Chapter Eleven

                  King Indra Annihilates the Demons

 

   As described in this chapter, the great saint Narada Muni, being very compassionate to the demons who had been killed by the demigods, forbade the demigods to continue killing. Then Sukracarya, by his mystic power, renewed the lives of all the demons.

   Having been graced by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the demigods began fighting the demons again, with renewed energy. King Indra released his thunderbolt against Bali, and when Bali fell, his friend Jambhasura attacked Indra, who then cut off Jambhasura's head with his thunderbolt. When Narada Muni learned that Jambhasura had been killed, he informed Jambhasura's relatives Namuci, Bala and Paka, who then went to the battlefield and attacked the demigods. Indra, King of heaven, severed the heads of Bala and Paka and released the weapon known as kulisa, the thunderbolt, against Namuci's shoulder. The thunderbolt, however, returned unsuccessful, and thus Indra became morose. At that time, an unseen voice came from the sky. The voice declared, "A dry or wet weapon cannot kill Namuci." Hearing this voice, Indra began to think of how Namuci could be killed. He then thought of foam, which is neither moist nor dry. Using a weapon of foam, he was able to kill Namuci. Thus Indra and the other demigods killed many demons. Then, at the request of Lord Brahma, Narada went to the demigods and forbade them to kill the demons any longer. All the demigods then returned to their abodes. Following the instructions of Narada, whatever demons remained alive on the battlefield took Bali Maharaja to Asta Mountain. There, by the touch of Sukracarya's hand, Bali Maharaja regained his senses and consciousness, and those demons whose heads and bodies had not been completely lost were brought back to life by the mystic power of Sukracarya.

 

                                TEXT 1

 

                                 TEXT

 

                            sri-suka uvaca

                  atho surah pratyupalabdha-cetasah

                    parasya pumsah parayanukampaya

                  jaghnur bhrsam sakra-samiranadayas

                 tams tan rane yair abhisamhatah pura

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sri-sukah uvaca--Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; atho--thereafter; surah--all the demigods; pratyupalabdha-cetasah--being enlivened again by revival of their consciousness; parasya--of the Supreme; pumsah--of the Personality of Godhead; paraya--supreme; anukampaya--by the mercy; jaghnuh--began to beat; bhrsam--again and again; sakra--Indra; samirana--Vayu; adayah--and others; tan tan--to those demons; rane--in the fight; yaih--by whom; abhisamhatah--they were beaten; pura--before.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sukadeva Gosvami said: Thereafter, by the supreme grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Hari, all the demigods, headed by Indra and Vayu, were brought back to life. Being enlivened, the demigods began severely beating the very same demons who had defeated them before.

 

                                TEXT 2

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        vairocanaya samrabdho

                        bhagavan paka-sasanah

                        udayacchad yada vajram

                        praja ha heti cukrusuh

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vairocanaya--unto Bali Maharaja (just to kill him); samrabdhah--being very angry; bhagavan--the most powerful; paka-sasanah--Indra; udayacchat--took in his hand; yada--at which time; vajram--the thunderbolt; prajah--all the demons; ha ha--alas, alas; iti--thus; cukrusuh--began to resound.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When the most powerful Indra became angry and took his thunderbolt in hand to kill Maharaja Bali, the demons began lamenting, "Alas, alas!"

 

                                TEXT 3

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        vajra-panis tam ahedam

                       tiraskrtya purah-sthitam

                        manasvinam susampannam

                        vicarantam maha-mrdhe

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vajra-panih--Indra, who always carries in his hand the thunderbolt; tam--unto Bali Maharaja; aha--addressed; idam--in this way; tiraskrtya--chastising him; purah-sthitam--standing before him; manasvinam--very sober and tolerant; su-sampannam--well equipped with paraphernalia for fighting; vicarantam--moving; maha-mrdhe--on the great battlefield.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sober and tolerant and well equipped with paraphernalia for fighting, Bali Maharaja moved before Indra on the great battlefield. King Indra, who always carries the thunderbolt in his hand, rebuked Bali Maharaja as follows.

 

                                TEXT 4

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        natavan mudha mayabhir

                         mayesan no jigisasi

                       jitva balan nibaddhaksan

                        nato harati tad-dhanam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nata-vat--like a cheater or rogue; mudha--you rascal; mayabhih--by exhibiting illusions; maya-isan--unto the demigods, who can control all such illusory manifestations; nah--unto us; jigisasi--you are trying to become victorious; jitva--conquering; balan--small children; nibaddha-aksan--by binding the eyes; natah--a cheater; harati--takes away; tat-dhanam--the property in the possession of a child.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Indra said: O rascal, as a cheater sometimes binds the eyes of a child and takes away his possessions, you are trying to defeat us by displaying some mystic power, although you know that we are the masters of all such mystic powers.

 

                                TEXT 5

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         aruruksanti mayabhir

                        utsisrpsanti ye divam

                      tan dasyun vidhunomy ajnan

                       purvasmac ca padad adhah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   aruruksanti--persons who desire to come to the upper planetary systems; mayabhih--by so-called mystic power or material advancement of science; utsisrpsanti--or want to be liberated by such false attempts; ye--such persons who; divam--the higher planetary system known as Svargaloka; tan--such rogues and ruffians; dasyun--such thieves; vidhunomi--I force to go down; ajnan--rascals; purvasmat--previous; ca--also; padat--from the position; adhah--downward.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Those fools and rascals who want to ascend to the upper planetary system by mystic power or mechanical means, or who endeavor to cross even the upper planets and achieve the spiritual world or liberation, I cause to be sent to the lowest region of the universe.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   There are undoubtedly different planetary systems for different persons. As stated in Bhagavad-gita (14.18), urdhvam gacchanti sattva-sthah: persons in the mode of goodness can go to the upper planets. Those in the modes of darkness and passion, however, are not allowed to enter the higher planets. The word divam refers to the higher planetary system known as Svargaloka. Indra, King of the higher planetary system, has the power to push down any conditioned soul attempting to go from the lower to the higher planets without proper qualifications. The modern attempt to go to the moon is also an attempt by inferior men to go to Svargaloka by artificial, mechanical means. This attempt cannot be successful. From this statement of Indra it appears that anyone attempting to go to the higher planetary systems by mechanical means, which are here called maya, is condemned to go the hellish planets in the lower portion of the universe. To go to the higher planetary system, one needs sufficient good qualities. A sinful person situated in the mode of ignorance and addicted to drinking, meat-eating and illicit sex will never enter the higher planets by mechanical means.

 

                                TEXT 6

 

                                 TEXT

 

                      so 'ham durmayinas te 'dya

                         vajrena sata-parvana

                        siro harisye mandatman

                       ghatasva jnatibhih saha

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sah--I am the same powerful person; aham--I; durmayinah--of you, who can perform so much jugglery with illusions; te--of you; adya--today; vajrena--by the thunderbolt; sata-parvana--which has hundreds of sharp edges; sirah--the head; harisye--I shall separate; manda-atman--O you with a poor fund of knowledge; ghatasva--just try to exist on this battlefield; jnatibhih saha--with your relatives and assistants.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Today, with my thunderbolt, which has hundreds of sharp edges, I, the same powerful person, shall sever your head from your body. Although you can produce so much jugglery through illusion, you are endowed with a poor fund of knowledge. Now, try to exist on this battlefield with your relatives and friends.

 

                                TEXT 7

 

                                 TEXT

 

                           sri-balir uvaca

                        sangrame vartamananam

                         kala-codita-karmanam

                       kirtir jayo 'jayo mrtyuh

                       sarvesam syur anukramat

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sri-balih uvaca--Bali Maharaja said; sangrame--in the battlefield; vartamananam--of all persons present here; kala-codita--influenced by the course of time; karmanam--for persons engaged in fighting or any other activities; kirtih--reputation; jayah--victory; ajayah--defeat; mrtyuh--death; sarvesam--of all of them; syuh--must be done; anukramat--one after another.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Bali Maharaja replied: All those present on this battlefield are certainly under the influence of eternal time, and according to their prescribed activities, they are destined to receive fame, victory, defeat and death, one after another.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   If one is victorious on the battlefield, he becomes famous; and if one is not victorious but is defeated, he may die. Both victory and defeat are possible, whether on such a battlefield as this or on the battlefield of the struggle for existence. Everything takes place according to the laws of nature (prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah). Since everyone, without exception, is subject to the modes of material nature, whether one is victorious or defeated he is not independent, but is under the control of material nature. Bali Maharaja, therefore, was very sensible. He knew that the fighting was arranged by eternal time and that under time's influence one must accept the results of one's own activities. Therefore even though Indra threatened that he would now kill Bali Maharaja by releasing the thunderbolt, Bali Maharaja was not at all afraid. This is the spirit of a ksatriya: yuddhe capy apalayanam (Bg. 18.43). A ksatriya must be tolerant in all circumstances, especially on the battlefield. Thus Bali Maharaja asserted that he was not at all afraid of death, although he was threatened by such a great personality as the King of heaven.

 

                                TEXT 8

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        tad idam kala-rasanam

                        jagat pasyanti surayah

                        na hrsyanti na socanti

                        tatra yuyam apanditah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tat--therefore; idam--this whole material world; kala-rasanam--is moving because of time eternal; jagat--moving forward (this whole universe); pasyanti--observe; surayah--those who are intelligent by admission of the truth; na--not; hrsyanti--become jubilant; na--nor; socanti--lament; tatra--in such; yuyam--all of you demigods; apanditah--not very learned (having forgotten that you are working under eternal time).

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Seeing the movements of time, those who are cognizant of the real truth neither rejoice nor lament for different circumstances. Therefore, because you are jubilant due to your victory, you should be considered not very learned.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Bali Maharaja knew that Indra, King of heaven, was extremely powerful, certainly more powerful than he himself. Nonetheless, Bali Maharaja challenged Indra by saying that Indra was not a very learned person. In Bhagavad-gita (2.11) Krsna rebuked Arjuna by saying:

 

                        asocyan anvasocas tvam

                       prajna-vadams ca bhasase

                         gatasun agatasums ca

                         nanusocanti panditah

 

   "While speaking learned words, you are mourning for what is not worthy of grief. Those who are wise lament neither for the living nor the dead." Thus as Krsna challenged Arjuna by saying that he was not a pandita, or a learned person, Bali Maharaja also challenged King Indra and his associates. In this material world, everything happens under the influence of time. Consequently, for a learned person who sees how things are taking place, there is no question of being sorry or happy because of the waves of material nature. After all, since we are being carried away by these waves, what is the meaning of being jubilant or morose? One who is fully conversant with the laws of nature is never jubilant or morose because of nature's activities. In Bhagavad-gita (2.14), Krsna advises that one be tolerant: tams titiksasva bharata. Following this advice of Krsna's, one should not be morose or unhappy because of circumstantial changes. This is the symptom of a devotee. A devotee carries out his duty in Krsna consciousness and is never unhappy in awkward circumstances. He has full faith that in such circumstances, Krsna protects His devotee. Therefore a devotee never deviates from his prescribed duty of devotional service. The material qualities of jubilation and moroseness are present even in the demigods, who are very highly situated in the upper planetary system. Therefore, when one is undisturbed by the so-called favorable and unfavorable circumstances of this material world, he should be understood to be brahma-bhuta, or self-realized. As stated in Bhagavad-gita (18.54), brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kanksati: "One who is transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful." When one is undisturbed by material circumstances, he should be understood to be on the transcendental stage, above the reactions of the three modes of material nature.

 

                                TEXT 9

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        na vayam manyamananam

                        atmanam tatra sadhanam

                       giro vah sadhu-socyanam

                        grhnimo marma-tadanah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   na--not; vayam--we; manyamananam--who are considering; atmanam--the self; tatra--in victory or defeat; sadhanam--the cause; girah--the words; vah--of you; sadhu-socyanam--who are to be pitied by the saintly persons; grhnimah--accept; marma-tadanah--which afflict the heart.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   You demigods think that your own selves are the cause of your attaining fame and victory. Because of your ignorance, saintly persons feel sorry for you. Therefore, although your words afflict the heart, we do not accept them.

 

                               TEXT 10

 

                                 TEXT

 

                            sri-suka uvaca

                       ity aksipya vibhum viro

                        naracair vira-mardanah

                         akarna-purnairahanad

                        aksepair aha tam punah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sri-sukah uvaca--Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; iti--thus; aksipya--chastising; vibhum--unto King Indra; virah--the valiant Bali Maharaja; naracaih--by the arrows named naracas; vira-mardanah--Bali Maharaja, who could subdue even great heros; akarna-purnaih--drawn up to his ear; ahanat--attacked; aksepaih--by words of chastisement; aha--said; tam--unto him; punah--again.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sukadeva Gosvami said: After thus rebuking Indra, King of heaven, with sharp words, Bali Maharaja, who could subdue any other hero, drew back to his ear the arrows known as naracas and attacked Indra with these arrows. Then he again chastised Indra with strong words.

 

                               TEXT 11

 

                                 TEXT

 

                          evam nirakrto devo

                        vairina tathya-vadina

                       namrsyat tad-adhiksepam

                         totrahata iva dvipah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   evam--thus; nirakrtah--being defeated; devah--King Indra; vairina--by his enemy; tathya-vadina--who was competent to speak the truth; na--not; amrsyat--lamented; tat--of him (Bali); adhiksepam--the chastisement; totra--by the scepter or rod; ahatah--being beaten; iva--just like; dvipah--an elephant.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Since Maharaja Bali's rebukes were truthful, King Indra did not at all become sorry, just as an elephant beaten by its driver's rod does not become agitated.

 

                               TEXT 12

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        praharat kulisam tasma

                        amogham para-mardanah

                        sayano nyapatad bhumau

                        chinna-paksa ivacalah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   praharat--inflicted; kulisam--thunderbolt scepter; tasmai--unto him (Bali Maharaja); amogham--infallible; para-mardanah--Indra, who is expert in defeating the enemy; sa-yanah--with his airplane; nyapatat--fell down; bhumau--on the ground; chinna-paksah--whose wings have been taken away; iva--like; acalah--a mountain.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Indra, the defeater of enemies, released his infallible thunderbolt scepter at Bali Maharaja with a desire to kill him, Bali Maharaja indeed fell to the ground with his airplane, like a mountain with its wings cut off.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   In many descriptions in Vedic literature it is found that mountains also fly in the sky with wings. When such mountains are dead, they fall to the ground, where they stay as very large dead bodies.

 

                               TEXT 13

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       sakhayam patitam drstva

                       jambho bali-sakhah suhrt

                      abhyayat sauhrdam sakhyur

                         hatasyapi samacaran

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sakhayam--his intimate friend; patitam--having fallen; drstva--after seeing; jambhah--the demon Jambha; bali-sakhah--a very intimate friend of Bali Maharaja; suhrt--and constant well-wisher; abhyayat--appeared on the scene; sauhrdam--very compassionate friendship; sakhyuh--of his friend; hatasya--who was injured and fallen; api--although; samacaran--just to perform friendly duties.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When the demon Jambhasura saw that his friend Bali had fallen, he appeared before Indra, the enemy, just to serve Bali Maharaja with friendly behavior.

 

                               TEXT 14

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         sa simha-vaha asadya

                        gadam udyamya ramhasa

                       jatrav atadayac chakram

                        gajam ca sumaha-balah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sah--Jambhasura; simha-vahah--being carried by a lion; asadya--coming before King Indra; gadam--his club; udyamya--taking up; ramhasa--with great force; jatrau--on the base of the neck; atadayat--hit; sakram--Indra; gajam ca--as well as his elephant; su-maha-balah--the greatly powerful Jambhasura.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The greatly powerful Jambhasura, carried by a lion, approached Indra and forcefully struck him on the shoulder with his club. He also struck Indra's elephant.

 

                               TEXT 15

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        gada-prahara-vyathito

                        bhrsam vihvalito gajah

                      janubhyam dharanim sprstva

                        kasmalam paramam yayau

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   gada-prahara-vyathitah--being aggrieved because of the blow from Jambhasura's club; bhrsam--very much; vihvalitah--upset; gajah--the elephant; janubhyam--with its two knees; dharanim--the earth; sprstva--touching; kasmalam--unconsciousness; paramam--ultimate; yayau--entered.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Being beaten by Jambhasura's club, Indra's elephant was confused and aggrieved. Thus it touched its knees to the ground and fell unconscious.

 

                               TEXT 16

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         tato ratho matalina

                      haribhir dasa-satair vrtah

                         anito dvipam utsrjya

                        ratham aruruhe vibhuh

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tatah--thereafter; rathah--chariot; matalina--by his chariot driver named Matali; haribhih--with horses; dasa-sataih--by ten times one hundred (one thousand); vrtah--yoked; anitah--being brought in; dvipam--the elephant; utsrjya--keeping aside; ratham--the chariot; aruruhe--got up; vibhuh--the great Indra.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thereafter, Matali, Indra's chariot driver, brought Indra's chariot, which was drawn by one thousand horses. Indra then left his elephant and got onto the chariot.

 

                               TEXT 17

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       tasya tat pujayan karma

                        yantur danava-sattamah

                        sulena jvalata tam tu

                        smayamano 'hanan mrdhe

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tasya--of Matali; tat--that service (bringing the chariot before Indra); pujayan--appreciating; karma--such service to the master; yantuh--of the chariot driver; danava-sat-tamah--the best of the demons, namely Jambhasura; sulena--by his trident; jvalata--which was blazing fire; tam--Matali; tu--indeed; smayamanah--smiling; ahanat--struck; mrdhe--in the battle.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Appreciating Matali's service, Jambhasura, the best of the demons, smiled. Nonetheless, he struck Matali in the battle with a trident of blazing fire.

 

                               TEXT 18

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        sehe rujam sudurmarsam

                       sattvam alambya matalih

                      indro jambhasya sankruddho

                        vajrenapaharac chirah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sehe--tolerated; rujam--the pain; su-durmarsam--intolerable; sattvam--patience; alambya--taking shelter of; matalih--the charioteer Matali; indrah--King Indra; jambhasya--of the great demon Jambha; sankruddhah--being very angry at him; vajrena--with his thunderbolt; apaharat--separated; sirah--the head.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Although the pain was extremely severe, Matali tolerated it with great patience. Indra, however, became extremely angry at Jambhasura. He struck Jambhasura with his thunderbolt and thus severed his head from his body.

 

                               TEXT 19

 

                                 TEXT

 

                      jambham srutva hatam tasya

                         jnatayo naradad rseh

                        namucis ca balah pakas

                        tatrapetus tvaranvitah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   jambham--Jambhasura; srutva--after hearing; hatam--had been killed; tasya--his; jnatayah--friends and relatives; naradat--from the source Narada; rseh--from the great saint; namucih--the demon Namuci; ca--also; balah--the demon Bala; pakah--the demon Paka; tatra--there; apetuh--immediately arrived; tvara-anvitah--with great haste.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Narada Rsi informed Jambhasura's friends and relatives that Jambhasura had been killed, the three demons named Namuci, Bala and Paka arrived on the battlefield in great haste.

 

                               TEXT 20

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       vacobhih parusair indram

                        ardayanto 'sya marmasu

                        sarair avakiran megha

                        dharabhir iva parvatam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vacobhih--with harsh words; parusaih--very rough and cruel; indram--King Indra; ardayantah--chastising, piercing; asya--of Indra; marmasu--in the heart, etc.; saraih--with arrows; avakiran--covered all around; meghah--clouds; dharabhih--with showers of rain; iva--just as; parvatam--a mountain.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Rebuking Indra with harsh, cruel words that were piercing to the heart, these demons showered him with arrows, just as torrents of rain wash a great mountain.

 

                               TEXT 21

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        harin dasa-satany ajau

                       haryasvasya balah saraih

                        tavadbhir ardayam asa

                        yugapal laghu-hastavan

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   harin--horses; dasa-satani--ten times one hundred (one thousand); ajau--on the battlefield; haryasvasya--of King Indra; balah--the demon Bala; saraih--with arrows; tavadbhih--with so many; ardayam asa--put into tribulation; yugapat--simultaneously; laghu-hastavan--with quick handling.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Quickly handling the situation on the battlefield, the demon Bala put all of Indra's one thousand horses into tribulation by simultaneously piercing them all with an equal number of arrows.

 

                               TEXT 22

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        satabhyam matalim pako

                       ratham savayavam prthak

                        sakrt sandhana-moksena

                       tad adbhutam abhud rane

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   satabhyam--with two hundred arrows; matalim--unto the chariot driver Matali; pakah--the demon named Paka; ratham--the chariot; sa-avayavam--with all paraphernalia; prthak--separately; sakrt--once, at one time; sandhana--by yoking the arrows to the bow; moksena--and releasing; tat--such an action; adbhutam--wonderful; abhut--so became; rane--on the battlefield.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Paka, another demon, attacked both the chariot, with all its paraphernalia, and the chariot driver, Matali, by fitting two hundred arrows to his bow and releasing them all simultaneously. This was indeed a wonderful act on the battlefield.

 

                               TEXT 23

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        namucih panca-dasabhih

                      svarna-punkhair mahesubhih

                       ahatya vyanadat sankhye

                          satoya iva toyadah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   namucih--the demon named Namuci; panca-dasabhih--with fifteen; svarna-punkhaih--with golden feathers attached; maha-isubhih--very powerful arrows; ahatya--piercing; vyanadat--resounded; sankhye--on the battlefield; sa-toyah--bearing water; iva--like; toya-dah--a cloud that delivers rain.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Then Namuci, another demon, attacked Indra and injured him with fifteen very powerful golden-feathered arrows, which roared like a cloud full of water.

 

                               TEXT 24

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         sarvatah sara-kutena

                       sakram saratha-sarathim

                         chadayam asur asurah

                       pravrt-suryam ivambudah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sarvatah--all around; sara-kutena--by a dense shower of arrows; sakram--Indra; sa-ratha--with his chariot; sarathim--and with his chariot driver; chadayam asuh--covered; asurah--all the demons; pravrt--in the rainy season; suryam--the sun; iva--like; ambu-dah--clouds.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Other demons covered Indra, along with his chariot and chariot driver, with incessant showers of arrows, just as clouds cover the sun in the rainy season.

 

                               TEXT 25

 

                                 TEXT

 

                    alaksayantas tam ativa vihvala

                   vicukrusur deva-ganah sahanugah

                    anayakah satru-balena nirjita

                  vanik-patha bhinna-navo yatharnave

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   alaksayantah--being unable to see; tam--King Indra; ativa--fiercely; vihvalah--bewildered; vicukrusuh--began to lament; deva-ganah--all the demigods; saha-anugah--with their followers; anayakah--without any captain or leader; satru-balena--by the superior power of their enemies; nirjitah--oppressed severely; vanik-pathah--traders; bhinna-navah--whose ship is wrecked; yatha arnave--as in the middle of the ocean.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The demigods, being severely oppressed by their enemies and being unable to see Indra on the battlefield, were very anxious. Having no captain or leader, they began lamenting like traders in a wrecked vessel in the midst of the ocean.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   From this statement it appears that in the upper planetary system there is shipping and that traders there engage in navigation as their occupational duty. Sometimes, as on this planet, these traders are shipwrecked in the middle of the ocean. It appears that even in the upper planetary system, such calamities occasionally take place. The upper planetary system in the creation of the Lord is certainly not vacant or devoid of living entities. From Srimad-Bhagavatam we understand that every planet is full of living entities, just as earth is. There is no reason to accept that on other planetary systems there are no living beings.

 

                               TEXT 26

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  tatas turasad isu-baddha-panjarad

                 vinirgatah sasva-ratha-dhvajagranih

                babhau disah kham prthivim ca rocayan

                   sva-tejasa surya iva ksapatyaye

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tatah--thereafter; turasat--another name of Indra; isu-baddha-panjarat--from the cage of the network of arrows; vinirgatah--being released; sa--with; asva--horses; ratha--chariot; dhvaja--flag; agranih--and chariot driver; babhau--became; disah--all directions; kham--the sky; prthivim--the earth; ca--and; rocayan--pleasing everywhere; sva-tejasa--by his personal effulgence; suryah--the sun; iva--like; ksapa-atyaye--at the end of night.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thereafter, Indra released himself from the cage of the network of arrows. Appearing with his chariot, flag, horses and chariot driver and thus pleasing the sky, the earth and all directions, he shone effulgently like the sun at the end of night. Indra was bright and beautiful in the vision of everyone.

 

                               TEXT 27

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        niriksya prtanam devah

                       parair abhyarditam rane

                       udayacchad ripum hantum

                       vajram vajra-dharo rusa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   niriksya--after observing; prtanam--his own soldiers; devah--the demigod Indra; paraih--by the enemies; abhyarditam--put into great difficulties or oppressed; rane--in the battlefield; udayacchat--took up; ripum--the enemies; hantum--to kill; vajram--the thunderbolt; vajra-dharah--the carrier of the thunderbolt; rusa--in great anger.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Indra, who is known as Vajra-dhara, the carrier of the thunderbolt, saw his own soldiers so oppressed by the enemies on the battlefield, he became very angry. Thus he took up his thunderbolt to kill the enemies.

 

                               TEXT 28

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        sa tenaivasta-dharena

                         sirasi bala-pakayoh

                       jnatinam pasyatam rajan

                        jahara janayan bhayam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sah--he (Indra); tena--by that; eva--indeed; asta-dharena--by the thunderbolt; sirasi--the two heads; bala-pakayoh--of the two demons known as Bala and Paka; jnatinam pasyatam--while their relatives and soldiers were watching; rajan--O King; jahara--(Indra) cut off; janayan--creating; bhayam--fear (among them).

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   O King Pariksit, King Indra used his thunderbolt to cut off the heads of both Bala and Paka in the presence of all their relatives and followers. In this way he created a very fearful atmosphere on the battlefield.

 

                               TEXT 29

 

                                 TEXT

 

                      namucis tad-vadham drstva

                         sokamarsa-rusanvitah

                       jighamsur indram nrpate

                         cakara paramodyamam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   namucih--the demon Namuci; tat--of those two demons; vadham--the massacre; drstva--after seeing; soka-amarsa--lamentation and grief; rusa-anvitah--being very angry at this; jighamsuh--wanted to kill; indram--King Indra; nr-pate--O Maharaja Pariksit; cakara--made; parama--a great; udyamam--endeavor.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   O King, when Namuci, another demon, saw the killing of both Bala and Paka, he was full of grief and lamentation. Thus he angrily made a great attempt to kill Indra.

 

                               TEXT 30

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         asmasaramayam sulam

                       ghantavad dhema-bhusanam

                      pragrhyabhyadravat kruddho

                        hato 'siti vitarjayan

                         prahinod deva-rajaya

                         ninadan mrga-rad iva

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   asmasara-mayam--made of steel; sulam--a spear; ghanta-vat--bound with bells; hema-bhusanam--decorated with ornaments of gold; pragrhya--taking in his hand; abhyadravat--forcefully went; kruddhah--in an angry mood; hatah asi iti--now you are killed; vitarjayan--roaring like that; prahinot--struck; deva-rajaya--unto King Indra; ninadan--resounding; mrga-rat--a lion; iva--like.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Being angry and roaring like a lion, the demon Namuci took up a steel spear, which was bound with bells and decorated with ornaments of gold. He loudly cried, "Now you are killed!" Thus coming before Indra to kill him, Namuci released his weapon.

 

                               TEXT 31

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   tadapatad gagana-tale maha-javam

                 vicicchide harir isubhih sahasradha

                  tam ahanan nrpa kulisena kandhare

                 rusanvitas tridasa-patih siro haran

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tada--at that time; apatat--falling like a meteor; gagana-tale--beneath the sky or on the ground; maha-javam--extremely powerful; vicicchide--cut to pieces; harih--Indra; isubhih--by his arrows; sahasradha--into thousands of pieces; tam--that Namuci; ahanat--struck; nrpa--O King; kulisena--with his thunderbolt; kandhare--on the shoulder; rusa-anvitah--being very angry; tridasa-patih--Indra, the King of the demigods; sirah--the head; haran--to separate.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   O King, when Indra, King of heaven, saw this very powerful spear falling toward the ground like a blazing meteor, he immediately cut it to pieces with his arrows. Then, being very angry, he struck Namuci's shoulder with his thunderbolt to cut off Namuci's head.

 

                               TEXT 32

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 na tasya hi tvacam api vajra urjito

                  bibheda yah sura-patinaujaseritah

                tad adbhutam param ativirya-vrtra-bhit

                   tiraskrto namuci-sirodhara-tvaca

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   na--not; tasya--of him (Namuci); hi--indeed; tvacam api--even the skin; vajrah--the thunderbolt; urjitah--very powerful; bibheda--could pierce; yah--the weapon which; sura-patina--by the king of the demigods; ojasa--very forcefully; iritah--had been released; tat--therefore; adbhutam param--it was extraordinarily wonderful; ativirya-vrtra-bhit--so powerful that it could pierce the body of the very powerful Vrtrasura; tiraskrtah--(now in the future) which had been repelled; namuci-sirodhara-tvaca--by the skin of Namuci's neck.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Although King Indra hurled his thunderbolt at Namuci with great force, it could not even pierce his skin. It is very wonderful that the famed thunderbolt that had pierced the body of Vrtrasura could not even slightly injure the skin of Namuci's neck.

 

                               TEXT 33

 

                                 TEXT

 

                     tasmad indro 'bibhec chatror

                        vajrah pratihato yatah

                        kim idam daiva-yogena

                        bhutam loka-vimohanam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tasmat--therefore; indrah--the King of heaven; abibhet--became very fearful; satroh--from the enemy (Namuci); vajrah--the thunderbolt; pratihatah--was unable to hit and returned; yatah--because; kim idam--what is this; daiva-yogena--by some superior force; bhutam--it has happened; loka-vimohanam--so wonderful to the people in general.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When Indra saw the thunderbolt return from the enemy, he was very much afraid. He began to wonder whether this had happened because of some miraculous superior power.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Indra's thunderbolt is invincible, and therefore when Indra saw that it had returned without doing any injury to Namuci, he was certainly very much afraid.

 

                               TEXT 34

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        yena me purvam adrinam

                       paksa-cchedah prajatyaye

                        krto nivisatam bharaih

                       patattraih patatam bhuvi

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yena--by the same thunderbolt; me--by me; purvam--formerly; adrinam--of the mountains; paksa-cchedah--the cutting of the wings; praja-atyaye--when there was killing of the people in general; krtah--was done; nivisatam--of those mountains which entered; bharaih--by the great weight; patattraih--by wings; patatam--falling; bhuvi--on the ground.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Indra thought: Formerly, when many mountains flying in the sky with wings would fall to the ground and kill people, I cut their wings with this same thunderbolt.

 

                               TEXT 35

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       tapah-saramayam tvastram

                         vrtro yena vipatitah

                         anye capi balopetah

                      sarvastrair aksata-tvacah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tapah--austerities; sara-mayam--greatly powerful; tvastram--performed by Tvasta; vrtrah--Vrtrasura; yena--by which; vipatitah--was killed; anye--others; ca--also; api--indeed; bala-upetah--very powerful persons; sarva--all kinds; astraih--by weapons; aksata--without being injured; tvacah--their skin.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Vrtrasura was the essence of the austerities undergone by Tvasta, yet the thunderbolt killed him. Indeed, not only he but also many other stalwart heroes, whose very skin could not be injured even by all kinds of weapons, were killed by the same thunderbolt.

 

                               TEXT 36

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       so 'yam pratihato vajro

                       maya mukto 'sure 'lpake

                        naham tad adade dandam

                       brahma-tejo 'py akaranam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sah ayam--therefore, this thunderbolt; pratihatah--repelled; vajrah--thunderbolt; maya--by me; muktah--released; asure--unto that demon; alpake--less important; na--not; aham--I; tat--that; adade--hold; dandam--it is now just like a rod; brahma-tejah--as powerful as a brahmastra; api--although; akaranam--now it is useless.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   But now, although the same thunderbolt has been released against a less important demon, it has been ineffectual. Therefore, although it was as good as a brahmastra, it has now become useless like an ordinary rod. I shall therefore hold it no longer.

 

                               TEXT 37

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        iti sakram visidantam

                          aha vag asaririni

                     nayam suskair atho nardrair

                        vadham arhati danavah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   iti--in this way; sakram--unto Indra; visidantam--lamenting; aha--spoke; vak--a voice; asaririni--without any body, or from the sky; na--not; ayam--this; suskaih--by anything dry; atho--also; na--nor; ardraih--by anything moist; vadham--annihilation; arhati--is befitting; danavah--this demon (Namuci).

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sukadeva Gosvami continued: While the morose Indra was lamenting in this way, an ominous, unembodied voice said from the sky, "This demon Namuci is not to be annihilated by anything dry or moist."

 

                               TEXT 38

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       mayasmai yad varo datto

                      mrtyur naivardra-suskayoh

                       ato 'nyas cintaniyas te

                         upayo maghavan ripoh

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   maya--by me; asmai--unto him; yat--because; varah--a benediction; dattah--has been granted; mrtyuh--death; na--not; eva--indeed; ardra--by either a moist; suskayoh--or by a dry medium; atah--therefore; anyah--something else, another; cintaniyah--has to be thought of; te--by you; upayah--means; maghavan--O Indra; ripoh--of your enemy.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The voice also said, "O Indra, because I have given this demon the benediction that he will never be killed by any weapon that is dry or moist, you have to think of another way to kill him."

 

                               TEXT 39

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       tam daivim giram akarnya

                         maghavan susamahitah

                      dhyayan phenam athapasyad

                         upayam ubhayatmakam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tam--that; daivim--ominous; giram--voice; akarnya--after hearing; maghavan--Lord Indra; su-samahitah--becoming very careful; dhyayan--meditating; phenam--appearance of foam; atha--thereafter; apasyat--he saw; upayam--the means; ubhaya-atmakam--simultaneously dry and moist.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After hearing the ominous voice, Indra, with great attention, began to meditate on how to kill the demon. He then saw that foam would be the means, for it is neither moist nor dry.

 

                               TEXT 40

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        na suskena na cardrena

                         jahara namuceh sirah

                        tam tustuvur muni-gana

                       malyais cavakiran vibhum

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   na--neither; suskena--by dry means; na--nor; ca--also; ardrena--by a moist weapon; jahara--he separated; namuceh--of Namuci; sirah--the head; tam--him (Indra); tustuvuh--satisfied; muni-ganah--all the sages; malyaih--with flower garlands; ca--also; avakiran--covered; vibhum--that great personality.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thus Indra, King of heaven, severed Namuci's head with a weapon of foam, which was neither dry nor moist. Then all the sages satisfied Indra, the exalted personality, by showering flowers and garlands upon him, almost covering him.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   In this regard, the sruti-mantras say, apam phenena namuceh sira indro 'darayat: Indra killed Namuci with watery foam, which is neither moist nor dry.

 

                               TEXT 41

 

                                 TEXT

 

                      gandharva-mukhyau jagatur

                          visvavasu-paravasu

                        deva-dundubhayo nedur

                        nartakyo nanrtur muda

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   gandharva-mukhyau--the two chiefs of the Gandharvas; jagatuh--began to sing nice songs; visvavasu--named Visvavasu; paravasu--named Paravasu; deva-dundubhayah--the kettledrums beaten by the demigods; neduh--made their sound; nartakyah--the dancers known as Apsaras; nanrtuh--began to dance; muda--in great happiness.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Visvavasu and Paravasu, the two chiefs of the Gandharvas, sang in great happiness. The kettledrums of the demigods sounded, and the Apsaras danced in jubilation.

 

                               TEXT 42

 

                                 TEXT

 

                     anye 'py evam pratidvandvan

                        vayv-agni-varunadayah

                         sudayam asur asuran

                         mrgan kesarino yatha

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   anye--others; api--also; evam--in this way; pratidvandvan--the opposing party of belligerants; vayu--the demigod known as Vayu; agni--the demigod known as Agni; varuna-adayah--the demigod known as Varuna and others; sudayam asuh--began to kill vigorously; asuran--all the demons; mrgan--deer; kesarinah--lions; yatha--just as.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Vayu, Agni, Varuna and other demigods began killing the demons who opposed them, just as lions kill deer in a forest.

 

                               TEXT 43

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        brahmana presito devan

                         devarsir narado nrpa

                         varayam asa vibudhan

                       drstva danava-sanksayam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   brahmana--by Lord Brahma; presitah--sent; devan--unto the demigods; deva-rsih--the great sage of the heavenly planets; naradah--Narada Muni; nrpa--O King; varayam asa--forbade; vibudhan--all the demigods; drstva--after seeing; danava-sanksayam--the total annihilation of the demons.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   O King, when Lord Brahma saw the imminent total annihilation of the demons, he sent a message with Narada, who went before the demigods to make them stop fighting.

 

                               TEXT 44

 

                                 TEXT

 

                           sri-narada uvaca

                      bhavadbhir amrtam praptam

                        narayana-bhujasrayaih

                        sriya samedhitah sarva

                          uparamata vigrahat

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sri-naradah uvaca--Narada Muni prayed to the demigods; bhavadbhih--by all of you; amrtam--nectar; praptam--has been obtained; narayana--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhuja-asrayaih--being protected by the arms; sriya--by all fortune; samedhitah--have flourished; sarve--all of you; uparamata--now cease; vigrahat--from this fighting.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The great sage Narada said: All of you demigods are protected by the arms of Narayana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and by His grace you have gotten the nectar. By the grace of the goddess of fortune, you are glorious in every way. Therefore, please stop this fighting.

 

                               TEXT 45

 

                                 TEXT

 

                            sri-suka uvaca

                      samyamya manyu-samrambham

                        manayanto muner vacah

                         upagiyamananucarair

                       yayuh sarve trivistapam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sri-sukah uvaca--Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; samyamya--controlling; manyu--of anger; samrambham--the aggravation; manayantah--accepting; muneh vacah--the words of Narada Muni; upagiyamana--being praised; anucaraih--by their followers; yayuh--returned; sarve--all of the demigods; trivistapam--to the heavenly planets.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: Accepting the words of Narada, the demigods gave up their anger and stopped fighting. Being praised by their followers, they returned to their heavenly planets.

 

                               TEXT 46

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       ye 'vasista rane tasmin

                          naradanumatena te

                         balim vipannam adaya

                         astam girim upagaman

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ye--some of the demons who; avasistah--remained; rane--in the fight; tasmin--in that; narada-anumatena--by the order of Narada; te--all of them; balim--Maharaja Bali; vipannam--in reverses; adaya--taking; astam--named Asta; girim--to the mountain; upagaman--went.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Following the order of Narada Muni, whatever demons remained on the battlefield took Bali Maharaja, who was in a precarious condition, to the hill known as Astagiri.

 

                               TEXT 47

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         tatravinastavayavan

                         vidyamana-sirodharan

                          usana jivayam asa

                        samjivanya sva-vidyaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tatra--on that hill; avinasta-avayavan--the demons who had been killed but whose bodily parts had not been lost; vidyamana-sirodharan--whose heads were still existing on their bodies; usanah--Sukracarya; jivayam asa--brought to life; samjivanya--by the Samjivani mantra; sva-vidyaya--by his own achievement.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   There, on that hill, Sukracarya brought to life all the dead demoniac soldiers who had not lost their heads, trunks and limbs. He achieved this by his own mantra, known as Samjivani.

 

                               TEXT 48

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        balis cosanasa sprstah

                       pratyapannendriya-smrtih

                        parajito 'pi nakhidyal

                        loka-tattva-vicaksanah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   balih--Maharaja Bali; ca--also; usanasa--by Sukracarya; sprstah--being touched; pratyapanna--was brought back; indriya-smrtih--realization of the actions of the senses and memory; parajitah--he was defeated; api--although; na akhidyat--he did not lament; loka-tattva-vicaksanah--because he was very experienced in universal affairs.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Bali Maharaja was very experienced in universal affairs. When he regained his senses and memory by the grace of Sukracarya, he could understand everything that had happened. Therefore, although he had been defeated, he did not lament.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   It is significant that Bali Maharaja is here said to be very experienced. Although defeated, he was not at all sorry, for he knew that nothing can take place without the sanction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Since he was a devotee, he accepted his defeat without lamentation. As stated by the Supreme Personality of Godhead in Bhagavad-gita (2.47), karmany evadhikaras te ma phalesu kadacana. Everyone in Krsna consciousness should execute his duty, without regard for victory or defeat. One must execute his duty as ordered by Krsna or His representative, the spiritual master. Anukulyena krsnanusilanam bhaktir uttama. In first-class devotional service, one always abides by the orders and will of Krsna.

 

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Eleventh Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled "King Indra Annihilates the Demons."


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