाखामरद्रुमै: ॥ १२ ॥

ramyam upavanodyanaih srimadbhir nandanadibhih kujad-vihanga-mithunair gayan-matta-madhuvrataih pravala-phala-pusporu- bhara-sakhamara-drumaih

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.

8.15.13

हंससारसचक्राह्वकारण्डवकुलाकुला: । नलिन्यो यत्र क्रीडन्ति प्रमदा: सुरसेविता: ॥ १३ ॥

hamsa-sarasa-cakrahva- karandava-kulakulah nalinyo yatra kridanti pramadah sura-sevitah

Beautiful women protected by the demigods sported in the gardens, which had lotus ponds full of swans, cranes, cakravakas and ducks.

8.15.14

आकाशगङ्गया देव्या वृतां परिखभूतया । प्राकारेणाग्निवर्णेन साट्टालेनोन्नतेन च ॥ १४ ॥

akasa-gangaya devya vrtam parikha-bhutaya prakarenagni-varnena sattalenonnatena ca

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.

8.15.15

रुक्‍मपट्टकपाटैश्च द्वारै: स्फटिकगोपुरै: । जुष्टां विभक्तप्रपथां विश्‍वकर्मविनिर्मिताम् ॥ १५ ॥

rukma-patta-kapatais ca dvaraih sphatika-gopuraih justam vibhakta-prapatham visvakarma-vinirmitam

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.

8.15.16

सभाचत्वररथ्याढ्यां विमानैर्न्यर्बुदैर्युताम् । श‍ृङ्गाटकैर्मणिमयैर्वज्रविद्रुमवेदिभि: ॥ १६ ॥

sabha-catvara-rathyadhyam vimanair nyarbudair yutam srngatakair manimayair vajra-vidruma-vedibhih

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.

8.15.17

यत्र नित्यवयोरूपा: श्यामा विरजवासस: । भ्राजन्ते रूपवन्नार्यो ह्यर्चिर्भिरिव वह्नय: ॥ १७ ॥

yatra nitya-vayo-rupah syama viraja-vasasah bhrajante rupavan-naryo hy arcirbhir iva vahnayah

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.

8.15.18

सुरस्त्रीकेशविभ्रष्टनवसौगन्धिकस्रजाम् । यत्रामोदमुपादाय मार्ग आवाति मारुत: ॥ १८ ॥

sura-stri-kesa-vibhrasta- nava-saugandhika-srajam yatramodam upadaya marga avati marutah

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.

8.15.19

हेमजालाक्षनिर्गच्छद्धूमेनागुरुगन्धिना । पाण्डुरेण प्रतिच्छन्नमार्गे यान्ति सुरप्रिया: ॥ १९ ॥

hema-jalaksa-nirgacchad- dhumenaguru-gandhina pandurena praticchanna- marge yanti sura-priyah

Apsaras passed on the streets, which were covered with the white, fragrant smoke of aguru incense emanating from windows with golden filigree.

8.15.20

मुक्तावितानैर्मणिहेमकेतुभि- र्नानापताकावलभीभिरावृताम् । शिखण्डिपारावतभृङ्गनादितां वैमानिकस्त्रीकलगीतमङ्गलाम् ॥ २० ॥

mukta-vitanair mani-hema-ketubhir nana-pataka-valabhibhir avrtam sikhandi-paravata-bhrnga-naditam vaimanika-stri-kala-gita-mangalam

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.

8.15.21

मृदङ्गशङ्खानकदुन्दुभिस्वनै: सतालवीणामुरजेष्टवेणुभि: । नृत्यै: सवाद्यैरुपदेवगीतकै- र्मनोरमां स्वप्रभया जितप्रभाम् ॥ २१ ॥

mrdanga-sankhanaka-dundubhi-svanaih satala-vina-murajesta-venubhih nrtyaih savadyair upadeva-gitakair manoramam sva-prabhaya jita-prabham

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.

8.15.22

यां न व्रजन्त्यधर्मिष्ठा: खला भूतद्रुह: शठा: । मानिन: कामिनो लुब्धा एभिर्हीना व्रजन्ति यत् ॥ २२ ॥

yam na vrajanty adharmisthah khala bhuta-druhah sathah maninah kamino lubdha ebhir hina vrajanti yat

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.

8.15.23

तां देवधानीं स वरूथिनीपति- र्बहि: समन्ताद् रुरुधे पृतन्यया । आचार्यदत्तं जलजं महास्वनं दध्मौ प्रयुञ्जन्भयमिन्द्रयोषिताम् ॥ २३ ॥

tam deva-dhanim sa varuthini-patir bahih samantad rurudhe prtanyaya acarya-dattam jalajam maha-svanam dadhmau prayunjan bhayam indra-yositam

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.

8.15.24

मघवांस्तमभिप्रेत्य बले: परममुद्यमम् । सर्वदेवगणोपेतो गुरुमेतदुवाच ह ॥ २४ ॥

maghavams tam abhipretya baleh paramam udyamam sarva-deva-ganopeto gurum etad uvaca ha

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.

8.15.25

भगवन्नुद्यमो भूयान्बलेर्न: पूर्ववैरिण: । अविषह्यमिमं मन्ये केनासीत्तेजसोर्जित: ॥ २५ ॥

bhagavann udyamo bhuyan baler nah purva-vairinah avisahyam imam manye kenasit tejasorjitah

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.

8.15.26

नैनं कश्चित् कुतो वापि प्रतिव्योढुमधीश्वर: । पिबन्निव मुखेनेदं लिहन्निव दिशो दश । दहन्निव दिशो द‍ृग्भि: संवर्ताग्निरिवोत्थित: ॥ २६ ॥

nainam kascit kuto vapi prativyodhum adhisvarah pibann iva mukhenedam lihann iva diso dasa dahann iva diso drgbhih samvartagnir ivotthitah

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.

8.15.27

ब्रूहि कारणमेतस्य दुर्धर्षत्वस्य मद्रिपो: । ओज: सहो बलं तेजो यत एतत्समुद्यम: ॥ २७ ॥

bruhi karanam etasya durdharsatvasya mad-ripoh ojah saho balam tejo yata etat samudyamah

Kindly inform me.

8.15.28

श्रीगुरुरुवाच जानामि मघवञ्छत्रोरुन्नतेरस्य कारणम् । शिष्यायोपभृतं तेजो भृगुभिर्ब्रह्मवादिभि: ॥ २८ ॥

sri-gurur uvaca janami maghavan chatror unnater asya karanam sisyayopabhrtam tejo bhrgubhir brahma-vadibhih

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.

8.15.29

ओजस्विनं बलिं जेतुं न समर्थोऽस्ति कश्चन । भवद्विधो भवान्वापि वर्जयित्वेश्वरं हरिम् । विजेष्यति न कोऽप्येनं ब्रह्मतेज:समेधितम् । नास्य शक्त: पुर: स्थातुं कृतान्तस्य यथा जना: ॥ २९ ॥

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

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.

8.15.30

तस्मान्निलयमुत्सृज्य यूयं सर्वे त्रिविष्टपम् । यात कालं प्रतीक्षन्तो यत: शत्रोर्विपर्यय: ॥ ३० ॥

tasman nilayam utsrjya yuyam sarve tri-vistapam yata kalam pratiksanto yatah satror viparyayah

Therefore, waiting until the situation of your enemies is reversed, you should all leave this heavenly plane and go elsewhere, where you will not be seen.

8.15.31

एष विप्रबलोदर्क: सम्प्रत्यूर्जितविक्रम: । तेषामेवापमानेन सानुबन्धो विनङ्‌क्ष्यति ॥ ३१ ॥

esa vipra-balodarkah sampraty urjita-vikramah tesam evapamanena sanubandho vinanksyati

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.

8.15.32

एवं सुमन्त्रितार्थास्ते गुरुणार्थानुदर्शिना । हित्वा त्रिविष्टपं जग्मुर्गीर्वाणा: कामरूपिण: ॥ ३२ ॥

evam sumantritarthas te gurunarthanudarsina hitva tri-vistapam jagmur girvanah kama-rupinah

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.

8.15.33

देवेष्वथ निलीनेषु बलिर्वैरोचन: पुरीम् । देवधानीमधिष्ठाय वशं निन्ये जगत्‍त्रयम् ॥ ३३ ॥

devesv atha nilinesu balir vairocanah purim deva-dhanim adhisthaya vasam ninye jagat-trayam

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.

8.15.34

तं विश्वजयिनं शिष्यं भृगव: शिष्यवत्सला: । शतेन हयमेधानामनुव्रतमयाजयन् ॥ ३४ ॥

tam visva-jayinam sisyam bhrgavah sisya-vatsalah satena hayamedhanam anuvratam ayajayan

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.

8.15.35

ततस्तदनुभावेन भुवनत्रयविश्रुताम् । कीर्तिं दिक्षु वितन्वान: स रेज उडुराडिव ॥ ३५ ॥

tatas tad-anubhavena bhuvana-traya-visrutam kirtim diksu-vitanvanah sa reja udurad iva

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.

8.15.36

बुभुजे च श्रियं स्वृद्धां द्विजदेवोपलम्भिताम् । कृतकृत्यमिवात्मानं मन्यमानो महामना: ॥ ३६ ॥

bubhuje ca sriyam svrddham dvija-devopalambhitam krta-krtyam ivatmanam manyamano mahamanah

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.