Vyasadev
Praneetha
The Mad Bhagavatam
Chapter 21
Bali Mahârâja Arrested by the Lord
This chapter describes how Lord Viṣṇu, desiring to advertise the glories of Bali Mahārāja, arrested him for not fulfilling his promise in regard to the Lord's third step.
With the second step the Supreme Personality of Godhead reached the topmost planet of the universe, Brahmaloka, which He diminished in beauty by the effulgence of His toenails. Thus Lord Brahmā, accompanied by great sages like Marīci and the predominating deities of all the higher planets, offered humble prayers and worship to the Lord. They washed the Lord's feet and worshiped Him with all paraphernalia. Ṛkṣarāja, Jāmbavān, played his bugle to vibrate the glories of the Lord. When Bali Mahārāja was deprived of all his possessions, the demons were very angry. Although Bali Mahārāja warned them not to do so, they took up weapons against Lord Viṣṇu. All of them were defeated, however, by Lord Viṣṇu's eternal associates, and, in accordance with Bali Mahārāja's order, they all entered the lower planets of the universe. Understanding Lord Viṣṇu's purpose, Garuḍa, the carrier of Lord Viṣṇu, immediately arrested Bali Mahārāja with the ropes of Varuṇa. When Bali Mahārāja was thus reduced to a helpless position, Lord Viṣṇu asked him for the third step of land. Because Lord Viṣṇu appreciated Bali Mahārāja's determination and integrity, when Bali Mahārāja was unable to fulfill his promise, Lord Viṣṇu ascertained that the place for him would be the planet Sutala, which is better than the planets of heaven.
8.21.1
satyaḿ samīkṣyābja-bhavo nakhendubhir
(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'He who appeared on the lotus [Brahmâ] saw from the place of truth [from Satyaloka] how by the effulgence of the Lord His toenails, the light of his own abode had been covered and had waned and thus, o god of man, approached he Him with vowed brahmacârîs like the sages headed by Marîci and Sanandana and the other Kumâras.
8.21.2-3
vedopavedā niyamā yamānvitās
tarketihāsāńga-purāṇa-saḿhitāḥ
jñānāgninā randhita-karma-kalmaṣāḥ
athāńghraye pronnamitāya viṣṇor
(2-3) Fully expert in the Vedas and their supplements, the regulations and the abstinence; well versed in logic, history, didactics, the classical stories, the vedic corollaries and more were the sages joined by others of whom, ignited by the winds of yoga and the fire of spiritual knowledge, all karmic impurity had ended when they, by simply meditating and offering their prayers, had attained the abode of the self-born one. The one who originated from the lotus then paid homage worshiping Lord Vishnu His lotusfeet with oblations of water and thus was He pleased, very pleased by the reverent devotion He received from the most celebrated vedic authority, from him who as a person had appeared on the lotus that had sprouted from His navel [see also 3.8].
8.21.4
pādāvanejana-pavitratayā narendra
svardhuny abhūn nabhasi sā patatī nimārṣṭi
(4) That water from Lord Brahmâ's kamandalu, pure from washing the feet of Lord Urukrama, o king of the humans, so became the [celestial] Svardhunî of which the water flowing down from outer space purifies the three worlds as the fame of the Supreme Lord.
Here we understand that the Ganges began when the water from Lord Brahmā's kamaṇḍalu washed the lotus feet of Lord Vāmanadeva. But in the Fifth Canto it is stated that the Ganges began when Vāmanadeva's left foot pierced the covering of the universe so that the transcendental water of the Causal Ocean leaked through. And elsewhere it is also stated that Lord Nārāyaṇa appeared as the water of the Ganges. The water of the Ganges, therefore, is a combination of three transcendental waters, and thus the Ganges is able to purify the three worlds.
8.21.5
sańkṣiptātma-vibhūtaye
(5) Lord Brahmâ and the others, they who were the predominating deities of the different worlds, were of the greatest respect for their master and collected with all their followers the necessities for worshiping the All-powerful Soul who had returned to His original size.
Vāmanadeva first expanded Himself to the universal form and then reduced Himself to the original Vāmana-rūpa. Thus He acted exactly like Lord Kṛṣṇa, who, at the request of Arjuna, first showed His universal form and later resumed His original form as Kṛṣṇa. The Lord can assume any form He likes, but His original form is that of Kṛṣṇa (kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam). According to the capacity of the devotee, the Lord assumes various forms so that the devotee can handle Him. This is His causeless mercy. When Lord Vāmanadeva resumed His original form, Lord Brahmā and his associates collected various paraphernalia for worship with which to please Him.
8.21.6-7
toyaiḥ samarhaṇaiḥ sragbhir
divya-gandhānulepanaiḥ
dhūpair dīpaiḥ surabhibhir
lājākṣata-phalāńkuraiḥ
(6-7) With water for the feet and for the guests, flowergarlands, all sorts of pulp to smear, incense and lamps all fragrant, fried rice, whole grains, fruits, roots and sprouts, offered they their respects exclaiming 'Jaya, jaya' to the glory of His actions, thereby dancing, singing and playing instruments with the vibrations of conch shells and kettledrums beaten.
8.21.8
mahotsavam aghoṣayat
(8) Jâmbavân, the king of the apes [also: bears], enraptured sounding the bugle heralded everywhere in each direction the great festival.
8.21.9
dīkṣitasyātyamarṣitāḥ
(9) the Asuras who saw that all the land of their master, so determined in the sacrifice, was lost on the simple plea of three steps of land were very angry:
8.21.10
viṣṇur māyāvināḿ varaḥ
(10) 'Isn't this brahmin friend actually Vishnu Himself, who as the greatest of all cheaters assuming the form of a twice-born one willfully is trying to deceive us in the interest of the godly?
8.21.11
sarvasvaḿ no hṛtaḿ bhartur
(11) By Him, the enemy, in the form of a brahmacârî mendicant, has all that our master possesses been taken away because he, vowed to the ritual, gave up the clout.
8.21.12
nānṛtaḿ bhāṣituḿ śakyaḿ
brahmaṇyasya dayāvataḥ
(12) Ever sworn to the truth is he, consacrated for the yajña and always sympathetic with the brahminical, personally incapable of telling a lie.
8.21.13
tasmād asya vadho dharmo
ity āyudhāni jagṛhur
baler anucarāsurāḥ
(13) It is therefore our duty to our master to kill this one here!', and so took all the asura followers of Bali up a wide range of weapons.
8.21.14
(14) Aggravated by their angry nature having taken up tridents and lances rushed they all together forward against the will of Bali, o King.
8.21.15
ditijānīkapān nṛpa
prahasyānucarā viṣṇoḥ
pratyaṣedhann udāyudhāḥ
(15) Seeing the daitya soldiers coming forward, o ruler, made the associates of Vishnu smile as they stopped them taking up their arms.
8.21.16-17
nandaḥ sunando 'tha jayo
viṣvaksenaḥ patattrirāṭ
puṣpadanto 'tha sātvataḥ
sarve nāgāyuta-prāṇāś
(16-17) Nanda and Sunanda waged as well as did Jaya, Vijaya, Prabala, Bala, Kumuda, Kumudâksha, Vishvaksena, Patattrirâth [Garuda], Jayanta, S'rutadeva, Pushpadanta and Sâtvata; all together they as strong as a thousand elephants killed the asura soldiers.
8.21.18
puruṣānucarair baliḥ
(18) After Bali saw his men being killed by the Original Personality His associates, remembered he the curse of S'ukrâcârya [8.20: 15] and commanded he their retreat despite of their anger:
8.21.19
he vipracitte he rāho
(19) 'O Vipracitti, o Râhu, o Nemi, please listen, don't fight, stop with this, now is not the time to settle this.
8.21.20
sukha-duḥkhopapattaye
(20) That Master of All Living Beings, that Person of Control deciding about happiness and distress, can by human effort not be superseded, o Daityas.
8.21.21
(21) Previously time worked in our favor and brought us the victory over the godly, but today does the time, which indeed is the Supreme Lord in existence, work against us.
8.21.22
durgair mantrauṣadhādibhiḥ
sāmādibhir upāyaiś ca
(22) Not by any power, counsel, cleverness, fortifications, spells or herbs, diplomacy or other means or likewise schemes is but a single person able to surpass the time factor.
8.21.23
bahuśo 'nucarā hareḥ
daivenarddhais ta evādya
(23) All these followers of Vishnu who enjoyed the wealth by providence were by you in great numbers defeated and today indeed are they cheering in defeating us in battle [see B.G. 18: 13-15].
Bhagavad-gītā mentions five causes of defeat or victory. Of these five, daiva (providence) is the most powerful (na ca daivāt paraḿ balam). Bali Mahārāja knew the secret of how he had formerly been victorious because providence was in his favor. Now, since that same providence was not in his favor, there was no possibility of his victory. Thus he very intelligently forbade his associates to fight.
8.21.24
yo no 'rthatvāya kalpate
(24) We shall gain victory over them all to the favor of providence and therefore must we now await the time that is to our advantage.'
8.21.25
patyur nigaditaḿ śrutvā
(25) S'rî S'uka said: 'After the daitya and dânava leaders heard what their master told them entered they the lower regions, o King, driven there by the associates of Vishnu.
8.21.26
babandha vāruṇaiḥ pāśair
(26) Thereafter, on the day when to the sacrifice the soma is taken [soma-pâna], was Bali, to the desire of the master [Lord Vishnu], by the son of Târkshya, the king of the birds [Garuda] arrested who bound him with the ropes of Varuna.
Garuḍa, the constant companion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, knows the confidential part of the Lord's desire. Bali Mahārāja's tolerance and devotion were undoubtedly superexcellent. Garuḍa arrested Bali Mahārāja to show the entire universe the greatness of the King's tolerance.
8.21.27
hāhākāro mahān āsīd
(27) From all directions rose everywhere in the upper and lower worlds a great roar of disappointment because of the apprehension of the asura leader by Vishnu, the mightiest around.
8.21.28
taḿ baddhaḿ vāruṇaiḥ pāśair
(28) Bereft of his luster remained he, so magnanimous and celebrated o King, determined as ever. Unto him bound thus by Varuna's ropes then spoke the Supreme Lord Vâmana:
When one is bereft of all his possessions, he is certainly reduced in bodily luster. But although Bali Mahārāja had lost everything, he was fixed in his determination to satisfy Vāmanadeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In Bhagavad-gītā, such a person is called sthita-prajña. A pure devotee is never deviated from the service of the Lord, despite all difficulties and impediments offered by the illusory energy. Generally men who have wealth and opulence are famous, but Bali Mahārāja became famous for all time by being deprived of all his possessions. This is the special mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead toward His devotees. The Lord says, yasyāham anugṛhṇāmi hariṣye tad-dhanaḿ śanaiḥ. As the first installment of His special favor, the Lord takes away all the possessions of His devotee. A devotee, however, is never disturbed by such a loss. He continues his service, and the Lord amply rewards him, beyond the expectations of any common man.
8.21.29
bhūmer mahyaḿ tvayāsura
(29) 'Three steps of land have you given Me, o Asura; with two I occupied the complete of all the earth's surface and now you owe me for the third one.
8.21.30
yāvad induḥ sahoḍubhiḥ
yāvad varṣati parjanyas
(30) As far as the sun, the moon and the stars can shed their light and as far as the clouds are pouring rain, do you own all the land covered.
8.21.31
padaikena mayākrānto
bhūrlokaḥ khaḿ diśas tanoḥ
(31) With one step only I covered the entire sphere of the earth [Bhûrloka], with My body occupying the sky in all directions and with the second step I took before your eyes for Myself the higher worlds that were in your possession.
According to the Vedic description of the planetary system, all the planets move from east to west. The sun, the moon and five other planets, such as Mars and Jupiter, orbit one above another. Vāmanadeva, however, expanding His body and extending His steps, occupied the entire planetary system.
8.21.32
pratiśrutam adātus te
guruṇā cānumoditaḥ
(32) Unable to give what you promised is it the rule that you yourself now stay out of it; and getting out it is as your guru would like [see also 6.17: 28].
It is said:
nārāyaṇa-parāḥ sarve
svargāpavarga-narakeṣv
"Devotees solely engaged in the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa, never fear any condition of life. For them the heavenly planets, liberation and the hellish planets are all the same, for such devotees are interested only in the service of the Lord." (Bhāg. 6.12.28) A devotee engaged in the service of Nārāyaṇa is always in equilibrium. A devotee actually lives transcendentally. Although he may appear to have gone to hell or heaven, he does not live in either place; rather, he always lives in Vaikuṇṭha (sa guṇān samatītyaitān brahma-bhūyāya kalpate [Bg. 14.26]). Vāmanadeva asked Bali Mahārāja to go to the hellish planets, apparently just to show the entire universe how tolerant he was, and Bali Mahārāja did not hesitate to carry out the order. A devotee does not live alone. Of course, everyone lives with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but because the devotee is engaged in His service, he actually does not live in any material condition. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura says, kīṭa janma hao yathā tuyā dāsa. Thus he prays to take birth as an insignificant insect in the association of devotees. Because devotees are engaged in the service of the Lord, anyone who lives with them also lives in Vaikuṇṭha.8.21.33
pratiśrutasyādānena
yo 'rthinaḿ vipralambhate
(33) Anyone cheating a mendicant in falling short to give what was promised, falls down the more, and must, far removed from the higher life, ruminate fruitlessly.
8.21.34
vipralabdho dadāmīti
tvayāhaḿ cāḍhya-māninā
(34) Now that I've been fooled by you saying 'this I promise and that I'm so proud of' will you therefore as a consequence of this offensive result have to live out of it all for some years.'
The false prestige of thinking "I am very rich, and I possess such vast property" is another side of material life. Everything belongs to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and no one else possesses anything. This is the real fact. Īśāvāsyam idaḿ samaḿ yat kiñca jagatyāḿ jagat. Bali Mahārāja was undoubtedly the most exalted devotee, whereas previously he had maintained a misunderstanding due to false prestige. By the supreme will of the Lord, he now had to go to the hellish planets, but because he went there by the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he lived there more opulently than one could expect to live in the planets of heaven. A devotee always lives with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, engaging in His service, and therefore he is always transcendental to hellish or heavenly residences.
(My humble salutations to the lotus feet of Swamyjis, Philosophers, Scholars and Knowledge Seekers for the collection)
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