SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM: CANTO 5

(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'There is the one [the moon] eclipsing the sun [and then is called 'Râhu'] that just like the sun comes around and of which some learned ones say that it, countless yojanas ['ten-thousand'] below the sun, for the lifetime of the demigods occupies a position as a leading planet. About the birth and activities of the lowest of the ignorant, the son of Simhikâ, who personally won the grace of the Supreme Lord, but who indeed is not qualified for the position [of being the ruler over this 'planet'], I shall explain later. (2) They estimate that the sun has a width of ten thousand yojanas, that the moon is twenty thousand yojanas wide and that Râhu is thirty thousand yojanas large [compare 5.21: 15] and that it on occasion, with inimical intentions overruling the sun- and moongod their influence, obstructs the distribution of the moon- and sunshine. (3) The Supreme Lord around for the protection of both operates by the supreme presence of the wheel of time [the Sudars'ana Cakra] which is deemed the dearmost devoted and most favorite weapon that by its power and unbearable heat makes Râhu, with its fearful mind and frightened heart, flee away from that position of being around for almost an hour and of which the people thus speak of a solar eclipse.

(4) To an equal measure of distance are there beneath it [compare 5.22: 8] the residential places of the perfected ones, the venerable ones of the Veda and the ones founded in knowledge [the Siddhas, Câranas and Vidyâdharas]. (5) Nether from them there are the places of sense gratification of the mad, the possessed, the demoniac and alike [the Yakshas, Râkshasas and Pis'âcas], that stretch out as far as the wind blows the clouds one can see in the sky. (6) Beneath that atmosphere that is a hundred yojanas thick and thus is as high as swans, vultures, eagles and other birds of size can fly, there is this earth [according modern measurements does the regular, uniform atmosphere reach up to 80 km above the earth].

(7) As stated before [see 2.1: 26-27] is there to the planet earth, according the arrangement of its different places, a nether region of seven other spheres of its width and length, that are positioned one after another with intervals of countless [more metaphorical] yojanas. (8) In these worlds that for sure are hollow to the heavenly ones, is there even a greater lust experience and enrapture in opulence; under the influence of the things of wealth offer the houses and gardens they have a better opportunity to the demons, ghosts and snakes of sense gratification. Always overjoyed in their attachment to the wives, children, family, friends and followers, are the leaders of the households, living in an illusory heaven, even better than the ones of control, the godly, capable of an unimpeded fulfillment of desires. (9) There, my dear King, are by Maya [the asura architect of the Daityas] with faithless trickery and a plethora of rich ornamentation, constructed cities surrounded by walls with gates, which have excellently built wonderful houses, offices, halls, schools and public facilities. The landowning leaders to that hollow sham there occupy the best of houses that shine bright of decoration and are crowded by snakelike, godless people and couples of pigeons, parrots and mynas. (10) The gardens and parks are of a great appeal to the mind and senses, giving pleasure with their masses of flowers and fruits of which the by creepers embraced branches of the trees nicely bent low in attraction. By the magnificence of the variety of birds in pairs frequenting the ponds filled with sparkling clear water agitated of jumping fish, by the lotusflowers in those waters, the lilies, the kuvalaya and kahlâra flowers, the blue and red lotuses and the greatest of them with thousands of petals, and by the uninterrupted joy of the varieties of all the sweetly vibrating birds who built their nests in the forests is, surpassing the beauty of the residential places of the godly, the sense enjoyment invoked. (11) For certain is one there unconcerned about the divisions of time to the operation of night and day. (12) All darkness there is driven away by indeed the best of the gems on the hoods of the great serpent. (13) Nor are the ones residing there, eating, drinking and bathing in a heaven of herbs, juices and elixirs, worried about diseases, mental troubles, being of age, having wrinkles, gray hair, etc. or about the miseries of losing one's strength with a fading luster, bad smelling perspiration, fatigue or a lack of energy. (14) No way is any of the virtuous ones or even death itself capable of influencing them, except of course the weapon of the Lord: His powerful wheel of time. (15) It is practically always out of fear for the Lord his cakra-order that the wives of the godless lose their fetuses in miscarriage.

(16) Now then, in the world of Atala resides Bala the godless son of Maya and by him indeed are there propagated the ninety-six types of illusion of which some characters handy with the illusory even today make use. Also were of his yawning mouth generated the svairinî [class-loyal], kâminî [lusty class-disloyal] and pums'calî [promiscuous] women who, thus so sure initiated into the nether worlds, for their personal enjoyment with glances, smiles, talks and embraces, prepare men for indulging in sexual pleasure to their own liking by means of a herb called hâthaka [cannabis indica]. It is said that a man under the influence of it thinks of himself full of pride and conceited as 'I am the ruler' and 'I am as strong as a thousand elephants'.

(17) Beneath it on Vitala, surrounded by his ghostly associates, remains the master of gold, Lord S'iva with his wife Bhavânî in sexual union in order to increase the population of the founding father his creation. From that world thus emanates from the fluids of that union the great river named Hâthakî of which the firegod, by the wind being brightly inflamed with great strength, drinking of it, hissing spits out the gold called Hâthaka for the ornaments that are worn by the men and women of the homes of the great asuras.

(18) Beneath that world is there on Sutala the greatly celebrated, very pious and spiritually advanced son of Virocana, Bali Mahârâja. Desiring to settle the welfare of King Indra, did the Supreme Lord from Aditi assume a body, appearing in the form of a vâmana, a dwarf. It was by the causeless mercy of the Supreme Lord who wrested away from him the three worlds, that even today he, certain in worshiping by his own religious duty, remains fearless unto the most venerable Supreme Personality; he was blessed with the good fortune of regaining an even to the gods of Indra's heaven unparalleled opulence. (19) This truly was not the direct result of donating lands; that which was given with great respect, an attentive mind and with faith, in approaching the topmost one, the Supreme Lord who is the most worthy recipient and best sacrificial ground, the life and soul and supreme regulator Lord Vâsudeva of the scores of beings, was directly the gate which liberated to the opulence of the nether imitation of heaven. (20) He, of whom a person, being helpless starved, falling down or stumbling and such, but once practices the holy name, washes one the bondage of karma away, that otherwise for persons trying to find liberation for sure is such an inevitable great stumbling block. (21) Of all the great devotees and the selfrealized of the true self who give themselves without reservation, is He that Supreme Soul, the Paramâtmâ. (22) It is in truth not because of the material opulence which thus is certain to follow that the Supreme Personality showed His favor to especially him again, for being robbed of the remembrance of the soul is an attribute of the being illusioned with matter, mâyâ.

(23) To that which was done by the Supreme Lord who by no other means can be perceived, namely the taking away of the three worlds by means of the trick of begging [three steps of land] so that nothing remained but his own body - which was then completely bound by the ropes of Varuna and detained in a mountain cave - he thus said: (24) 'How regrettable it is indeed that I myself, this very learned and to his self-interest very experienced Indra of heaven, who chose as his prime minister and one preceptor Brihaspati, personally ignoring the Lord in the form of Upendra [Lord Vâmana], with neglect for the certainty of the very blessings of serving the Reality of Him that lasts for ever, for himself requested the three worlds of which the value will change after the time of a manvantara [an age of Manu]! (25) Certainly was the service of Him by our grandfather [Prahlâda] readily accepted, but not the offer of his paternal property [the kingdom of Hiranyakas'ipu]; it was none other than the Supreme Personality he thus wanted, when that sure shelter of freedom from fear was offered to him after his father was killed by the Supreme Lord [Lord Nrisimhadev]. (26) In other words: what, to the desire to follow, is a materially contaminated person, who like us is deprived of the Lord His mercy, compared to that great follower on the path of devotion?' (27) Later on in the narration about him [see canto eight] I will explain how the Supreme Lord [Vâmanadeva] as the master of the three worlds, Nârâyana in person, with an always graceful heart towards His devotees standing at the gate with the club in His hand, by the big toe of His foot did put the ten headed demon [known as Râvana] who wanted to conquer over him, at the farthest distance of countless yojanas.

(28) Below Sutala in the world of Talâtala rules the dânava [demon] king named Maya; by the most powerful Tripurâri [S'iva], the Lord of the three cities, were, desiring the good fortune of the three worlds, his cities burnt; but by the grace of mercy obtained he a kingdom as the master of all sorcery and thus being protected by Mahâdeva [the great god that is S'iva], he thinks he has nothing to fear from the Sudars'ana Cakra [the acute presence of the Lord in the form of Time] that is worshiped.

(29) Beneath that world there is the world of Mahâtala which is of the descendants of Kadrû who have a name as a bunch of ever angry, many hooded, cruel snaketypes, as there are the notorious Kuhaka, Takshaka, Kâlya, and Sushena. Greatly sensual they are constantly afraid of the king of all birds [Garuda], the carrier of the Original Personality, who sometimes infuriates them when they are sporting being together with their wives, children, friends and relatives.

(30) Situated below that world there is Rasâtala that is of the daityas and dânavas [the evil minded sons of Diti and Danu] named the Panis, the Nivâta-kavacas, the Kâleyas and the Hiranya-puravâsîs; they are from birth so said the very cruel and greatly powerful enemies of the demigods and are inevitably defeated by the might of the Supreme Lord Hari so favorable to all the worlds. Living like the snakes are they in truth afraid of the King of Heaven through the words of a mantra of Saramayâ, a female votary of Indra.

(31) Below that world there is Pâtâla, the world of the master snakes; headed by Vâsuki are there S'ankha, Kulika, Mahâs'ankha, S'veta, Dhanañjaya, Dhritarâshthra, S'ankhacûda, Kambala, As'vatara and Devadatta and so on. With the shortest temper do they all live very enslaved to material happiness and have they verily indeed five, seven, ten, a hundred or a thousand hoods, with on their crests fixed the most valuable gems of which the effulgence disperses the vast darkness of the caves of Pâtâla.

S'rî S'uka said: 'There is the one [the moon] eclipsing the sun [and then is called 'Râhu'] that just like the sun comes around and of which some learned ones say that it, countless yojanas ['ten-thousand'] below the sun, for the lifetime of the demigods occupies a position as a leading planet. About the birth and activities of the lowest of the ignorant, the son of Simhikâ, who personally won the grace of the Supreme Lord, but who indeed is not qualified for the position [of being the ruler over this 'planet'], I shall explain later.

S'rî S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: My dear King, some historians, the speakers of the Purânas, say that 10.000 yojanas [80.000 miles] below the sun is the planet known as Râhu, which moves like one of the stars. The presiding deity of that planet, who is the son of Simhikâ, is the most abominable of all asuras, but although he is completely unfit to assume the position of a demigod or planetary deity, he has achieved that position by the grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Later I shall speak further about him. (Vedabase)

Text 2

They estimate that the sun has a width of ten thousand yojanas, that the moon is twenty thousand yojanas wide and that Râhu is thirty thousand yojanas large [compare 5.21: 15] and that it on occasion, with inimical intentions overruling the sun- and moongod their influence, obstructs the distribution of the moon- and sunshine.

The sun globe, which is a source of heat, extends for 10.000 yojanas [80.000 miles]. The moon extends for 20.000 yojanas [160.000 miles], and Râhu extends for 30.000 yojanas [240.000 miles]. Formerly, when nectar was being distributed, Râhu tried to create dissension between the sun and moon by interposing himself between them. Râhu is inimical toward both the sun and the moon, and therefore he always tries to cover the sunshine and moonshine on the dark-moon day and full-moon night. (Vedabase)

Text 3

The Supreme Lord around for the protection of both operates by the supreme presence of the wheel of time [the Sudars'ana Cakra] which is deemed the dearmost devoted and most favorite weapon that by its power and unbearable heat makes Râhu, with its fearful mind and frightened heart, flee away from that position of being around for almost an hour and of which the people thus speak of a solar eclipse.

After hearing from the sun and moon demigods about Râhu's attack, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vishnu, engages His disc, known as the Sudars'ana cakra, to protect them. The Sudars'ana cakra is the Lord's most beloved devotee and is favored by the Lord. The intense heat of its effulgence, meant for killing non-vaishnavas, is unbearable to Râhu, and he therefore flees in fear of it. During the time Râhu disturbs the sun or moon, there occurs what people commonly know as an eclipse. (Vedabase)

Text 4

To an equal measure of distance are there beneath it [compare 5.22: 8] the residential places of the perfected ones, the venerable ones of the Veda and the ones founded in knowledge [the Siddhas, Câranas and Vidyâdharas].

Below Râhu by 10.000 yojanas [80.000 miles] are the planets known as Siddhaloka, Câranaloka and Vidyâdhara-loka. (Vedabase)

Text 5

Nether from them there are the places of sense gratification of the mad, the possessed, the demoniac and alike [the Yakshas, Râkshasas and Pis'âcas], that stretch out as far as the wind blows the clouds one can see in the sky.

Beneath Vidyâdhara-loka, Câranaloka and Siddhaloka, in the sky called antariksha, are the places of enjoyment for the Yakshas, Râkshasas, Pis'âcas, ghosts and so on. Antariksha extends as far as the wind blows and the clouds float in the sky. Above this there is no more air. (Vedabase)

Text 6

Beneath that atmosphere that is a hundred yojanas thick and thus is as high as swans, vultures, eagles and other birds of size can fly, there is this earth [according modern measurements does the regular, uniform atmosphere reach up to 80 km above the earth].

Below the abodes of the Yakshas and Râkshasas by a distance of 100 yojanas [800 miles] is the planet earth. Its upper limits extend as high as swans, hawks, eagles and similar large birds can fly. (Vedabase)

Text 7

As stated before [see 2.1: 26-27] is there to the planet earth, according the arrangement of its different places, a nether region of seven other spheres of its width and length, that are positioned one after another with intervals of countless [more metaphorical] yojanas.

My dear King, beneath this earth are seven other planets, known as Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talâtala, Mahâtala, Rasâtala and Pâtâla. I have already explained the situation of the planetary systems of earth. The width and length of the seven lower planetary systems are calculated to be exactly the same as those of earth. (Vedabase)

Text 8

In these worlds that for sure are hollow to the heavenly ones, is there even a greater lust experience and enrapture in opulence; under the influence of the things of wealth offer the houses and gardens they have a better opportunity to the demons, ghosts and snakes of sense gratification. Always overjoyed in their attachment to the wives, children, family, friends and followers, are the leaders of the households, living in an illusory heaven, even better than the ones of control, the godly, capable of an unimpeded fulfillment of desires.

In these seven planetary systems, which are also known as the subterranean heavens [bila-svarga], there are very beautiful houses, gardens and places of sense enjoyment, which are even more opulent than those in the higher planets because the demons have a very high standard of sensual pleasure, wealth and influence. Most of the residents of these planets, who are known as Daityas, Dânavas and Nâgas, live as householders. Their wives, children, friends and society are all fully engaged in illusory, material happiness. The sense enjoyment of the demigods is sometimes disturbed, but the residents of these planets enjoy life without disturbances. Thus they are understood to be very attached to illusory happiness. (Vedabase)

Text 9

There, my dear King, are by Maya [i.c. the asura architect of the Daityas] with faithless trickery and a plethora of rich ornamentation, constructed cities surrounded by walls with gates, which have excellently built wonderful houses, offices, halls, schools and public facilities. The landowning leaders to that hollow sham there occupy the best of houses that shine bright of decoration and are crowded by snakelike, godless people and couples of pigeons, parrots and mynas.

My dear King, in the imitation heavens known as bila-svarga there is a great demon named Maya Dânava, who is an expert artist and architect. He has constructed many brilliantly decorated cities. There are many wonderful houses, walls, gates, assembly houses, temples, yards and temple compounds, as well as many hotels serving as residential quarters for foreigners. The houses for the leaders of these planets are constructed with the most valuable jewels, and they are always crowded with living entities known as Nâgas and Asuras, as well as many pigeons, parrots and similar birds. All in all, these imitation heavenly cities are most beautifully situated and attractively decorated. (Vedabase)

Text 10

The gardens and parks are of a great appeal to the mind and senses, giving pleasure with their masses of flowers and fruits of which the by creepers embraced branches of the trees nicely bent low in attraction. By the magnificence of the variety of birds in pairs frequenting the ponds filled with sparkling clear water agitated of jumping fish, by the lotusflowers in those waters, the lilies, the kuvalaya and kahlâra flowers, the blue and red lotuses and the greatest of them with thousands of petals, and by the uninterrupted joy of the varieties of all the sweetly vibrating birds who built their nests in the forests is, surpassing the beauty of the residential places of the godly, the sense enjoyment invoked.

The parks and gardens in the artificial heavens surpass in beauty those of the upper heavenly planets. The trees in those gardens, embraced by creepers, bend with a heavy burden of twigs with fruits and flowers, and therefore they appear extraordinarily beautiful. That beauty could attract anyone and make his mind fully blossom in the pleasure of sense gratification. There are many lakes and reservoirs with clear, transparent water, agitated by jumping fish and decorated with many flowers such as lilies, kuvalayas, kahlâras and blue and red lotuses. Pairs of cakravâkas and many other water birds nest in the lakes and always enjoy in a happy mood, making sweet, pleasing vibrations that are very satisfying and conducive to enjoyment of the senses. (Vedabase)

Text 11

For certain is one there unconcerned about the divisions of time to the operation of night and day.

Since there is no sunshine in those subterranean planets, time is not divided into days and nights, and consequently fear produced by time does not exist. (Vedabase)

Text 12

All darkness there is driven away by indeed the best of the gems on the hoods of the great serpent.

Many great serpents reside there with gems on their hoods, and the effulgence of these gems dissipates the darkness in all directions. (Vedabase)

Text 13

Nor are the ones residing there, eating, drinking and bathing in a heaven of herbs, juices and elixirs, worried about diseases, mental troubles, being of age, having wrinkles, gray hair, etc. or about the miseries of losing one's strength with a fading luster, bad smelling perspiration, fatigue or a lack of energy.

Since the residents of these planets drink and bathe in juices and elixirs made from wonderful herbs, they are freed from all anxieties and physical diseases. They have no experience of grey hair, wrinkles or invalidity, their bodily lusters do not fade, their perspiration does not cause a bad smell, and they are not troubled by fatigue or by lack of energy or enthusiasm due to old age. (Vedabase)

Text 14

No way is any of the virtuous ones or even death itself capable of influencing them, except of course the weapon of the Lord: His powerful wheel of time.

They live very auspiciously and do not fear death from anything but death's established time, which is the effulgence of the Sudars'ana cakra of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (Vedabase)

Text 15

It is practically always out of fear for the Lord his cakra-order that the wives of the godless lose their fetuses in miscarriage.

When the Sudars'ana disc enters those provinces, the pregnant wives of the demons all have miscarriages due to fear of its effulgence. (Vedabase)

Text 16

Now then, in the world of Atala resides Bala the godless son of Maya and by him indeed are there propagated the ninety-six types of illusion of which some characters handy with the illusory even today make use. Also were of his yawning mouth generated the svairinî [class-loyal], kâminî [lusty class-disloyal] and pums'calî [promiscuous] women who, thus so sure initiated into the nether worlds, for their personal enjoyment with glances, smiles, talks and embraces, prepare men for indulging in sexual pleasure to their own liking by means of a herb called hâthaka [cannabis indica]. It is said that a man under the influence of it thinks of himself full of pride and conceited as 'I am the ruler' and 'I am as strong as a thousand elephants'.

My dear King, now I shall describe to you the lower planetary systems, one by one, beginning from Atala. In Atala there is a demon, the son of Maya Dânava named Bala, who created ninety-six kinds of mystic power. Some so-called yogîs and svâmîs take advantage of this mystic power to cheat people even today. Simply by yawning, the demon Bala created three kinds of women, known as svairinî, kâminî and pums'calî. The svairinîs like to marry men from their own group, the kâminîs marry men from any group, and the pums'calîs change husbands one after another. If a man enters the planet of Atala, these women immediately capture him and induce him to drink an intoxicating beverage made with a drug known as hâthaka [cannabis indica]. This intoxicant endows the man with great sexual prowess, of which the women take advantage for enjoyment. A woman will enchant him with attractive glances, intimate words, smiles of love and then embraces. In this way she induces him to enjoy sex with her to her full satisfaction. Because of his increased sexual power, the man thinks himself stronger than ten thousand elephants and considers himself most perfect. Indeed, illusioned and intoxicated by false pride, he thinks himself God, ignoring impending death. (Vedabase)

Text 17

Beneath it on Vitala, surrounded by his ghostly associates, remains the master of gold, Lord S'iva with his wife Bhavânî in sexual union in order to increase the population of the founding father his creation. From that world thus emanates from the fluids of that union the great river named Hâthakî of which the firegod, by the wind being brightly inflamed with great strength, drinking of it, hissing spits out the gold called Hâthaka for the ornaments that are worn by the men and women of the homes of the great asuras.

The next planet below Atala is Vitala, wherein Lord S'iva, who is known as the master of gold mines, lives with his personal associates, the ghosts and similar living entities. Lord S'iva, as the progenitor, engages in sex with Bhavânî, the progenitress, to produce living entities, and from the mixture of their vital fluid the river named Hâthakî is generated. When fire, being made to blaze by the wind, drinks of this river and then sizzles and spits it out, it produces gold called Hâthaka. The demons who live on that planet with their wives decorate themselves with various ornaments made from that gold, and thus they live there very happily. (Vedabase)

Text 18:

Beneath that world is there on Sutala the greatly celebrated, very pious and spiritually advanced son of Virocana, Bali Mahârâja. Desiring to settle the welfare of King Indra, did the Supreme Lord from Aditi assume a body, appearing in the form of a vâmana, a dwarf. It was by the causeless mercy of the Supreme Lord who wrested away from him the three worlds, that even today he, certain in worshiping by his own religious duty, remains fearless unto the most venerable Supreme Personality; he was blessed with the good fortune of regaining an even to the gods of Indra's heaven unparalleled opulence.

Below the planet Vitala is another planet, known as Sutala, where the great son of Mahârâja Virocana, Bali Mahârâja, who is celebrated as the most pious king, resides even now. For the welfare of Indra, the King of heaven, Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of a dwarf brahmacârî as the son of Aditi and tricked Bali Mahârâja by begging for only three paces of land but taking all the three worlds. Being very pleased with Bali Mahârâja for giving all his possessions, the Lord returned his kingdom and made him richer than the opulent King Indra. Even now, Bali Mahârâja engages in devotional service by worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the planet of Sutala. (Vedabase)

Text 19:

This truly was not the direct result of donating lands; that which was given with great respect, an attentive mind and with faith, in approaching the topmost one, the Supreme Lord who is the most worthy recipient and best sacrificial ground, the life and soul and supreme regulator Lord Vâsudeva of the scores of beings, was directly the gate which liberated to the opulence of the nether imitation of heaven.

My dear King, Bali Mahârâja donated all his possessions to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vâmanadeva, but one should certainly not conclude that he achieved his great worldly opulence in bila-svarga as a result of his charitable disposition. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the source of life for all living entities, lives within everyone as the friendly Supersoul, and under His direction a living entity enjoys or suffers in the material world. Greatly appreciating the transcendental qualities of the Lord, Bali Mahârâja offered everything at His lotus feet. His purpose, however, was not to gain anything material, but to become a pure devotee. For a pure devotee, the door of liberation is automatically opened. One should not think that Bali Mahârâja was given so much material opulence merely because of his charity. When one becomes a pure devotee in love, he may also be blessed with a good material position by the will of the Supreme Lord. However, one should not mistakenly think that the material opulence of a devotee is the result of his devotional service. The real result of devotional service is the awakening of pure love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, which continues under all circumstances. (Vedabase)

Text 20:

He, of whom a person, being helpless starved, falling down or stumbling and such, but once practices the holy name, washes one the bondage of karma away, that otherwise for persons trying to find liberation for sure is such an inevitable great stumbling block.

If one who is embarrassed by hunger or who falls down or stumbles chants the holy name of the Lord even once, willingly or unwillingly, he is immediately freed from the reactions of his past deeds. Karmis entangled in material activities face many difficulties in the practice of mystic yoga and other endeavors to achieve that same freedom. (Vedabase)

Text 21:

Of all the great devotees and the selfrealized of the true self who give themselves without reservation, is He that Supreme Soul, the Paramâtmâ.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is situated in everyone's heart as the Supersoul, sells Himself to His devotees such as Nârada Muni. In other words, the Lord gives pure love to such devotees and gives Himself to those who love Him purely. Great, self-realized mystic yogîs such as the four Kumâras also derive great transcendental bliss from realizing the Supersoul within themselves. (Vedabase)

Text 22:

It is in truth not because of the material opulence which thus is certain to follow that the Supreme Personality showed His favor to especially him again, for being robbed of the remembrance of the soul is an attribute of the being illusioned with matter, mâyâ.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead did not award His mercy to Bali Mahârâja by giving him material happiness and opulence, for these make one forget loving service to the Lord. The result of material opulence is that one can no longer absorb his mind in the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (Vedabase)

Text 23:

To that which was done by the Supreme Lord who by no other means can be perceived, namely the taking away of the three worlds by means of the trick of begging [three steps of land] so that nothing remained but his own body - which was then completely bound by the ropes of Varuna and detained in a mountain cave - he thus said:

When the Supreme Personality of Godhead could see no other means of taking everything away from Bali Mahârâja, He adopted the trick of begging from him and took away all the three worlds. Thus only his body was left, but the Lord was still not satisfied. He arrested Bali Mahârâja, bound him with the ropes of Varuna and threw him in a cave in a mountain. Nevertheless, although all his property was taken and he was thrown into a cave, Bali Mahârâja was such a great devotee that he spoke as follows. (Vedabase)

Text 24:

'How regrettable it is indeed that I myself, this very learned and to his self-interest very experienced Indra of heaven, who chose as his prime minister and one preceptor Brihaspati, personally ignoring the Lord in the form of Upendra [Lord Vâmana], with neglect for the certainty of the very blessings of serving the Reality of Him that lasts for ever, for himself requested the three worlds of which the value will change after the time of a manvantara [an age of Manu]!

Alas, how pitiable it is for Indra, the King of heaven, that although he is very learned and powerful and although he chose Brihaspati as his prime minister to instruct him, he is completely ignorant concerning spiritual advancement. Brihaspati is also unintelligent because he did not properly instruct his disciple Indra. Lord Vâmanadeva was standing at Indra's door, but King Indra, instead of begging Him for an opportunity to render transcendental loving service, engaged Him in asking me for alms to gain the three worlds for his sense gratification. Sovereignty over the three worlds is very insignificant because whatever material opulence one may possess lasts only for an age of Manu, which is but a tiny fraction of endless time. (Vedabase)

Text 25:

Certainly was the service of Him by our grandfather [Prahlâda] readily accepted, but not the offer of his paternal property [the kingdom of Hiranyakas'ipu]; it was none other than the Supreme Personality he thus wanted, when that sure shelter of freedom from fear was offered to him after his father was killed by the Supreme Lord [Lord Nrisimhadev].

Bali Mahârâja said: My grandfather Prahlâda Mahârâja is the only person who understood his own self-interest. Upon the death of Prahlâda's father, Hiranyakas'ipu, Lord Nrisimhadeva wanted to offer Prahlâda his father's kingdom and even wanted to grant him liberation from material bondage, but Prahlâda accepted neither. Liberation and material opulence, he thought, are obstacles to devotional service, and therefore such gifts from the Supreme Personality of Godhead are not His actual mercy. Consequently, instead of accepting the results of karma and jnana, Prahlâda Mahârâja simply begged the Lord for engagement in the service of His servant. (Vedabase)

Text 26:

In other words: what, to the desire to follow, is a materially contaminated person, who like us is deprived of the Lord His mercy, compared to that great follower on the path of devotion?'

Bali Mahârâja said: Persons like us, who are still attached to material enjoyment, who are contaminated by the modes of material nature and who lack the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, cannot follow the supreme path of Prahlâda Mahârâja, the exalted devotee of the Lord. (Vedabase)

Text 27:

Later on in the narration about him [see canto eight] I will explain how the Supreme Lord [Vâmanadeva] as the master of the three worlds, Nârâyana in person, with an always graceful heart towards His devotees standing at the gate with the club in His hand, by the big toe of His foot did put the ten headed demon [known as Râvana] who wanted to conquer over him, at the farthest distance of countless yojanas.

S'ukadeva Gosvâmî continued: My dear King, how shall I glorify the character of Bali Mahârâja? The Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of the three worlds, who is most compassionate to His own devotee, stands with club in hand at Bali Mahârâja's door. When Râvana, the powerful demon, came to gain victory over Bali Mahârâja, Vâmanadeva kicked him a distance of eighty thousand miles with His big toe. I shall explain the character and activities of Bali Mahârâja later [in the Eighth Canto of S'rîmad-Bhâgavatam]. (Vedabase)

Text 28:

Below Sutala in the world of Talâtala rules the dânava [demon] king named Maya; by the most powerful Tripurâri [S'iva], the Lord of the three cities, were, desiring the good fortune of the three worlds, his cities burnt; but by the grace of mercy obtained he a kingdom as the master of all sorcery and thus being protected by Mahâdeva [the great god that is S'iva], he thinks he has nothing to fear from the Sudars'ana Cakra [the acute presence of the Lord in the form of Time] that is worshiped.

Beneath the planet known as Sutala is another planet, called Talâtala, which is ruled by the Dânava demon named Maya. Maya is known as the âcârya [master] of all the mâyâvîs , who can invoke the powers of sorcery. For the benefit of the three worlds, Lord S'iva, who is known as Tripurâri, once set fire to the three kingdoms of Maya, but later, being pleased with him, he returned his kingdom. Since that time, Maya Dânava has been protected by Lord S'iva, and therefore he falsely thinks that he need not fear the Sudars'ana cakra of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (Vedabase)

Text 29:

Beneath that world there is the world of Mahâtala which is of the descendants of Kadrû who have a name as a bunch of ever angry, many hooded, cruel snaketypes, as there are the notorious Kuhaka, Takshaka, Kâlya, and Sushena. Greatly sensual they are constantly afraid of the king of all birds [Garuda], the carrier of the Original Personality, who sometimes infuriates them when they are sporting being together with their wives, children, friends and relatives.

The planetary system below Talâtala is known as Mahâtala. It is the abode of many-hooded snakes, descendants of Kadru, who are always very angry. The great snakes who are prominent are Kuhaka, Takshaka, Kâliya and Sushena. The snakes in Mahâtala are always disturbed by fear of Garuda, the carrier of Lord Vishnu, but although they are full of anxiety, some of them nevertheless sport with their wives, children, friends and relatives. (Vedabase)

Text 30:

Situated below that world there is Rasâtala that is of the daityas and dânavas [the evil minded sons of Diti and Danu] named the Panis, the Nivâta-kavacas, the Kâleyas and the Hiranya-puravâsîs; they are from birth so said the very cruel and greatly powerful enemies of the demigods and are inevitably defeated by the might of the Supreme Lord Hari so favorable to all the worlds. Living like the snakes are they in truth afraid of the King of Heaven through the words of a mantra of Saramayâ, a female votary of Indra.

Beneath Mahâtala is the planetary system known as Rasâtala, which is the abode of the demoniac sons of Diti and Danu. They are called Panis, Nivâta-kavacas, Kâleyas and Hiranya-puravâsîs [those living in Hiranya-pura]. They are all enemies of the demigods, and they reside in holes like snakes. From birth they are extremely powerful and cruel, and although they are proud of their strength, they are always defeated by the Sudars'ana cakra of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who rules all the planetary systems. When a female messenger from Indra named Saramâ chants a particular curse, the serpentine demons of Mahâtala become very afraid of Indra. (Vedabase)

Text 31:

Below that world there is Pâtâla, the world of the master snakes; headed by Vâsuki are there S'ankha, Kulika, Mahâs'ankha, S'veta, Dhanañjaya, Dhritarâshthra, S'ankhacûda, Kambala, As'vatara and Devadatta and so on. With the shortest temper do they all live very enslaved to material happiness and have they verily indeed five, seven, ten, a hundred or a thousand hoods with on their crests fixed the most valuable gems of which the effulgence disperses the vast darkness of the caves of Pâtâla.

Beneath Rasâtala is another planetary system, known as Pâtâla or Nâgaloka, where there are many demoniac serpents, the masters of Nâgaloka, such as S'ankha, Kulika, Mahâs'ankha, S'veta, Dhanañjaya, Dhritarâshthra, S'ankhacuda, Kambala, As'vatara and Devadatta. The chief among them is Vâsuki. They are all extremely angry, and they have many, many hoods--some snakes five hoods, some seven, some ten, others a hundred and others a thousand. These hoods are bedecked with valuable gems, and the light emanating from the gems illuminates the entire planetary system of bila-svarga. (Vedabase)