SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM: CANTO 8

(1-2) The king said: 'Why did the Lord, the Controller of all living beings, like a poor man beg Bali for three steps of land and why did He fetter him despite of the donation? All this begging of the Controller so complete in Himself and the arrest of Bali though he was faultless, we very anxiously desire to understand.'

(3) S'rî S'uka said: 'Defeated by Indra, being deprived of his opulence and his life indeed [see 8.11], was Bali brought back to life by the descendants of Bhrigu [S'ukrâcârya and his followers]. To Bhrigu's following was he, as a great soul and disciple, of worship by giving them everything he had in full surrender. (4) The brahmin followers of Bhrigu, very pleased with him, engaged him in a sacrifice called Vis'vajit so that he, after according the regulations being purified by the exalted souls in a great bathing ceremony [abhisheka], to his desire could conquer the heavenly worlds. (5) From the blazing fire worshiped with oblations of ghee was there, drawn by horses with the color of those of Indra [yellow], a chariot covered with gold and silk that was adorned with a banner marked with a lion. (6) There was a special gilded bow, two quivers with infallible arrows and a celestial armor. His grandfather [Prahlâda] donated a garland of never fading flowers and S'ukrâcârya gave him a conchshell. (7) After thus, on the advice of the brahmins performing the ritual, in the form of the fighting gear having gained their grace, circumambulated he all the scholars offering his obeisances and bade he also with due respect Prahlâda Mahârâja farewell. (8-9) Thereupon ascending the divine chariot donated by S'ukrâcârya, did the great charioteer, decorated with his garland, covered by his armor and equipped with his bow, take up his sword and quiver of arrows. With his golden bangles on his arms and his earrings glittering like sapphires shone he, positioned on his chariot, like a fire of worship on an altar.

(10-11) Surrounded by his own men and the other daitya leaders who equaled him in opulence, strength and beauty, seemed they to drink in the sky and burn the directions with their looks. Gathering the greatest asura warriors went they to the supremely wealthy capital of Indra as shaking the entire earth.

(12) It was there very pleasant with orchards and gardens like the beautiful Nandana garden, chirping pairs of birds, madly humming bees and eternal trees with branches heavy of the great weight of its leaves with flowers and fruits. (13) They were crowded with groups of swans, cranes, cakravâka birds, ducks, lotus flowers and beautiful sporting women protected by the godly. (14) The ever worshipable goddess surrounded them with trenches of celestial Ganges water and parapeted ramparts in the color of fire. (15) Constructed by Vis'vakarmâ, were the gates that gave access to the city made of marble, were the doors [of the houses] covered by golden plates and were the many public roads carefully laid out. (16) It was replete with assembly houses, courtyards, roads, and countless opulent palaces. The crossroads were made with pearls and had sitting places adorned with diamonds and coral. (17) In that city one found, like with a fire with many flames, the most beautiful, glittering, ever-young women, who cool, warm and round-breasted [of 's'yâmâ'], well-decorated always wore impeccably clean clothes. (18) The breezes blowing in the streets carried the fragrance of the fresh aromatic flowers fallen from the hair of the sura women. (19) On the streets passed the sura sweethearts through the white fragrant smoke of aguru incense burnt from behind windows with gold filigree. (20) There were canopies strewn with pearls and gold, a variety of flags that adorned the domes of the palaces and peacocks, pigeons and bees that vibrated their sounds to which the women in their heavenly buildings sang in chorus the auspiciousness. (21) The city with all its brilliance so beautiful and pleasing with the singing loves of the gods, the solo instruments, the dancing and the sounds of flutes, vînâs, drums, conchshells and kettledrums all perfectly in tune, defeated the beauty of the deity of splendor. (22) No godless people roamed the streets, there was no one envious or of violence against other creatures, no one cheated and no one was of false prestige, lust or greed; all walking there were completely void of all that. (23) And it was that city of God which from the outside at all sides was attacked by him, the commander of the troops provided by S'ukrâcârya, who, resounding his conchshell loudly, created fear with all the ladies protected by Indra.

(24) Indra facing the situation understood Bali's fervent zeal and addressed in the company of the godly the spiritual master [Brihaspati] with the following words: (25) 'O my Lord, who gave Bali, our enemy from the past, the great fervor and prowess I'm afraid we're unable to withstand? (26) There is no one to be found who can counter this armed arrangement of his, it is as if he with his mouth wants to drink in and lick up the whole world and with his vision wants to set ablaze all directions, having risen like the fire at the end of time. (27) Please tell us what the cause of the formidable prowess of our enemy is and from where all his energy, strength, influence and this endeavor came.'

(28) Brihaspati said: 'I know the cause, o Indra, of the rise of your enemy, he got his power being a disciple of the mighty brahmins that are the followers of Bhrigu. (29) Being that powerful can the strong one not be defeated by someone like you or anyone belonging to you; except for the Supreme Controller, the Lord, will no one be able to vanquish him now he is endowed with a superior spiritual strength; to oppose him is just as useless as to oppose the lord of death. (30) Therefore must you all leave, give up the heavenly kingdom and go elsewhere to await the time when your enemy has to face his reverse. (31) He who now so utterly mighty flourishes by the brahminical power invested in him, will by insulting the same power find his demise together with all his friends and helpers.'

(32) Thus advised by their spiritual master on what they had to do gave they up their heavenly kingdom and departed they who were the gods who could assume any form they liked. (33) When all the godly this way had left took Bali, the son of Virocana, hold of the city where the divine had their stay and brought he the heavenly worlds under his control. (34) Because he was their disciple instructed the followers of Bhrigu, very pleased with the conqueror of the universe, him to perform a hundred [as'vamedha] horse sacrifices. (35) From performing those sacrifices spread his fame in all directions of the three worlds and shone he with a glory equal to the moon. (36) From winning the favor of the twiceborn deemed he, in enjoying the like of an opulence and prosperity of the demigods, himself most happy with all he had conceived and done so greatly.

The king said: 'Why did the Lord, the Controller of all living beings, like a poor man beg Bali for three steps of land and why did He fetter him despite of the donation? All this begging of the Controller so complete in Himself and the arrest of Bali though he was faultless, we very anxiously desire to understand.'

Mahârâja Parîkshit inquired: The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the proprietor of everything. Why did He beg three paces of land from Bali Mahârâja like a poor man, and when He got the gift for which He had begged, why did He nonetheless arrest Bali Mahârâja? I am very much anxious to know the mystery of these contradictions. (Vedabase)

Text3:

S'rî S'uka said: 'Defeated by Indra, being deprived of his opulence and his life indeed [see 8.11], was Bali brought back to life by the descendants of Bhrigu [S'ukrâcârya and his followers]. With Bhrigu's following was he, as a great soul and disciple, of worship by giving them in full surrender everything he had.

S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: O King, when Bali Mahârâja lost all his opulence and died in the fight, S'ukrâcârya, a descendant of Bhrigu Muni, brought him back to life. Because of this, the great soul Bali Mahârâja became a disciple of S'ukrâcârya and began to serve him with great faith, offering everything he had. (Vedabase)

Text 4

The brahmin followers of Bhrigu, very pleased with him, engaged him in a sacrifice called Vis'vajit so that he, after according the regulations being purified by the exalted souls in a great bathing ceremony [abhisheka], to his desire could conquer the heavenly worlds.

The brâhmana descendants of Bhrigu Muni were very pleased with Bali Mahârâja, 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 yajña known as Vis'vajit. (Vedabase)

Text 5

From the blazing fire worshiped with oblations of ghee was there, drawn by horses with the color of those of Indra [yellow], a chariot covered with gold and silk that was adorned with a banner marked with a lion.

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. (Vedabase)

Text 6

There was a special gilded bow, two quivers with infallible arrows and a celestial armor. His grandfather [Prahlâda] donated a garland of never fading flowers and S'ukrâcârya gave him a conchshell.

A gilded bow, two quivers of infallible arrows, and celestial armor also appeared. Bali Mahârâja's grandfather Prahlâda Mahârâja offered Bali a garland of flowers that would never fade, and S'ukrâcârya gave him a conchshell. (Vedabase)

Text 7

After thus, on the advice of the brahmins performing the ritual, in the form of the fighting gear having gained their grace, circumambulated he all the scholars offering his obeisances and bade he also with due respect Prahlâda Mahârâja farewell.

When Mahârâja Bali had thus performed the special ritualistic ceremony advised by the brâhmanas and had received, by their grace, the equipment for fighting, he circumambulated the brâhmanas and offered them obeisances. He also saluted Prahlâda Mahârâja and offered obeisances to him. (Vedabase)

Text 8-9:

Thereupon ascending the divine chariot donated by S'ukrâcârya, did the great charioteer, decorated with his garland, covered by his armor and equipped with his bow, take up his sword and quiver of arrows. With his golden bangles on his arms and his earrings glittering like sapphires shone he, positioned on his chariot, like a fire of worship on an altar.

Then, after getting on the chariot given by S'ukrâcârya, Bali Mahârâja, 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. (Vedabase)

Text 10-11:

Surrounded by his own men and the other daitya leaders who equaled him in opulence, strength and beauty, seemed they to drink in the sky and burn the directions with their looks. Gathering the greatest asura warriors went they to the supremely wealthy capital shaking the entire earth.

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 Mahârâja departed for the opulent capital of Indra. Indeed, he seemed to make the entire surface of the world tremble. (Vedabase)

Text 12

It was there very pleasant with orchards and gardens like the beautiful Nandana garden, chirping pairs of birds, maddly humming bees and eternal trees with branches heavy of the great weight of its leaves with flowers and fruits.

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. (Vedabase)

Text 13

They were crowded with groups of swans, cranes, cakravâka birds, ducks, lotus flowers and beautiful sporting women protected by the godly.

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

Text 14

The ever worshipable goddess surrounded them with trenches of celestial Ganges water and parapeted ramparts in the color of fire.

The city was surrounded by trenches full of Ganges water, known as Âkâs'a-gangâ, and by a high wall, which was the color of fire. Upon this wall were parapets for fighting. (Vedabase)

Text 15

Constructed by Vis'vakarmâ, were the gates that gave access to the city made of marble, were the doors [of the houses] covered by golden plates and were the many public roads carefully laid out.

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 Vis'vakarmâ. (Vedabase)

Text 16

It was replete with assembly houses, courtyards, roads, and countless opulent palaces. The crossroads were made with pearls and had sitting places adorned with diamonds and coral.

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. (Vedabase)

Text 17

In that city one found, like with a fire with many flames, the most beautiful, glittering, ever-young women, who cool, warm and round-breasted [of 's'yâmâ'], well-decorated always wore impeccably clean clothes.

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 s'yâmâ. (Vedabase)

Text 18:

The breezes blowing in the streets carried the fragrance of the fresh aromatic flowers fallen from the hair of the sura women.

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. (Vedabase)

Text 19:

On the streets passed the sura sweethearts through the white fragrant smoke of aguru incense burnt from behind windows with gold filigree.

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

Text 20:

There were canopies strewn with pearls and gold, a variety of flags that adorned the domes of the palaces and peacocks, pigeons and bees that vibrated their sounds to which the women in their heavenly buildings sang in chorus the auspiciousness.

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. (Vedabase)

Text 21

The city with all its brilliance so beautiful and pleasing with the singing loves of the gods, the solo instruments, the dancing and the sounds of flutes, vînâs, drums, conchshells and kettledrums all perfectly in tune, defeated the beauty of the deity of splendor.

The city was filled with the sounds of mridangas, conchshells, kettledrums, flutes and well-tuned stringed instruments all playing in concert. There was constant dancing and the Gandharvas sang. The combined beauty of Indrapurî defeated beauty personified. (Vedabase)

Text 22:

No godless people roamed the streets, there was no one envious or of violence against other creatures, no one cheated and no one was of false prestige, lust or greed; all walking there were completely void of all that.

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. (Vedabase)

Text 23:

And it was that city of God which from the outside at all sides was attacked by him, the commander of the troops provided by S'ukrâcârya, who resounding his conchshell loudly created fear among all the ladies protected by Indra.

Bali Mahârâja, 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, S'ukrâcârya, thus creating a fearful situation for the women protected by Indra. (Vedabase)

Text 24:

Indra facing the situation understood Bali's fervent zeal and addressed in the company of the godly the spiritual master [Brihaspati] with the following words:

Seeing Bali Mahârâja's indefatigable endeavor and understanding his motive, King Indra, along with the other demigods, approached his spiritual master, Brihaspati, and spoke as follows. (Vedabase)

Text 25:

'O my Lord, who gave Bali, our enemy from the past, the great fervor and prowess I'm afraid we're unable to withstand?

My lord, our old enemy Bali Mahârâja now has new enthusiasm, and he has obtained such astonishing power that we think that perhaps we cannot resist his prowess. (Vedabase)

Text 26:

There is no one to be found who can counter this armed arrangement of his, it is as if he with his mouth wants to drink in and lick up the whole world and with his vision wants to set ablaze all directions, having risen like the fire at the end of time.

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. (Vedabase)

Text 27:

Please tell us what the cause of the formidable prowess of our enemy is and from where all his energy, strength, influence and this endeavor came.'

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

Text 28:

Brihaspati said: 'I know the cause, o Indra, of the rise of your enemy, he got his power being a disciple of the mighty brahmins that are the followers of Bhrigu.

Brihaspati, the spiritual master of the demigods, said: O Indra, I know the cause for your enemy's becoming so powerful. The brâhmana descendants of Bhrigu Muni, being pleased by Bali Mahârâja, their disciple, endowed him with such extraordinary power. (Vedabase)

Text 29:

Being that powerful can the strong one not be defeated by someone like you or anyone belonging to you; except for the Supreme Controller, the Lord, will no one be able to vanquish him now he is endowed with a superior spiritual strength; to oppose him is just as useless as to oppose the lord of death.

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 Yamarâja, no one can now stand before Bali Mahârâja. (Vedabase)

Text 30:

Therefore must you all vanish giving up the heavenly kingdom and go elsewhere to await the time when your enemy has to face his reverse.

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. (Vedabase)

Text 31:

He who now so utterly mighty flourishes by the brahminical power invested in him, will by insulting the same power find his demise together with all his friends and helpers.'

Bali Mahârâja has now become extremely powerful because of the benedictions given him by the brâhmanas, but when he later insults the brâhmanas, he will be vanquished, along with his friends and assistants. (Vedabase)

Text 32:

Thus advised by their spiritual master on what they had to do gave they up their heavenly kingdom and departed they who were the gods who could assume any form they liked.

S'ukadeva Gosvâmî continued: The demigods, being thus advised by Brihaspati 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. (Vedabase)

Text 33

When all the godly this way had left took Bali, the son of Virocana, hold of the city where the divine had their stay and brought he the heavenly worlds under his control.

When the demigods had disappeared, Bali Mahârâja, the son of Virocana, entered the heavenly kingdom, and from there he brought the three worlds under his control. (Vedabase)

Text 34:

Because he was their disciple instructed the followers of Bhrigu, very pleased with the conqueror of the universe, him to perform a hundred [as'vamedha] horse sacrifices.

The brâhmana descendants of Bhrigu, being very pleased with their disciple, who had conquered the entire universe, now engaged him in performing one hundred as'vamedha sacrifices. (Vedabase)

Text 35:

From performing those sacrifices spread his fame in all directions of the three worlds and shone he with a glory equal to the moon.

When Bali Mahârâja 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. (Vedabase)

Text 36:

From winning the favor of the twiceborn deemed he, in enjoying the like of an opulence and prosperity of the demigods, himself most happy with all he had conceived and done so greatly.

Because of the favor of the brâhmanas, the great soul Bali Mahârâja, thinking himself very satisfied, became very opulent and prosperous and began to enjoy the kingdom.