Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 8 · Chapter 21

Bali Mahārāja Arrested by the Lord

8.21.1

श्रीशुक उवाच सत्यं समीक्ष्याब्जभवो नखेन्दुभि- र्हतस्वधामद्युतिरावृतोऽभ्यगात् । मरीचिमिश्रा ऋषयो बृहद्‌व्रता: सनन्दनाद्या नरदेव योगिन: ॥ १ ॥

sri-suka uvaca satyam samiksyabja-bhavo nakhendubhir hata-svadhama-dyutir avrto ’bhyagat marici-misra rsayo brhad-vratah sanandanadya nara-deva yoginah

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.

8.21.2-3

वेदोपवेदा नियमा यमान्विता- स्तर्केतिहासाङ्गपुराणसंहिता: । ये चापरे योगसमीरदीपित- ज्ञानाग्निना रन्धितकर्मकल्मषा: ॥ २ ॥ ववन्दिरे यत्स्मरणानुभावत: स्वायम्भुवं धाम गता अकर्मकम् । अथाङ्‍‍घ्रये प्रोन्नमिताय विष्णो- रुपाहरत् पद्मभवोऽर्हणोदकम् । समर्च्य भक्त्याभ्यगृणाच्छुचिश्रवा यन्नाभिपङ्केरुहसम्भव: स्वयम् ॥ ३ ॥

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

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 [Ayurveda, Dhanurveda, 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.

8.21.4

धातु: कमण्डलुजलं तदुरुक्रमस्य पादावनेजनपवित्रतया नरेन्द्र । स्वर्धुन्यभून्नभसि सा पतती निमार्ष्टि लोकत्रयं भगवतो विशदेव कीर्ति: ॥ ४ ॥

dhatuh kamandalu-jalam tad urukramasya padavanejana-pavitrataya narendra svardhuny abhun nabhasi sa patati nimarsti loka-trayam bhagavato visadeva kirtih

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.

8.21.5

ब्रह्मादयो लोकनाथा: स्वनाथाय समाद‍ृता: । सानुगा बलिमाजह्रु: सङ्‌क्षिप्तात्मविभूतये ॥ ५ ॥

brahmadayo loka-nathah sva-nathaya samadrtah sanuga balim ajahruh sanksiptatma-vibhutaye

Lord Brahma and all the predominating deities of the various planeary 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.

8.21.6-7

तोयै: समर्हणै: स्रग्भिर्दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनै: । धूपैर्दीपै: सुरभिभिर्लाजाक्षतफलाङ्कुरै: ॥ ६ ॥ स्तवनैर्जयशब्दैश्च तद्वीर्यमहिमाङ्कितै: । नृत्यवादित्रगीतैश्च शङ्खदुन्दुभिनि:स्वनै: ॥ ७ ॥

toyaih samarhanaih sragbhir divya-gandhanulepanaih dhupair dipaih surabhibhir lajaksata-phalankuraih stavanair jaya-sabdais ca tad-virya-mahimankitaih nrtya-vaditra-gitais ca sankha-dundubhi-nihsvanaih

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.

8.21.8

जाम्बवानृक्षराजस्तु भेरीशब्दैर्मनोजव: । विजयं दिक्षु सर्वासु महोत्सवमघोषयत् ॥ ८ ॥

jambavan rksa-rajas tu bheri-sabdair mano-javah vijayam diksu sarvasu mahotsavam aghosayat

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.

8.21.9

महीं सर्वां हृतां द‍ृष्ट्वा त्रिपदव्याजयाच्ञया । ऊचु: स्वभर्तुरसुरा दीक्षितस्यात्यमर्षिता: ॥ ९ ॥

mahim sarvam hrtam drstva tripada-vyaja-yacnaya ucuh sva-bhartur asura diksitasyatyamarsitah

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.

8.21.10

न वायं ब्रह्मबन्धुर्विष्णुर्मायाविनां वर: । द्विजरूपप्रतिच्छन्नो देवकार्यं चिकीर्षति ॥ १० ॥

na vayam brahma-bandhur visnur mayavinam varah dvija-rupa-praticchanno deva-karyam cikirsati

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.

8.21.11

अनेन याचमानेन शत्रुणा वटुरूपिणा । सर्वस्वं नो हृतं भर्तुर्न्यस्तदण्डस्य बर्हिषि ॥ ११ ॥

anena yacamanena satruna vatu-rupina sarvasvam no hrtam bhartur nyasta-dandasya barhisi

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.

8.21.12

सत्यव्रतस्य सततं दीक्षितस्य विशेषत: । नानृतं भाषितुं शक्यं ब्रह्मण्यस्य दयावत: ॥ १२ ॥

satya-vratasya satatam diksitasya visesatah nanrtam bhasitum sakyam brahmanyasya dayavatah

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.

8.21.13

तस्मादस्य वधो धर्मो भर्तु: शुश्रूषणं च न: । इत्यायुधानि जगृहुर्बलेरनुचरासुरा: ॥ १३ ॥

tasmad asya vadho dharmo bhartuh susrusanam ca nah ity ayudhani jagrhur baler anucarasurah

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.

8.21.14

ते सर्वे वामनं हन्तुं शूलपट्टिशपाणय: । अनिच्छन्तो बले राजन् प्राद्रवञ्जातमन्यव: ॥ १४ ॥

te sarve vamanam hantum sula-pattisa-panayah anicchanto bale rajan pradravan jata-manyavah

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.

8.21.15

तानभिद्रवतो द‍ृष्ट्वा दितिजानीकपान् नृप । प्रहस्यानुचरा विष्णो: प्रत्यषेधन्नुदायुधा: ॥ १५ ॥

tan abhidravato drstva ditijanikapan nrpa prahasyanucara visnoh pratyasedhann udayudhah

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.

8.21.16-17

नन्द: सुनन्दोऽथ जयो विजय: प्रबलो बल: । कुमुद: कुमुदाक्षश्च विष्वक्सेन: पतत्‍त्रिराट् ॥ १६ ॥ जयन्त: श्रुतदेवश्च पुष्पदन्तोऽथ सात्वत: । सर्वे नागायुतप्राणाश्चमूं ते जघ्नुरासुरीम् ॥ १७ ॥

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

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.

8.21.18

हन्यमानान् स्वकान् द‍ृष्ट्वा पुरुषानुचरैर्बलि: । वारयामास संरब्धान् काव्यशापमनुस्मरन् ॥ १८ ॥

hanyamanan svakan drstva purusanucarair balih varayam asa samrabdhan kavya-sapam anusmaran

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.

8.21.19

हे विप्रचित्ते हे राहो हे नेमे श्रूयतां वच: । मा युध्यत निवर्तध्वं न न: कालोऽयमर्थकृत् ॥ १९ ॥

he vipracitte he raho he neme sruyatam vacah ma yudhyata nivartadhvam na nah kalo ’yam artha-krt

O Vipracitti, O Rahu, O Nemi, please hear my words! Don’t fight. Stop immediately, for the present time is not in our favor.

8.21.20

य: प्रभु: सर्वभूतानां सुखदु:खोपपत्तये । तं नातिवर्तितुं दैत्या: पौरुषैरीश्वर: पुमान् ॥ २० ॥

yah prabhuh sarva-bhutanam sukha-duhkhopapattaye tam nativartitum daityah paurusair isvarah puman

O Daityas, by human efforts no one can supersede the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who can bring happiness and distress to all living entities.

8.21.21

यो नो भवाय प्रागासीदभवाय दिवौकसाम् । स एव भगवानद्य वर्तते तद्विपर्ययम् ॥ २१ ॥

yo no bhavaya prag asid abhavaya divaukasam sa eva bhagavan adya vartate tad-viparyayam

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.

8.21.22

बलेन सचिवैर्बुद्ध्या दुर्गैर्मन्त्रौषधादिभि: । सामादिभिरुपायैश्च कालं नात्येति वै जन: ॥ २२ ॥

balena sacivair buddhya durgair mantrausadhadibhih samadibhir upayais ca kalam natyeti vai janah

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.

8.21.23

भवद्भ‍िर्निर्जिता ह्येते बहुशोऽनुचरा हरे: । दैवेनर्द्धैस्त एवाद्य युधि जित्वा नदन्ति न: ॥ २३ ॥

bhavadbhir nirjita hy ete bahuso ’nucara hareh daivenarddhais ta evadya yudhi jitva nadanti nah

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.

8.21.24

एतान् वयं विजेष्यामो यदि दैवं प्रसीदति । तस्मात् कालं प्रतीक्षध्वं यो नोऽर्थत्वाय कल्पते ॥ २४ ॥

etan vayam vijesyamo yadi daivam prasidati tasmat kalam pratiksadhvam yo no ’rthatvaya kalpate

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.

8.21.25

श्रीशुक उवाच पत्युर्निगदितं श्रुत्वा दैत्यदानवयूथपा: । रसां निर्विविशू राजन् विष्णुपार्षदताडिता: ॥ २५ ॥

sri-suka uvaca patyur nigaditam srutva daitya-danava-yuthapah rasam nirvivisu rajan visnu-parsada taditah

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.

8.21.26

अथ तार्क्ष्यसुतो ज्ञात्वा विराट्‌प्रभुचिकीर्षितम् । बबन्ध वारुणै: पाशैर्बलिं सूत्येऽहनि क्रतौ ॥ २६ ॥

atha tarksya-suto jnatva virat prabhu-cikirsitam babandha varunaih pasair balim sutye ’hani kratau

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.

8.21.27

हाहाकारो महानासीद् रोदस्यो: सर्वतोदिशम् । निगृह्यमाणेऽसुरपतौ विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना ॥ २७ ॥

hahakaro mahan asid rodasyoh sarvato disam nigrhyamane ’sura-patau visnuna prabhavisnuna

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 planeary systems of the universe.

8.21.28

तं बद्धं वारुणै: पाशैर्भगवानाह वामन: । नष्टश्रियं स्थिरप्रज्ञमुदारयशसं नृप ॥ २८ ॥

tam baddham varunaih pasair bhagavan aha vamanah nasta-sriyam sthira-prajnam udara-yasasam nrpa

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.

8.21.29

पदानि त्रीणि दत्तानि भूमेर्मह्यं त्वयासुर । द्वाभ्यां क्रान्ता मही सर्वा तृतीयमुपकल्पय ॥ २९ ॥

padani trini dattani bhumer mahyam tvayasura dvabhyam kranta mahi sarva trtiyam upakalpaya

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.

8.21.30

यावत् तपत्यसौ गोभिर्यावदिन्दु: सहोडुभि: । यावद् वर्षति पर्जन्यस्तावती भूरियं तव ॥ ३० ॥

yavat tapaty asau gobhir yavad induh sahodubhih yavad varsati parjanyas tavati bhur iyam tava

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.

8.21.31

पदैकेन मयाक्रान्तो भूर्लोक: खं दिशस्तनो: । स्वर्लोकस्ते द्वितीयेन पश्यतस्ते स्वमात्मना ॥ ३१ ॥

padaikena mayakranto bhurlokah kham disas tanoh svarlokas te dvitiyena pasyatas te svam atmana

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 planeary system.

8.21.32

प्रतिश्रुतमदातुस्ते निरये वास इष्यते । विश त्वं निरयं तस्माद् गुरुणा चानुमोदित: ॥ ३२ ॥

pratisrutam adatus te niraye vasa isyate visa tvam nirayam tasmad guruna canumoditah

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 planes. Therefore, in accordance with the order of Sukracarya, your spiritual master, now go down and live there.

8.21.33

वृथा मनोरथस्तस्य दूर: स्वर्ग: पतत्यध: । प्रतिश्रुतस्यादानेन योऽर्थिनं विप्रलम्भते ॥ ३३ ॥

vrtha manorathas tasya durah svargah pataty adhah pratisrutasyadanena yo ’rthinam vipralambhate

Far from being elevated to the heavenly planes 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.

8.21.34

विप्रलब्धो ददामीति त्वयाहं चाढ्यमानिना । तद् व्यलीकफलं भुङ्‌क्ष्व निरयं कतिचित् समा: ॥ ३४ ॥

vipralabdho dadamiti tvayaham cadhya-manina tad vyalika-phalam bhunksva nirayam katicit samah

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.