Chapter Fifteen

             Bali Maharaja Conquers the Heavenly Planets

 

   This chapter describes how Bali, after performing the Visvajit-yajna, received the benediction of a chariot and various kinds of paraphernalia for war, with which he attacked the King of heaven. All the demigods, being afraid of him, left the heavenly planets and went away, following the instructions of their guru.

   Maharaja Pariksit wanted to understand how Lord Vamanadeva, on the plea of taking three paces of land from Bali Maharaja, took everything away from him and arrested him. Sukadeva Gosvami responded to this inquiry with the following explanation. In the fight between the demons and the demigods, as described in the Eleventh Chapter of this canto, Bali was defeated, and he died in the fight, but by the grace of Sukracarya he regained his life. Thus he engaged himself in the service of Sukracarya, his spiritual master. The descendants of Bhrgu, being pleased with him, engaged him in the Visvajit-yajna. When this yajna was performed, from the fire of yajna came a chariot, horses, a flag, a bow, armor and two quivers of arrows. Maharaja Prahlada, Bali Maharaja's grandfather, gave Bali an eternal garland of flowers, and Sukracarya gave him a conchshell. Bali Maharaja, after offering obeisances to Prahlada, the brahmanas and his spiritual master, Sukracarya, equipped himself to fight with Indra and went to Indrapuri with his soldiers. Blowing his conchshell, he attacked the outskirts of Indra's kingdom. When Indra saw Bali Maharaja's prowess, he went to his own spiritual master, Brhaspati, told him about Bali's strength, and inquired about his duty. Brhaspati informed the demigods that because Bali had been endowed with extraordinary power by the brahmanas, the demigods could not fight with him. Their only hope was to gain the favor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Indeed, there was no alternative. Under the circumstances, Brhaspati advised the demigods to leave the heavenly planets and keep themselves somewhere invisible. The demigods followed his orders, and Bali Maharaja, along with his associates, gained the entire kingdom of Indra. The descendants of Bhrgu Muni, being very affectionate to their disciple Bali Maharaja, engaged him in performing one hundred asvamedha-yajnas. In this way, Bali enjoyed the opulences of the heavenly planets.

 

                              TEXTS 1-2

 

                                 TEXT

 

                             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

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sri-raja uvaca--the King said; baleh--of Bali Maharaja; pada-trayam--three steps; bhumeh--of land; kasmat--why; harih--the Supreme Personality of Godhead (in the form of Vamana); ayacata--begged; bhuta-isvarah--the proprietor of all the universe; krpana-vat--like a poor man; labdha-arthah--He got the gift; api--although; babandha--arrested; tam--him (Bali); etat--all this; veditum--to understand; icchamah--we desire; mahat--very great; kautuhalam--eagerness; hi--indeed; nah--our; yacna--begging; isvarasya--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; purnasya--who is full in everything; bandhanam--arresting; ca--also; api--although; anagasah--of he who was faultless.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                                TEXT 3

 

                                 TEXT

 

                            sri-suka uvaca

                   parajita-srir asubhis ca hapito

                 hindrena rajan bhrgubhih sa jivitah

                 sarvatmana tan abhajad bhrgun balih

                     sisyo mahatmartha-nivedanena

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sri-sukah uvaca--Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; parajita--being defeated; srih--opulences; asubhih ca--of life also; hapitah--deprived; hi--indeed; indrena--by King Indra; rajan--O King; bhrgubhih--by the descendants of Bhrgu Muni; sah--he (Bali Maharaja); jivitah--brought back to life; sarva-atmana--in full submission; tan--them; abhajat--worshiped; bhrgun--the descendants of Bhrgu Muni; balih--Maharaja Bali; sisyah--a disciple; mahatma--the great soul; artha-nivedanena--by giving them everything.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                                TEXT 4

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   tam brahmana bhrgavah priyamana

                     ayajayan visvajita tri-nakam

                     jigisamanam vidhinabhisicya

                      mahabhisekena mahanubhavah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tam--upon him (Bali Maharaja); brahmanah--all the brahmanas; bhrgavah--the descendants of Bhrgu Muni; priyamanah--being very pleased; ayajayan--engaged him in performing a sacrifice; visvajita--known as Visvajit; tri-nakam--the heavenly planets; jigisamanam--desiring to conquer; vidhina--according to regulative principles; abhisicya--after purifying; maha-abhisekena--by bathing him in a great abhiseka ceremony; maha-anubhavah--the exalted brahmanas.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                                TEXT 5

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   tato rathah kancana-patta-naddho

                   hayas ca haryasva-turanga-varnah

                    dhvajas ca simhena virajamano

                    hutasanad asa havirbhir istat

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tatah--thereafter; rathah--a chariot; kancana--with gold; patta--and silk garments; naddhah--wrapped; hayah ca--horses also; haryasva-turanga-varnah--exactly of the same color as the horses of Indra (yellow); dhvajah ca--a flag also; simhena--with the mark of a lion; virajamanah--existing; huta-asanat--from the blazing fire; asa--there was; havirbhih--by offerings of clarified butter; istat--worshiped.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                                TEXT 6

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   dhanus ca divyam puratopanaddham

                   tunav ariktau kavacam ca divyam

                    pitamahas tasya dadau ca malam

                   amlana-puspam jalajam ca sukrah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dhanuh--a bow; ca--also; divyam--uncommon; purata-upanaddham--covered with gold; tunau--two quivers; ariktau--infallible; kavacam ca--and armor; divyam--celestial; pitamahah tasya--his grandfather, namely Prahlada Maharaja; dadau--gave; ca--and; malam--a garland; amlana-puspam--made of flowers that do not fade away; jala jam--a conchshell (which is born in water); ca--as well as; sukrah--Sukracarya.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                                TEXT 7

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   evam sa viprarjita-yodhanarthas

                 taih kalpita-svastyayano 'tha vipran

                    pradaksini-krtya krta-pranamah

                   prahradam amantrya namas-cakara

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   evam--in this way; sah--he (Bali Maharaja); vipra-arjita--gained by the grace of the brahmanas; yodhana-arthah--possessing equipment for fighting; taih--by them (the brahmanas); kalpita--advice; svastyayanah--ritualistic performance; atha--as; vipran--all the brahmanas (Sukracarya and others); pradaksini-krtya--circumambulating; krta-pranamah--offered his respectful obeisances; prahradam--unto Prahlada Maharaja; amantrya--addressing; namah-cakara--offered him obeisances.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                              TEXTS 8-9

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       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

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   atha--thereupon; aruhya--getting on; ratham--the chariot; divyam--celestial; bhrgu-dattam--given by Sukracarya; maha-rathah--Bali Maharaja, the great charioteer; su-srak-dharah--decorated with a nice garland; atha--thus; sannahya--covering his body with armor; dhanvi--equipped with a bow; khadgi--taking a sword; dhrta-isudhih--taking a quiver of arrows; hema-angada-lasat-bahuh--decorated with golden bangles on his arms; sphurat-makara-kundalah--decorated with brilliant earrings resembling sapphires; raraja--was illuminating; ratham arudhah--getting on the chariot; dhisnya-sthah--situated on the altar of sacrifice; iva--like; havya-vat--worshipable fire.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                             TEXTS 10-11

 

                                 TEXT

 

                      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

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tulya-aisvarya--equal in opulence; bala--strength; sribhih--and in beauty; sva-yuthaih--by his own men; daitya-yutha-paih--and by the chiefs of the demons; pibadbhih--drinking; iva--as if; kham--the sky; drgbhih--with the sight; dahadbhih--burning; paridhin--all directions; iva--as if; vrtah--surrounded; vikarsan--attracting; mahatim--very great; asurim--demoniac; dhvajinim--soldiers; vibhuh--most powerful; yayau--went; indra-purim--to the capital of King Indra; su-rddham--very opulent; kampayan--causing to tremble; iva--as if; rodasi--the complete surface of the world.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                               TEXT 12

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        ramyam upavanodyanaih

                       srimadbhir nandanadibhih

                       kujad-vihanga-mithunair

                       gayan-matta-madhuvrataih

                        pravala-phala-pusporu-

                       bhara-sakhamara-drumaih

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ramyam--very pleasing; upavana--with orchards; udyanaih--and gardens; srimadbhih--very beautiful to see; nandana-adibhih--such as Nandana; kujat--chirping; vihanga--birds; mithunaih--with pairs; gayat--singing; matta--mad; madhu-vrataih--with bees; pravala--of leaves; phala-puspa--fruits and flowers; uru--very great; bhara--bearing the weight; sakha--whose branches; amara-drumaih--with eternal trees.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                               TEXT 13

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        hamsa-sarasa-cakrahva-

                         karandava-kulakulah

                        nalinyo yatra kridanti

                        pramadah sura-sevitah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   hamsa--of swans; sarasa--cranes; cakrahva--birds known as cakravakas; karandava--and water fowl; kula--by groups; akulah--congested; nalinyah--lotus flowers; yatra--where; kridanti--enjoyed sporting; pramadah--beautiful women; sura-sevitah--protected by the demigods.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

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

 

                               TEXT 14

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         akasa-gangaya devya

                        vrtam parikha-bhutaya

                         prakarenagni-varnena

                         sattalenonnatena ca

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   akasa-gangaya--by Ganges water known as Akasa-ganga; devya--the always-worshipable goddess; vrtam--surrounded; parikha-bhutaya--as a trench; prakarena--by ramparts; agni-varnena--resembling fire; sa-attalena--with places for fighting; unnatena--very high; ca--and.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                               TEXT 15

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       rukma-patta-kapatais ca

                      dvaraih sphatika-gopuraih

                      justam vibhakta-prapatham

                        visvakarma-vinirmitam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   rukma-patta--possessing plates made of gold; kapataih--the doors of which; ca--and; dvaraih--with entrances; sphatika-gopuraih--with gates made of excellent marble; justam--linked; vibhakta-prapatham--with many different public roads; visvakarma-vinirmitam--constructed by Visvakarma, the heavenly architect.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                               TEXT 16

 

                                 TEXT

 

                      sabha-catvara-rathyadhyam

                      vimanair nyarbudair yutam

                        srngatakair manimayair

                        vajra-vidruma-vedibhih

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sabha--with assembly houses; catvara--courtyards; rathya--and public roads; adhyam--opulent; vimanaih--by airplanes; nyarbudaih--not less than ten crores (one hundred million); yutam--endowed; srnga-atakaih--with crossroads; mani-mayaih--made of pearls; vajra--made of diamonds; vidruma--and coral; vedibhih--with places to sit.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                               TEXT 17

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        yatra nitya-vayo-rupah

                         syama viraja-vasasah

                       bhrajante rupavan-naryo

                      hy arcirbhir iva vahnayah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yatra--in that city; nitya-vayah-rupah--who were ever beautiful and young; syamah--possessing the quality of syama; viraja-vasasah--always dressed with clean garments; bhrajante--glitter; rupa-vat--well decorated; naryah--women; hi--certainly; arcirbhih--with many flames; iva--like; vahnayah--fires.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura gives a hint of the quality of the syama woman.

 

                        sita-kale bhaved usna

                         usma-kale susitalah

                       stanau sukathinau yasam

                       tah syamah parikirtitah

 

   A woman whose body is very warm during the winter and cool during the summer and who generally has very firm breasts is called syama.

 

                               TEXT 18

 

                                 TEXT

 

                      sura-stri-kesa-vibhrasta-

                       nava-saugandhika-srajam

                          yatramodam upadaya

                         marga avati marutah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sura-stri--of the women of the demigods; kesa--from the hair; vibhrasta--fallen; nava-saugandhika--made of fresh, fragrant flowers; srajam--of the flower garlands; yatra--wherein; amodam--the fragrance; upadaya--carrying; marge--on the roads; avati--blows; marutah--the breeze.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                               TEXT 19

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       hema-jalaksa-nirgacchad-

                         dhumenaguru-gandhina

                       pandurena praticchanna-

                       marge yanti sura-priyah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   hema-jala-aksa--from dainty little windows made of networks of gold; nirgacchat--emanating; dhumena--by smoke; aguru-gandhina--fragrant due to burning incense known as aguru; pandurena--very white; praticchanna--covered; marge--on the street; yanti--pass; sura-priyah--beautiful public women known as Apsaras, celestial girls.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

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

 

                               TEXT 20

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  mukta-vitanair mani-hema-ketubhir

                    nana-pataka-valabhibhir avrtam

                   sikhandi-paravata-bhrnga-naditam

                  vaimanika-stri-kala-gita-mangalam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   mukta-vitanaih--by canopies decorated with pearls; mani-hema-ketubhih--with flags made with pearls and gold; nana-pataka--possessing various kinds of flags; valabhibhih--with the domes of the palaces; avrtam--covered; sikhandi--of birds like peacocks; paravata--pigeons; bhrnga--bees; naditam--vibrated by the respective sounds; vaimanika--getting on airplanes; stri--of women; kala-gita--from the choral singing; mangalam--full of auspiciousness.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                               TEXT 21

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 mrdanga-sankhanaka-dundubhi-svanaih

                    satala-vina-murajesta-venubhih

                  nrtyaih savadyair upadeva-gitakair

                 manoramam sva-prabhaya jita-prabham

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   mrdanga--of drums; sankha--conchshells; anaka-dundubhi--and kettledrums; svanaih--by the sounds; sa-tala--in perfect tune; vina--a stringed instrument; muraja--a kind of drum; ista-venubhih--accompanied by the very nice sound of the flute; nrtyaih--with dancing; sa-vadyaih--with concert instruments; upadeva-gitakaih--with singing by the secondary demigods like the Gandharvas; manoramam--beautiful and pleasing; sva-prabhaya--by its own brilliance; jita-prabham--the personification of beauty was conquered.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                               TEXT 22

 

                                 TEXT

 

                     yam na vrajanty adharmisthah

                      khala bhuta-druhah sathah

                        maninah kamino lubdha

                       ebhir hina vrajanti yat

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yam--in the streets of the city; na--not; vrajanti--pass; adharmisthah--irreligious persons; khalah--envious persons; bhuta-druhah--persons violent toward other living entities; sathah--cheaters; maninah--falsely prestigious; kaminah--lusty; lubdhah--greedy; ebhih--these; hinah--completely devoid of; vrajanti--walk; yat--on the street.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                               TEXT 23

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  tam deva-dhanim sa varuthini-patir

                   bahih samantad rurudhe prtanyaya

                  acarya-dattam jalajam maha-svanam

                dadhmau prayunjan bhayam indra-yositam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tam--that; deva-dhanim--place where Indra lived; sah--he (Bali Maharaja); varuthini-patih--the commander of the soldiers; bahih--outside; samantat--in all directions; rurudhe--attacked; prtanyaya--by soldiers; acarya-dattam--given by Sukracarya; jala-jam--the conchshell; maha-svanam--a loud sound; dadhmau--resounded; prayunjan--creating; bhayam--fear; indra-yositam--of all the ladies protected by Indra.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                               TEXT 24

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       maghavams tam abhipretya

                        baleh paramam udyamam

                         sarva-deva-ganopeto

                         gurum etad uvaca ha

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   maghavan--Indra; tam--the situation; abhipretya--understanding; baleh--of Bali Maharaja; paramam udyamam--great enthusiasm; sarva-deva-gana--by all the demigods; upetah--accompanied; gurum--unto the spiritual master; etat--the following words; uvaca--said; ha--indeed.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                               TEXT 25

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       bhagavann udyamo bhuyan

                       baler nah purva-vairinah

                         avisahyam imam manye

                         kenasit tejasorjitah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhagavan--O my lord; udyamah--enthusiasm; bhuyan--great; baleh--of Bali Maharaja; nah--our; purva-vairinah--past enemy; avisahyam--unbearable; imam--this; manye--I think; kena--by whom; asit--got; tejasa--prowess; urjitah--achieved.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                               TEXT 26

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       nainam kascit kuto vapi

                       prativyodhum adhisvarah

                        pibann iva mukhenedam

                         lihann iva diso dasa

                       dahann iva diso drgbhih

                       samvartagnir ivotthitah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   na--not; enam--this arrangement; kascit--anyone; kutah--from anywhere; va api--either; prativyodhum--to counteract; adhisvarah--capable; piban iva--as if drinking; mukhena--by the mouth; idam--this (world); lihan iva--as if licking up; disah dasa--all ten directions; dahan iva--as if burning; disah--all directions; drgbhih--by his vision; samvarta-agnih--the fire known as samvarta; iva--like; utthitah--now arisen.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                               TEXT 27

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         bruhi karanam etasya

                      durdharsatvasya mad-ripoh

                         ojah saho balam tejo

                         yata etat samudyamah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bruhi--kindly inform us; karanam--the cause; etasya--of all this; durdharsatvasya--of the formidableness; mat-ripoh--of my enemy; ojah--prowess; sahah--energy; balam--strength; tejah--influence; yatah--wherefrom; etat--all this; samudyamah--endeavor.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Kindly inform me. What is the cause for Bali Maharaja's strength, endeavor, influence and victory? How has he become so enthusiastic?

 

                               TEXT 28

 

                                 TEXT

 

                           sri-gurur uvaca

                       janami maghavan chatror

                         unnater asya karanam

                         sisyayopabhrtam tejo

                      bhrgubhir brahma-vadibhih

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sri-guruh uvaca--Brhaspati said; janami--I know; maghavan--O Indra; satroh--of the enemy; unnateh--of the elevation; asya--of him; karanam--the cause; sisyaya--unto the disciple; upabhrtam--endowed; tejah--power; bhrgubhih--by the descendants of Bhrgu; brahma-vadibhih--all-powerful brahmanas.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Brhaspati, the spiritual master of the demigods, informed Indra, "Ordinarily, Bali and his forces could not achieve such strength, but it appears that the brahmana descendants of Bhrgu Muni, being pleased with Bali Maharaja, endowed them with this spiritual power." In other words, Brhaspati informed Indra that Bali Maharaja's prowess was not his own but that of his exalted guru, Sukracarya. We sing in our daily prayers, yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto 'pi. By the pleasure of the spiritual master, one can get extraordinary power, especially in spiritual advancement. The blessings of the spiritual master are more powerful than one's personal endeavor for such advancement. Narottama dasa Thakura therefore says:

 

          guru-mukha-padma-vakya,     cittete kariya aikya,

                        ara na kariha mane asa

 

   Especially for spiritual advancement, one should carry out the bona fide order of the spiritual master. By the parampara system, one can thus be endowed with the original spiritual power coming from the Supreme personality of Godhead (evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh).

 

                               TEXT 29

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        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

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ojasvinam--so powerful; balim--Bali Maharaja; jetum--to conquer; na--not; samarthah--able; asti--is; kascana--anyone; bhavat-vidhah--like you; bhavan--you yourself; va api--either; varjayitva--excepting; isvaram--the supreme controller; harim--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; vijesyati--will conquer; na--not; kah api--anyone; enam--him (Bali Maharaja); brahma-tejah-samedhitam--now empowered with brahma-tejas, extraordinary spiritual power; na--not; asya--of him; saktah--is able; purah--in front; sthatum--to stay; krta-antasya--of Yamaraja; yatha--as; janah--people.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                               TEXT 30

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        tasman nilayam utsrjya

                       yuyam sarve tri-vistapam

                        yata kalam pratiksanto

                       yatah satror viparyayah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tasmat--therefore; nilayam--not visible; utsrjya--giving up; yuyam--you; sarve--all; tri-vistapam--the heavenly kingdom; yata--go somewhere else; kalam--time; pratiksantah--waiting for; yatah--whereof; satroh--of your enemy; viparyayah--the reverse condition arrives.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

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

 

                               TEXT 31

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         esa vipra-balodarkah

                       sampraty urjita-vikramah

                          tesam evapamanena

                        sanubandho vinanksyati

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   esah--this (Bali Maharaja); vipra-bala-udarkah--flourishing because of the brahminical power invested in him; samprati--at the present moment; urjita-vikramah--extremely powerful; tesam--of the same brahmanas; eva--indeed; apamanena--by insult; sa-anubandhah--with friends and assistants; vinanksyati--will be vanquished.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Bali Maharaja and Indra were enemies. Therefore, when Brhaspati, the spiritual master of the demigods, predicted that Bali Maharaja would be vanquished when he insulted the brahmanas by whose grace he had become so powerful, Bali Maharaja's enemies were naturally anxious to know when that opportune moment would come. To pacify King Indra, Brhaspati assured him that the time would certainly come, for Brhaspati could see that in the future Bali Maharaja would defy the orders of Sukracarya in order to pacify Lord Visnu, Vamanadeva. Of course, to advance in Krsna consciousness, one can take all risks. To please Vamanadeva, Bali Maharaja risked defying the orders of his spiritual master, Sukracarya. Because of this, he would lose all his property, yet because of devotional service to the Lord, he would get more than he expected, and in the future, in the eighth manvantara, he would occupy the throne of Indra again.

 

                               TEXT 32

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       evam sumantritarthas te

                         gurunarthanudarsina

                      hitva tri-vistapam jagmur

                        girvanah kama-rupinah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   evam--thus; su-mantrita--being well advised; arthah--about duties; te--they (the demigods); guruna--by their spiritual master; artha-anudarsina--whose instructions were quite befitting; hitva--giving up; tri-vistapam--the heavenly kingdom; jagmuh--went; girvanah--the demigods; kama-rupinah--who could assume any form they liked.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The word kama-rupinah indicates that the demigods, the inhabitants of the heavenly planets, can assume any form they desire. Thus it was not at all difficult for them to remain incognito before the eyes of the demons.

 

                               TEXT 33

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         devesv atha nilinesu

                        balir vairocanah purim

                        deva-dhanim adhisthaya

                       vasam ninye jagat-trayam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   devesu--all the demigods; atha--in this way; nilinesu--when they disappeared; balih--Bali Maharaja; vairocanah--the son of Virocana; purim--the heavenly kingdom; deva-dhanim--the residence of the demigods; adhisthaya--taking possession of; vasam--under control; ninye--brought; jagat-trayam--the three worlds.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                               TEXT 34

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       tam visva-jayinam sisyam

                       bhrgavah sisya-vatsalah

                         satena hayamedhanam

                          anuvratam ayajayan

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tam--unto him (Bali Maharaja); visva-jayinam--the conqueror of the entire universe; sisyam--because of his being a disciple; bhrgavah--the brahmanas, descendants of Bhrgu like Sukracarya; sisya-vatsalah--being very pleased with the disciple; satena--by one hundred; haya-medhanam--sacrifices known as asvamedha; anuvratam--following the instruction of the brahmanas; ayajayan--caused to execute.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   We have seen in the dispute between Maharaja Prthu and Indra that when Maharaja Prthu wanted to perform one hundred asvamedha-yajnas, Indra wanted to impede him, for it is because of such great sacrifices that Indra was made King of heaven. Here the brahmana descendants of Bhrgu decided that although Maharaja Bali was situated on the throne of Indra, he would not be able to stay there unless he performed such sacrifices. Therefore they advised Maharaja Bali to perform at least as many asvamedha-yajnas as Indra. The word ayajayan indicates that all the brahmanas induced Bali Maharaja to perform such sacrifices.

 

                               TEXT 35

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         tatas tad-anubhavena

                        bhuvana-traya-visrutam

                       kirtim diksu-vitanvanah

                          sa reja udurad iva

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tatah--thereafter; tat-anubhavena--because of performing such great sacrifices; bhuvana-traya--throughout the three worlds; visrutam--celebrated; kirtim--reputation; diksu--in all directions; vitanvanah--spreading; sah--he (Bali Maharaja); reje--became effulgent; udurat--the moon; iva--like.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                               TEXT 36

 

                                 TEXT

 

                      bubhuje ca sriyam svrddham

                        dvija-devopalambhitam

                        krta-krtyam ivatmanam

                         manyamano mahamanah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bubhuje--enjoyed; ca--also; sriyam--opulence; su-rddham--prosperity; dvija--of the brahmanas; deva--as good as the demigods; upalambhitam--achieved because of the favor; krta-krtyam--very satisfied by his activities; iva--like that; atmanam--himself; manyamanah--thinking; maha-manah--the great-minded.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   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.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The brahmanas are called dvija-deva, and ksatriyas are generally called nara-deva. The word deva actually refers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The brahmanas guide human society in becoming happy by satisfying Lord Visnu, and according to their advice, the ksatriyas, who are called nara-deva, keep law and order so that other people, namely the vaisyas and sudras, may properly follow regulative principles. In this way, people are gradually elevated to Krsna consciousness.

 

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Fifteenth Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled "Bali Maharaja Conquers the Heavenly Planets."


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