Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 8 · Chapter 20
श्रीशुक उवाच बलिरेवं गृहपति: कुलाचार्येण भाषित: । तूष्णीं भूत्वा क्षणं राजन्नुवाचावहितो गुरुम् ॥ १ ॥
sri-suka uvaca balir evam grha-patih kulacaryena bhasitah tusnim bhutva ksanam rajann uvacavahito gurum
Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: O King Pariksit, when Bali Maharaja was thus advised by his spiritual master, Sukracarya, his family priest, he remained silent for some time, and then, after full deliberation, he replied to his spiritual master as follows.
श्रीबलिरुवाच सत्यं भगवता प्रोक्तं धर्मोऽयं गृहमेधिनाम् । अर्थं कामं यशो वृत्तिं यो न बाधेत कर्हिचित् ॥ २ ॥
sri-balir uvaca satyam bhagavata proktam dharmo ’yam grhamedhinam artham kamam yaso vrttim yo na badheta karhicit
Bali Maharaja said: As you have already stated, the principle of religion that does not hinder one’s economic development, sense gratification, fame and means of livelihood is the real occupational duty of the householder. I also think that this religious principle is correct.
स चाहं वित्तलोभेन प्रत्याचक्षे कथं द्विजम् । प्रतिश्रुत्य ददामीति प्राह्रादि: कितवो यथा ॥ ३ ॥
sa caham vitta-lobhena pratyacakse katham dvijam pratisrutya dadamiti prahradih kitavo yatha
I am the grandson of Maharaja Prahlada. How can I withdraw my promise because of greed for money when I have already said that I shall give this land? How can I behave like an ordinary cheater, especially toward a brahmana?
न ह्यसत्यात् परोऽधर्म इति होवाच भूरियम् । सर्वं सोढुमलं मन्ये ऋतेऽलीकपरं नरम् ॥ ४ ॥
na hy asatyat paro ’dharma iti hovaca bhur iyam sarvam sodhum alam manye rte ’lika-param naram
There is nothing more sinful than untruthfulness. Because of this, mother earth once said, I can bear any heavy thing except a person who is a liar
नाहं बिभेमि निरयान्नाधन्यादसुखार्णवात् । न स्थानच्यवनान्मृत्योर्यथा विप्रप्रलम्भनात् ॥ ५ ॥
naham bibhemi nirayan nadhanyad asukharnavat na sthana-cyavanan mrtyor yatha vipra-pralambhanat
I do not fear hell, poverty, an ocean of distress, falldown from my position or even death itself as much as I fear cheating a brahmana.
यद् यद्धास्यति लोकेऽस्मिन्सम्परेतं धनादिकम् । तस्य त्यागे निमित्तं किं विप्रस्तुष्येन्न तेन चेत् ॥ ६ ॥
yad yad dhasyati loke ’smin samparetam dhanadikam tasya tyage nimittam kim vipras tusyen na tena cet
My lord, you can also see that all the material opulences of this world are certainly separated from their possessor at death. Therefore, if the brahmana Vamanadeva is not satisfied by whatever gifts one has given, why not please Him with the riches one is destined to lose at death?
श्रेय: कुर्वन्ति भूतानां साधवो दुस्त्यजासुभि: । दध्यङ्शिबिप्रभृतय: को विकल्पो धरादिषु ॥ ७ ॥
sreyah kurvanti bhutanam sadhavo dustyajasubhih dadhyan-sibi-prabhrtayah ko vikalpo dharadisu
Dadhici, Sibi and many other great personalities were willing to sacrifice even their lives for the benefit of the people in general. This is the evidence of history. So why not give up this insignificant land? What is the serious consideration against it?
यैरियं बुभुजे ब्रह्मन्दैत्येन्द्रैरनिवर्तिभि: । तेषां कालोऽग्रसील्लोकान् न यशोऽधिगतं भुवि ॥ ८ ॥
yair iyam bubhuje brahman daityendrair anivartibhih tesam kalo ’grasil lokan na yaso ’dhigatam bhuvi
O best of the brahmanas, certainly the great demoniac kings who were never reluctant to fight enjoyed this world, but in due course of time everything they had was taken away, except their reputation, by which they continue to exist. In other words, one should try to achieve a good reputation instead of anything else.
सुलभा युधि विप्रर्षे ह्यनिवृत्तास्तनुत्यज: । न तथा तीर्थ आयाते श्रद्धया ये धनत्यज: ॥ ९ ॥
sulabha yudhi viprarse hy anivrttas tanu-tyajah na tatha tirtha ayate sraddhaya ye dhana-tyajah
O best of the brahmanas, many men have laid down their lives on the battlefield, being unafraid of fighting, but rarely has one gotten the chance to give his accumulated wealth faithfully to a saintly person who creates holy places.
मनस्विन: कारुणिकस्य शोभनं यदर्थिकामोपनयेन दुर्गति: । कुत: पुनर्ब्रह्मविदां भवादृशां ततो वटोरस्य ददामि वाञ्छितम् ॥ १० ॥
manasvinah karunikasya sobhanam yad arthi-kamopanayena durgatih kutah punar brahma-vidam bhavadrsam tato vator asya dadami vanchitam
By giving charity, a benevolent and merciful person undoubtedly becomes even more auspicious, especially when he gives charity to a person like your good self. Under the circumstances, I must give this little brahmacari whatever charity He wants from me.
यजन्ति यज्ञंक्रतुभिर्यमादृता भवन्त आम्नायविधानकोविदा: । स एव विष्णुर्वरदोऽस्तु वा परो दास्याम्यमुष्मै क्षितिमीप्सितां मुने ॥ ११ ॥
yajanti yajnam kratubhir yam adrta bhavanta amnaya-vidhana-kovidah sa eva visnur varado ’stu va paro dasyamy amusmai ksitim ipsitam mune
O great sage, great saintly persons like you, being completely aware of the Vedic principles for performing ritualistic ceremonies and yajnas, worship Lord Visnu in all circumstances. Therefore, whether that same Lord Visnu has come here to give me all benedictions or to punish me as an enemy, I must carry out His order and give Him the requested tract of land without hesitation.
यद्यप्यसावधर्मेण मां बध्नीयादनागसम् । तथाप्येनं न हिंसिष्ये भीतं ब्रह्मतनुं रिपुम् ॥ १२ ॥
yadyapy asav adharmena mam badhniyad anagasam tathapy enam na himsisye bhitam brahma-tanum ripum
Although He is Visnu Himself, out of fear He has covered Himself in the form of a brahmana to come to me begging. Under the circumstances, because He has assumed the form of a brahmana, even if He irreligiously arrests me or even kills me, I shall not retaliate, although He is my enemy.
एष वा उत्तमश्लोको न जिहासति यद् यश: । हत्वा मैनां हरेद् युद्धे शयीत निहतो मया ॥ १३ ॥
esa va uttamasloko na jihasati yad yasah hatva mainam hared yuddhe sayita nihato maya
If this brahmana really is Lord Visnu, who is worshiped by Vedic hymns, He would never give up His widespread reputation; either He would lie down having been killed by me, or He would kill me in a fight.
श्रीशुक उवाच एवमश्रद्धितं शिष्यमनादेशकरं गुरु: । शशाप दैवप्रहित: सत्यसन्धं मनस्विनम् ॥ १४ ॥
sri-suka uvaca evam asraddhitam sisyam anadesakaram guruh sasapa daiva-prahitah satya-sandham manasvinam
Sri Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Thereafter, the spiritual master, Sukracarya, being inspired by the Supreme Lord, cursed his exalted disciple Bali Maharaja, who was so magnanimous and fixed in truthfulness that instead of respecting his spiritual master’s instructions, he wanted to disobey his order.
दृढं पण्डितमान्यज्ञ: स्तब्धोऽस्यस्मदुपेक्षया । मच्छासनातिगो यस्त्वमचिराद्भ्रश्यसे श्रिय: ॥ १५ ॥
drdham pandita-many ajnah stabdho ’sy asmad-upeksaya mac-chasanatigo yas tvam acirad bhrasyase sriyah
Although you have no knowledge, you have become a so-called learned person, and therefore you dare be so impudent as to disobey my order. Because of disobeying me, you shall very soon be bereft of all your opulence.
एवं शप्त: स्वगुरुणा सत्यान्न चलितो महान् । वामनाय ददावेनामर्चित्वोदकपूर्वकम् ॥ १६ ॥
evam saptah sva-guruna satyan na calito mahan vamanaya dadav enam arcitvodaka-purvakam
Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Even after being cursed in this way by his own spiritual master, Bali Maharaja, being a great personality, never deviated from his determination. Therefore, according to custom, he first offered water to Vamanadeva and then offered Him the gift of land he had promised.
विन्ध्यावलिस्तदागत्य पत्नी जालकमालिनी । आनिन्ये कलशं हैममवनेजन्यपां भृतम् ॥ १७ ॥
vindhyavalis tadagatya patni jalaka-malini aninye kalasam haimam avanejany-apam bhrtam
Bali Maharaja’s wife, known as Vindhyavali, who was decorated with a necklace of pearls, immediately came and had a large golden waterpot brought there, full of water with which to worship the Lord by washing His feet.
यजमान: स्वयं तस्य श्रीमत् पादयुगं मुदा । अवनिज्यावहन्मूर्ध्नि तदपो विश्वपावनी: ॥ १८ ॥
yajamanah svayam tasya srimat pada-yugam muda avanijyavahan murdhni tad apo visva-pavanih
Bali Maharaja, the worshiper of Lord Vamanadeva, jubilantly washed the Lord’s lotus feet and then took the water on his head, for that water delivers the entire universe.
तदासुरेन्द्रं दिवि देवतागणा गन्धर्वविद्याधरसिद्धचारणा: । तत्कर्म सर्वेऽपि गृणन्त आर्जवं प्रसूनवर्षैर्ववृषुर्मुदान्विता: ॥ १९ ॥
tadasurendram divi devata-gana gandharva-vidyadhara-siddha-caranah tat karma sarve ’pi grnanta arjavam prasuna-varsair vavrsur mudanvitah
At that time, the residents of the higher planeary system, namely the demigods, the Gandharvas, the Vidyadharas, the Siddhas and the Caranas, all being very pleased by Bali Maharaja’s simple, nonduplicitous act, praised his qualities and showered upon him millions of flowers.
नेदुर्मुहुर्दुन्दुभय: सहस्रशो गन्धर्वकिम्पूरुषकिन्नरा जगु: । मनस्विनानेन कृतं सुदुष्करं विद्वानदाद् यद् रिपवे जगत्त्रयम् ॥ २० ॥
nedur muhur dundubhayah sahasraso gandharva-kimpurusa-kinnara jaguh manasvinanena krtam suduskaram vidvan adad yad ripave jagat-trayam
The Gandharvas, the Kimpurusas and the Kinnaras sounded thousands and thousands of kettledrums and trumpets again and again, and they sang in great jubilation, declaring, “How exalted a person is Bali Maharaja, and what a difficult task he has performed! Even though he knew that Lord Visnu was on the side of his enemies, he nonetheless gave the Lord the entire three worlds in charity.”
तद् वामनं रूपमवर्धताद्भुतं हरेरनन्तस्य गुणत्रयात्मकम् । भू: खं दिशो द्यौर्विवरा: पयोधय- स्तिर्यङ्नृदेवा ऋषयो यदासत ॥ २१ ॥
tad vamanam rupam avardhatadbhutam harer anantasya guna-trayatmakam bhuh kham diso dyaur vivarah payodhayas tiryan-nr-deva rsayo yad-asata
The unlimited Supreme Personality of Godhead, who had assumed the form of Vamana, then began increasing in size, acting in terms of the material energy, until everything in the universe was within His body, including the earth, the planeary systems, the sky, the directions, the various holes in the universe, the seas, the oceans, the birds, beasts, human beings, the demigods and the great saintly persons.
काये बलिस्तस्य महाविभूते: सहर्त्विगाचार्यसदस्य एतत् । ददर्श विश्वं त्रिगुणं गुणात्मके भूतेन्द्रियार्थाशयजीवयुक्तम् ॥ २२ ॥
kaye balis tasya maha-vibhuteh sahartvig-acarya-sadasya etat dadarsa visvam tri-gunam gunatmake bhutendriyarthasaya-jiva-yuktam
Bali Maharaja, along with all the priests, acaryas and members of the assembly, observed the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s universal body, which was full of six opulences. That body contained everything within the universe, including all the gross material elements, the senses, the sense objects, the mind, intelligence and false ego, the various kinds of living entities, and the actions and reactions of the three modes of material nature.
रसामचष्टाङ्घ्रितलेऽथ पादयो- र्महीं महीध्रान्पुरुषस्य जङ्घयो: । पतत्त्रिणो जानुनि विश्वमूर्ते- रूर्वोर्गणं मारुतमिन्द्रसेन: ॥ २३ ॥
rasam acastanghri-tale ’tha padayor mahim mahidhran purusasya janghayoh patattrino januni visva-murter urvor ganam marutam indrasenah
Thereafter, Bali Maharaja, who was occupying the seat of King Indra, could see the lower planeary systems, such as Rasatala, on the soles of the feet of the Lord’s universal form. He saw on the Lord’s feet the surface of the globe, on the surface of His calves all the mountains, on His knees the various birds, and on His thighs the varieties of air.
सन्ध्यां विभोर्वाससि गुह्य ऐक्षत् प्रजापतीञ्जघने आत्ममुख्यान् । नाभ्यां नभ: कुक्षिषु सप्तसिन्धू- नुरुक्रमस्योरसि चर्क्षमालाम् ॥ २४ ॥
sandhyam vibhor vasasi guhya aiksat prajapatin jaghane atma-mukhyan nabhyam nabhah kuksisu sapta-sindhun urukramasyorasi carksa-malam
Bali Maharaja saw beneath the garments of the Lord, who acts wonderfully, the evening twilight. In the Lord’s private parts he saw the Prajapatis, and in the round portion of the waist he saw himself with his confidential associates. In the Lord’s navel he saw the sky, on the Lord’s waist he saw the seven oceans, and on the Lord’s bosom he saw all the clusters of stars.
हृद्यङ्ग धर्मं स्तनयोर्मुरारे- र्ऋतं च सत्यं च मनस्यथेन्दुम् । श्रियं च वक्षस्यरविन्दहस्तां कण्ठे च सामानि समस्तरेफान् ॥ २५ ॥ इन्द्रप्रधानानमरान्भुजेषु तत्कर्णयो: ककुभो द्यौश्च मूर्ध्नि । केशेषु मेघाञ्छ्वसनं नासिकाया- मक्ष्णोश्च सूर्यं वदने च वह्निम् ॥ २६ ॥ वाण्यां च छन्दांसि रसे जलेशं भ्रुवोर्निषेधं च विधिं च पक्ष्मसु । अहश्च रात्रिं च परस्य पुंसो मन्युं ललाटेऽधर एव लोभम् ॥ २७ ॥ स्पर्शे च कामं नृप रेतसाम्भ: पृष्ठे त्वधर्मं क्रमणेषु यज्ञम् । छायासु मृत्युं हसिते च मायां तनूरुहेष्वोषधिजातयश्च ॥ २८ ॥ नदीश्च नाडीषु शिला नखेषु बुद्धावजं देवगणानृषींश्च । प्राणेषु गात्रे स्थिरजङ्गमानि सर्वाणि भूतानि ददर्श वीर: ॥ २९ ॥
hrdy anga dharmam stanayor murarer rtam ca satyam ca manasy athendum sriyam ca vaksasy aravinda-hastam kanthe ca samani samasta-rephan indra-pradhanan amaran bhujesu tat-karnayoh kakubho dyaus ca murdhni kesesu meghan chvasanam nasikayam aksnos ca suryam vadane ca vahnim vanyam ca chandamsi rase jalesam bhruvor nisedham ca vidhim ca paksmasu ahas ca ratrim ca parasya pumso manyum lalate ’dhara eva lobham sparse ca kamam nrpa retasambhah prsthe tv adharmam kramanesu yajnam chayasu mrtyum hasite ca mayam tanu-ruhesv osadhi-jatayas ca nadis ca nadisu sila nakhesu buddhav ajam deva-ganan rsims ca pranesu gatre sthira-jangamani sarvani bhutani dadarsa virah
My dear King, on the heart of Lord Murari he saw religion; on the chest, both pleasing words and truthfulness; in the mind, the moon; on the bosom, the goddess of fortune, with a lotus flower in her hand; on the neck, all the Vedas and all sound vibrations; on the arms, all the demigods, headed by King Indra; in both ears, all the directions; on the head, the upper planetary systems; on the hair, the clouds; in the nostrils, the wind; on the eyes, the sun; and in the mouth, fire. From His words came all the Vedic mantras, on His tongue was the demigod of water, Varunadeva, on His eyebrows were the regulative principles, and on His eyelids were day and night. [When His eyes were open it was daytime, and when they were closed it was night.] On His forehead was anger, and on His lips was greed. O King, in His touch were lusty desires, in His semen were all the waters, on His back was irreligion, and in His wonderful activities or steps was the fire of sacrifice. On His shadow was death, in His smile was the illusory energy, and on the hairs of His body were all the drugs and herbs. In His veins were all the rivers, on His nails were all the stones, in His intelligence were Lord Brahma, the demigods and the great saintly persons, and throughout His entire body and senses were all living entities, moving and stationary. Bali Maharaja thus saw everything in the gigantic body of the Lord.
सर्वात्मनीदं भुवनं निरीक्ष्य सर्वेऽसुरा: कश्मलमापुरङ्ग । सुदर्शनं चक्रमसह्यतेजो धनुश्च शार्ङ्गं स्तनयित्नुघोषम् ॥ ३० ॥
sarvatmanidam bhuvanam niriksya sarve ’surah kasmalam apur anga sudarsanam cakram asahya-tejo dhanus ca sarngam stanayitnu-ghosam
O King, when all the demons, the followers of Maharaja Bali, saw the universal form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who held everything within His body, when they saw in the Lord’s hand His disc, known as the Sudarsana cakra, which generates intolerable heat, and when they heard the tumultuous sound of His bow, all of these caused lamentation within their hearts.
पर्जन्यघोषो जलज: पाञ्चजन्य: कौमोदकी विष्णुगदा तरस्विनी । विद्याधरोऽसि: शतचन्द्रयुक्त- स्तूणोत्तमावक्षयसायकौ च ॥ ३१ ॥
parjanya-ghoso jalajah pancajanyah kaumodaki visnu-gada tarasvini vidyadharo ’sih sata-candra-yuktas tunottamav aksayasayakau ca
The Lord’s conchshell, named Pancajanya, which made sounds like that of a cloud; the very forceful club named Kaumodaki; the sword named Vidyadhara, with a shield decorated with hundreds of moonlike spots; and also Aksayasayaka, the best of quivers—all of these appeared together to offer prayers to the Lord.
सुनन्दमुख्या उपतस्थुरीशं पार्षदमुख्या: सहलोकपाला: । स्फुरत्किरीटाङ्गदमीनकुण्डल: श्रीवत्सरत्नोत्तममेखलाम्बरै: ॥ ३२ ॥ मधुव्रतस्रग्वनमालयावृतो रराज राजन्भगवानुरुक्रम: । क्षितिं पदैकेन बलेर्विचक्रमे नभ: शरीरेण दिशश्च बाहुभि: ॥ ३३ ॥
sunanda-mukhya upatasthur isam parsada-mukhyah saha-loka-palah sphurat-kiritangada-mina-kundalah srivatsa-ratnottama-mekhalambaraih madhuvrata-srag-vanamalayavrto raraja rajan bhagavan urukramah ksitim padaikena baler vicakrame nabhah sarirena disas ca bahubhih
These associates, headed by Sunanda and other chief associates and accompanied by all the predominating deities of the various planets, offered prayers to the Lord, who wore a brilliant helmet, bracelets, and glittering earrings that resembled fish. On the Lord’s bosom were the lock of hair called Srivatsa and the transcendental jewel named Kaustubha. He wore a yellow garment, covered by a belt, and He was decorated by a flower garland, surrounded by bees. Manifesting Himself in this way, O King, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose activities are wonderful, covered the entire surface of the earth with one footstep, the sky with His body, and all directions with His arms.
पदं द्वितीयं क्रमतस्त्रिविष्टपं न वै तृतीयाय तदीयमण्वपि । उरुक्रमस्याङ्घ्रिरुपर्युपर्यथो महर्जनाभ्यां तपस: परं गत: ॥ ३४ ॥
padam dvitiyam kramatas trivistapam na vai trtiyaya tadiyam anv api urukramasyanghrir upary upary atho mahar-janabhyam tapasah param gatah
As the Lord took His second step, He covered the heavenly planes. And not even a spot remained for the third step, for the Lord’s foot extended higher and higher, beyond Maharloka, Janaloka, Tapoloka and even Satyaloka.
