From the Eighth Canto, Twenty-third Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Demigods Regain the Heavenly planets.”
Text 1
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: When the supreme, ancient, eternal Personality of Godhead had thus spoken to Bali Mahārāja, who is universally accepted as a pure devotee of the Lord and therefore a great soul, Bali Mahārāja, his eyes filled with tears, his hands folded and his voice faltering in devotional ecstasy, responded as follows.
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Text 2
Bali Mahārāja said: What a wonderful effect there is in even attempting to offer respectful obeisances to You! I merely endeavored to offer You obeisances, but nonetheless the attempt was as successful as those of pure devotees. The causeless mercy You have shown to me, a fallen demon, was never achieved even by the demigods or the leaders of the various planets.
PURPORT
When Vāmanadeva appeared before Bali Mahārāja, Bali Mahārāja immediately wanted to offer Him respectful obeisances, but he was unable to do so because of the presence of Śukrācārya and other demoniac associates. The Lord is so merciful, however, that although Bali Mahārāja did not actually offer obeisances but only endeavored to do so within his mind, the Supreme Personality of Godhead blessed him with more mercy than even the demigods could ever expect.
As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (2.40), svalpam apy asya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt: “Even a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.”
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is known as bhāva-grāhī janārdana because He takes only the essence of a devotee’s attitude. If a devotee sincerely surrenders, the Lord, as the Supersoul in everyone’s heart, immediately understands this. Thus even though, externally, a devotee may not render full service, if he is internally sincere and serious the Lord welcomes his service nonetheless. Thus the Lord is known as bhāva-grāhī janārdana because He takes the essence of one’s devotional mentality.
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Pamho agtacbsp,although BALI MAHARAJ USED TO BE A DEMON EXTERNALLY BUT INTERNALLY HE WAS FULL OF DEVOTION FOR SRI KRSNA ,that is the difference of a smarta brahmana and a bhakti yogi ,SUKRACHARYA had the power to bring back to life dead people as he done when BALI MAHARAJ GOT KILLED BY FIGHTING WITH THE DEMIGODS BUT SUKRACHARYA BROUGHT HIM BACK IN LIFE BUT WITHOUT DEVOTION EVERYTHING REMAIN DEAD THAT’S THE REAL DEATH THEREFORE ALTHOUGH SUKRACHARYA HAD THAT POWER HE WAS DEAD WITHOUT DEVOTION TO SRI KRSNA BUT SUKRACHARYA IS NOT A ORDINARY SMARTA BRAHMANA, THEN THIS KRSNA LILA HAPPENED IN THE HEAVEN PLANETS,agtacbsp ys haribol
Pamho agtacbsp, THE ESSENCE OF DEVOTIONAL MENTALITY RESIDE IN SARANAGATI SURRENDER EVERYTHING TO THE SUPREME OWNER AS BALI MAHARAJ DONE .AGTACBSP YS HARIBOL
Pamho agtacbsp, the best example of surrender is giving by SRIMADI RADHARANI WHEN SHE SAY: I DON’T KNOW WHAT MAKE SRI KRSNA HAPPY BUT IF HE IS HAPPY TO SEE ME DISTRESSED THAT DISTRESS IS FOR ME THE GREATEST HAPPINESS THIS MEANS TO SURRENDER EVERYTHING TO THE SUPREME OWNER INCLUDING THE PROBLEMS BECAUSE IF EVERYTHING BELONG TO SRI KRSNA OUR SO CALLED PROBLEMS ALSO BELONG TO HIM.SO ATMA NIVEDANA WILL BECOME PERFECT WHEN WE REALISE THIS TRUTH.AGTACBSP ys haribol