rule



 

Canto 8

Gaurânga Karunâ Koro

 


Chapter 22: Bali Mahârâja Surrenders His Life

(1) S'rî S'uka said:  'Thus having run into trouble with the Supreme Lord, oh King, Bali, the Asura king, despite his awkward position, was an unperturbed soul who replied positively with the following words.  (2) S'rî Bali said: 'If, oh Lord Praised in the Verses, Your Goodness thinks that what I have promised proved to be false, oh Greatest of the Gods, then let me, in order to be just in this matter and not to have turned to cheating, offer You my head to put the third step of Your lotus feet. (3) I am not as afraid of residing in hell or of being bound in fetters, of facing hard to endure distress, a lack of funds or to be punished by You, as I am of defamation [compare B.G. 2: 34 and 6.17: 28]. (4) To be punished by You, the worshipable Lord, I consider the most favorable form for a human being, something one's mother, father, brother or friends cannot offer [see 10.14: 8]. (5) You are of us, Asuras, the  unseen supreme guru who gave us the vision that many of us were deprived of in our blind materialistic arrogance. (6-7) Many of those who, of a different learning, were fixed on You in a constant enmity, achieved the state of perfection, a position which, as is known, equals that of the yogis. Despite being punished by Your Lordship who are so full of wonders, I am therefore not ashamed - nor do I suffer that much - from thus being bound with Varuna's ropes. (8) My grandfather [Prahlâda] who is appreciated by Your devotees, is famed all around for being a saint, as someone having You, the Supreme One, [as his shelter] when he had to suffer all the nasty matters plotted by his father who was Your enemy [see 7.5]. (9) Of what use is this body that leaves you in the end? What is the service of all those profiteers who passing as relatives snatch away the inheritance? What is the need of a wife who only drags one more into the material world? And what is for a person certain of death the use of wasting his life with domestic attachments [see also 5.5: 8 and B.G. 18: 66]? (10) My grandfather, the great devotee who so deep in his wisdom was afraid of worldly association, was free from fear in his surrender to the immovable refuge of Your lotus feet, oh my Lord, oh Best of the Best Ones, even though You put an end to his own kind. (11) I, who by providence was arrested and with force was bereft of all my wealth, [to my luck] have now also been brought under the shelter of You, the enemy of our family. The fact that wealth is a temporary thing and that life may end any moment is something a narrow-minded person does not think about [see 7.5: 30].' 

(12) S'rî S'uka said: 'When Bali thus discussed his position, Prahlâda, the favorite of the Lord [see 7.9], manifested himself right there, oh best of the Kurus, like the moon rising in the sky.  (13) Indrasena [Bali], saw his grandfather, the most beloved one, present there in all his glory: with eyes as wide as lotus petals, beautifully built, dressed in saffron and with a body as dark as collyrium and with long arms. (14) Bound with the ropes of Varuna he could not as before offer the respect he owed him and thus he offered his obeisances, timidly bending his face downwards with eyes full of tears. (15) The moment the great devotee saw the Supreme Master, the Lord, sitting there being worshiped by followers like Sunanda, he approached Him with his head bent low and then, moved to tears in his jubilation, paid his respects by falling flat to the ground. (16) S'rî Prahlâda said: 'Your Lordship who granted Bali this so very great position of Indra, today has taken it all back and that is something I consider most beautiful. By denying him his opulence You have done him a great favor, because that was what stood in the way of his self-realization. (17) Who can properly recognize the purpose of his soul when even an educated, self-controlled person is bewildered by his opulence? I offer You Nârâyana, the Lord of the Universe, the omnipresent silent witness, my respectful obeisances.'

(18) S'rî S'uka said: 'Oh King, then the mighty Hiranyagarbha [Brahmâ] proceeded to speak to Madhusûdana [the Lord] in such a way that Prahlâda who stood there with folded hands could hear it. (19) But [that very moment] Bali's chaste wife, who saw that her husband was arrested, oh King, being caught by fear offered with folded hands her obeisances to Upendra [Lord Vâmana] and addressed Him with her face turned downwards. (20) S'rî Vindhyâvali [his wife] said: 'You have created this threefold universe for the sake of Your pastimes. You are its proprietor, but now foolish people and others, oh Controller, ignorantly imposing themselves pose as proprietors. What do these shameless people have to offer You, the Supreme Creator, Master and Annihilator [compare B.G. 16: 13-15 and 18: 61]?' 

(21) Lord Brahmâ said: 'Oh Goodness of all Living Beings, oh Controller of Each, oh God of Gods, oh All-pervading One, please release this man now who has lost everything. Someone like him does not deserve it to be punished. (22) He gave to You all the lands and all the worlds. With a firm resolve everything he has achieved in his piety has been offered to You with an intelligence free from hesitation; all that he possessed, even his body. (23) At Your feet he honestly offered water, grasses and flower buds. How can such a worshiper, despite his most exalted offerings, despite his worship, after generously offering You the three worlds, deserve the pain given to him? Not being duplicitous, he deserves the highest destination [B.G. 9: 26]!' 

(24) The Supreme Lord said: 'Oh Brahmâ, it is My mercy to take away the riches from him who is led by it, for someone under the influence of  material opulence takes pride in it and looks down on the entire world! (25) When the living entity, dependent because of its karma, from birth to birth moves through different species of life, it longs to attain the human life form [see also B.G. 13: 22]. (26) It is [also] to be regarded My grace when a person, because of his [human] birth, activities, age, physique, education, achievement, wealth and other opulences, not has hardened in this pride. (27) Matters as a high birth and such, that are the cause of arrogance and bewilderment, [for a normal person] together constitute impediments for [attaining] full beatitude, but no, My devotee is not disturbed by them [see also 4.8-12]. (28) Bali, this best and most famous devotee among the Dânavas and Daityas, already surpassed the insurmountable deluding material energy. Despite losing his wealth, he was not taken aback. (29-30) Having lost all his riches, having fallen from his superior position, being reviled and arrested by his enemies, being deserted by his family and relatives, having suffered all kinds of uncommon hardship, being rebuked and cursed by his guru, he, fixed in his vow, did not forsake his truthfulness, the dharma that I so deceitfully for the sake of the gift spoke about. True to his word this man never gave it up. (31) Through Me he has achieved a position that even for the immortal souls is most difficult to obtain; during the time of Sâvarni Manu [see 8.13: 10-11] he will become the Indra enjoying My full protection. (32) Till then he may go and live in Sutala [see 5.24: 18], the place created by [the heavenly architect] Vis'vakarmâ, where it because of My supervision has been made impossible for the inhabitants to suffer psychically or physically any weariness, exhaustion or defeat. (33) Oh Indrasena, oh Mahârâja, please go now, oh ruler. May there in Sutala, the place so desirable for even the denizens of heaven, for you, surrounded by your people, be all auspiciousness. (34) None of the controllers of the worlds will be able to overrule your command there, not to speak of the common man, for I, with my cakra, will personally take care of all the Daityas who defy your rule. (35) I will protect you, your associates and your property. In every respect I will always stand by your side, oh great hero. You will be able to see Me there! (36) In respect of My excellence, in that place the foolishness, from being associated with the Asura mentality of the Daityas and Dânavas, will disappear instantly.'

 

next

 
 
  

Third revised edition, loaded September 17, 2019.

 

 

 

Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:

Text 1

S'rî S'uka said: 'Thus having run into trouble with the Supreme Lord, oh King, Bali, the Asura king, despite his awkward position, was an unperturbed soul who replied positively with the following words. 
S'rî S'uka said: 'Thus with the Supreme Lord having run into trouble, o King, was Bali, the asura king, despite of his awkward position an unperturbed soul who replied positively with the following words. (Vedabase)

 

Text 2

S'rî Bali said: 'If, oh Lord Praised in the Verses, Your Goodness thinks that what I have promised proved to be false, oh Greatest of the Gods, then let me, in order to be just in this matter and not to have turned to cheating, offer You my head to put the third step of Your lotus feet.

S'rî Bali said: 'If, o Lord of the Praise, You of Your good Self think that my words of promise proved false, o Greatest of the Gods, then let me, to be true to the matter and not to have turned to cheating, offer You my head upon which to put the third step of Your lotus feet. (Vedabase)

 

Text 3

I am not as afraid of residing in hell or of being bound in fetters, of facing hard to endure distress, a lack of funds or to be punished by You, as I am of defamation [compare B.G. 2: 34 and 6.17: 28].

I am not as afraid of residing in hell or being bound in fetters, of hard to endure distress nor certainly of a lack of funds as much as I have grown afraid of the punishment of defamation that I have to suffer now from Your Lordship [compare B.G. 2: 34 and 6.17: 28]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 4

To be punished by You, the worshipable Lord, I consider the most favorable form for a human being, something one's mother, father, brother or friends cannot offer  [see 10.14: 8].

I consider it the most exalted of men to be punished by the worshipable Lord, it is something which is not offered by either one's mother, father, brother or friends [see 10.14: 8]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 5

You are of us, Asuras, the  unseen supreme guru who gave us the vision that many of us were deprived of in our blind materialistic arrogance.

You verily are, of us Asuras, indirectly the supreme guru because You, destroying the false prestige of the many of us that are blinded by material comforts, gave us the vision. (Vedabase)

  

Text 6-7

Many of those who, of a different learning, were fixed on You in a constant enmity, achieved the state of perfection, a position which, as is known, equals that of the yogis. Despite being punished by Your Lordship who are so full of wonders, I am therefore not ashamed - nor do I suffer that much - from thus being bound with Varuna's ropes.

Many of those who outside of the wisdom fixed their intelligence upon You by constant enmity, achieved the perfection which, as is known, equals that of the yogis. Therefore am I, even though I'm punished by Your Lordship so full of wonders, not ashamed nor suffering very much from thus being bound by Varuna's ropes. (Vedabase)

 

Text 8

My grandfather [Prahlâda] who is appreciated by Your devotees, is famed all around for being a saint, as someone having You, the Supreme One, [as his shelter] when he had to suffer all the nasty matters plotted by his father who was Your enemy [see 7.5].

My grandfather [Prahlâda] as appreciated by Your devotees is everywhere famed for being a saint in having You as the Supreme Shelter when he had to suffer all the nasty things that his own father invented in simply going against You [see 7.5]. (Vedabase)


Text 9

Of what use is this body that leaves you in the end? What is the service of all those profiteers who passing as relatives snatch away the inheritance? What is the need of a wife who only drags one more into the material world? And what is for a person certain of death the use of wasting his life with domestic attachments [see also 5.5: 8 and B.G. 18: 66]?

What's the use of this body which gives it up in the end, what is the service of all those profiteers who passing as relatives snatch away the inheritance, what is the need for a wife which only drags one more into the material and what to a person certain of death is the use of wasting one's life with domestic attachments [see also 5.5: 8 and B.G. 18: 66]? (Vedabase)

 

Text 10

My grandfather, the great devotee who so deep in his wisdom was afraid of worldly association, was free from fear in his surrender to the immovable refuge of Your lotus feet, oh my Lord, oh Best of the Best Ones, even though You put an end to his own kind.

As said was he, my grandfather the great devotee so wise in his service, afraid as he was of the people [around him] indeed unerring in his resolve to surrender himself to, with of all fear he experienced, the immovable refuge of Your Lordship's lotus feet, o Best of the Best who has put an end to all the demoniac of us. (Vedabase)

 

Text 11

I, who by providence was arrested and with force was bereft of all my wealth, [to my luck] have now also been brought under the shelter of You, the enemy of our family. The fact that wealth is a temporary thing and that life may end any moment is something a narrow-minded person does not think about [see 7.5: 30].'

Therefore do I take to the shelter of You, me who also being hostile with the soul by providence with force was arrested and bereft of all his wealth. The temporary nature of the material comforts, that for the duration of life confronts one with one's finality and death [see 7.5: 30], is what the narrowminded person cannot understand.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 12

S'rî S'uka said: 'When Bali thus discussed his position, Prahlâda, the favorite of the Lord [see 7.9], manifested himself right there, oh best of the Kurus, like the moon rising in the sky. 

S'rî S'uka said: 'When he thus discussed his position, manifested Prahlâda, the favorite of the Lord [see 7.9], himself there o best of the Kurus, just like the moon does rising in the sky.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 13

Indrasena [Bali], saw his grandfather, the most beloved one, present there in all his glory: with eyes as wide as lotus petals, beautifully built, dressed in saffron and with a body as dark as collyrium and with long arms.

There saw he, the spear of Indra, his grandfather, the best of all the auspicious, present in all his glory: with eyes as wide as lotuspetals, beautifully built, dressed in saffron, with a darkskinned splendor and long arms. (Vedabase)

 

Text 14

Bound with the ropes of Varuna he could not as before offer the respect he owed him and thus he offered his obeisances, timidly bending his face downwards with eyes full of tears. 

Bound in the ropes of Varuna could he not as before offer him the respect he owed and so offered he, with eyes full of tears bashfully bending his face downwards, his obeisances. (Vedabase)

 

Text 15

The moment the great devotee saw the Supreme Master, the Lord, sitting there being worshiped by followers like Sunanda, he approached Him with his head bent low and then, moved to tears in his jubilation, paid his respects by falling flat to the ground.

When he, the great devotee, saw the Great Master, the Lord, sitting there with followers like Sunanda in worship, approached he Him with his head bent low and paid he, moved to tears in his jubilation, thus with his head his respects. (Vedabase)

  

Text 16

S'rî Prahlâda said: 'Your Lordship who granted Bali this so very great position of Indra, today has taken it all back and that is something I consider most beautiful. By denying him his opulence You have done him a great favor, because that was what stood in the way of his self-realization.

S'rî Prahlâda said: 'Your Lordship who granted this so very great position of Indra has today taken it back, which I consider something very beautiful. You have done him, bereft of his opulence, a great favor because that was what stood in the way of his selfrealization.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 17

Who can properly recognize the purpose of his soul when even an educated, self-controlled person is bewildered by his opulence? I offer You Nârâyana, the Lord of the Universe, the omnipresent silent witness, my respectful obeisances.

Indeed even the most learned and self-controlled gets bewildered by the opulence in his search for the goal of life; You I owe my obeisances, You the Controller of the Universe, Lord Narâyâna, the overseer indeed of all.' (Vedabase)

Text 18

S'rî S'uka said: 'Oh King, then the mighty Hiranyagarbha [Brahmâ] proceeded to speak to Madhusûdana [the Lord] in such a way that Prahlâda who stood there with folded hands could hear it.

S'rî S'uka said: 'So that Prahlâda who stood there with folded hands could hear it, o King, spoke the most powerful one of the gold within [Brahmâ] to the slayer of Madhu [the Lord].   (Vedabase)

 

Text 19

But [that very moment] Bali's chaste wife, who saw that her husband was arrested, oh King, being caught by fear offered with folded hands her obeisances to Upendra [Lord Vâmana] and addressed Him with her face turned downwards.

Bali's chaste wife [though] who saw her husband arrested, heavily distraught of fear offered with folded hands her obeisances to Upendra [Lord Vâmana] and addressed Him, o King, with her face down. (Vedabase)

 

Text 20

S'rî Vindhyâvali [his wife] said: 'You have created this threefold universe for the sake of Your pastimes. You are its proprietor, but now foolish people and others, oh Controller, ignorantly imposing themselves pose as proprietors. What do these shameless people have to offer You, the Supreme Creator, Master and Annihilator [compare B.G. 16: 13-15 and 18: 61]?' 

S'rî Vindhyâvali said: 'For the sake of Your pastimes have You created this threefold universe, You are the proprietor but the bad minded and others, o Controller, have ignorantly imposing themselves settled for the ownership; what can they, the shameless, offer You, the Supreme Creator, Master and Annihilator [compare B.G. 16: 13-15 and 18: 61]?' (Vedabase)

 

Text 21

Lord Brahmâ said: 'Oh Goodness of all Living Beings, oh Controller of Each, oh God of Gods, oh All-pervading One, please release this man now who has lost everything. Someone like him does not deserve it to be punished.

Lord Brahmâ said: 'O Goodness of all Living Beings, o Controller of Each, o God of Gods, o All-pervading One, please release this one now bereft of everything - someone like him does not deserve it to be punished. (Vedabase)

 

Text 22

He gave to You all the lands and all the worlds. With a firm resolve everything he has achieved in his piety has been offered to You with an intelligence free from hesitation; all that he possessed, even his body.

He returned to You all the lands, all the worlds - with a firm resolve has without hesitation whatever he in his piety has achieved all been offered to You; all he possessed, even his body. (Vedabase)

 

Text 23

At Your feet he honestly offered water, grasses and flower buds. How can such a worshiper, despite his most exalted offerings, despite his worship, after generously offering You the three worlds, deserve the pain given to him? Not being duplicitous, he deserves the highest destination [B.G. 9: 26]!'

At Your feet offered he honestly water, grasses and flower-buds. How can such a worshiper despite of his so exalted offerings, despite of his worship, offering You the three worlds, deserve the pain given; not duplicitous as he is deserves he the highest destination [B.G. 9: 26]!' (Vedabase)

 

Text 24

The Supreme Lord said: 'Oh Brahmâ, it is My mercy to take away the riches from him who is led by it, for someone under the influence of  material opulence takes pride in it and looks down on the entire world!

The Supreme Lord said: 'O Brahmâ, I show him My mercy and take his riches away who is of false prestige; such a dull-witted one derides all the world! (Vedabase)

 

Text 25

When the living entity, dependent because of its karma, from birth to birth moves through different species of life, it longs to attain the human life form [see also B.G. 13: 22].

The living entity that not independent because of the karma, in different species of life is caught in the material world, longs for the high purpose of being human [see also B.G. 13: 22]. (Vedabase)

  

Text 26

It is [also] to be regarded My grace when a person, because of his [human] birth, activities, age, physique, education, achievement, wealth and other opulences, not has hardened in this pride.

He who with his birth, activities, age, physique, education, achievement, wealth and other opulences has not hardened [has not became arrogant], should as such be considered as being favored by Me. (Vedabase)

 

Text 27

Matters as a high birth and such, that are the cause of arrogance and bewilderment, [for a normal person], together constitute impediments for [attaining] full beatitude, but no, My devotee is not disturbed by them [see also 4.8-12].

Things as a high birth are the cause of arrogance and stupefaction; together constitute they impediments for the supreme benefit of life, impediments by which My devotee is not disturbed [see also 4.8-12]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 28

Bali, this best and most famous devotee among the Dânavas and Daityas, already surpassed the insurmountable deluding material energy. Despite losing his wealth, he was not taken aback.

This Bali, the most devoted and famous among the Dânavas and Daityas, has already surpassed the insurmountable material energy; despite of losing his wealth is he not bewildered. (Vedabase)

 

Text 29-30

Having lost all his riches, having fallen from his superior position, being reviled and arrested by his enemies, being deserted by his family and relatives, having suffered all kinds of uncommon hardship, being rebuked and cursed by his guru, he, fixed in his vow, did not forsake his truthfulness, the dharma that I so deceitfully for the sake of the gift spoke about. True to his word this man never gave it up.

Out of all riches, fallen from his superior position, reviled and arrested by his enemies, deserted by his family and relatives, having suffered all kinds of uncommon hardship, rebuked and cursed by his guru, did he, fixed in his vow, not forsake the truthful, the dharma that I so deceitfully for the gift spoke about; true to his word this one never gave it up. (Vedabase)

  

Text 31

Through Me he has achieved a position that even for the immortal souls is most difficult to obtain; during the time of Sâvarni Manu [see 8.13: 10-11] he will become the Indra enjoying My full protection.

By Me he has achieved a place that even for the demigods is most difficult to obtain; during the time of Sâvarni Manu [see 8.13: 10-11] will he become the Indra that is fully protected by Me. (Vedabase)

 

Text 32

Till then he may go and live in Sutala [see 5.24: 18] the place created by [the heavenly architect] Vis'vakarmâ, where it because of My supervision has been made impossible for the inhabitants to suffer psychically or physically any weariness, exhaustion or defeat.

For the time being he may go and live in Sutala [see 5.24: 18] the place set by Vis'vakarmâ where it by My special vigilance has been made impossible for the inhabitants to suffer psychically or physically any weariness, exhaustion or defeat. (Vedabase)

 

Text 33

Oh Indrasena, oh Mahârâja, please go now, oh ruler. May there in Sutala, the place so desirable for even the denizens of heaven, for you, surrounded by your people, be all auspiciousness

O spear of Indra, o Mahârâja, now better go o ruler, may there, surrounded by your people, be all auspiciousness for you in Sutala, the place so desirable to even the ones of heaven.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 34

None of the controllers of the worlds will be able to overrule your command there, not to speak of the common man, for I, with my cakra, will personally take care of all the Daityas who defy your rule.

None of the local controllers there will be able to overrule you, not to mention the common man, for I with my cakra will personally take care of all the Daityas that transgress your rule.  (Vedabase)


Text 35

I will protect you, your associates and your property. In every respect I will always stand by your side, oh great hero. You will be able to see Me there!

I'll protect you, your associates and your property. In every respect will I always stay close to you, o great hero, you'll be able to see Me there! (Vedabase)

 

Text 36

In respect of My excellence, in that place the foolishness, from being associated with the Asura mentality of the Daityas and Dânavas, will disappear instantly.'

By observing My excellence will in that place the stupidity of the asura mentality of the Daityas and Dânavas be vanquished immediately.' (Vedabase)

 

 

 

 

 

Creative Commons License
The text and audio are offered under the conditions of the
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
The first picture of Lord Vâmana with his foot on Bali is titled:
"Dwarf Incarnation of Vishnu (Trivikrama)"
Nepal, Himalayas, 19th century. Courtesy
LACMA.
The second picture is a vintage image of Viswakarma.
Production:
Filognostic Association of The Order of Time


  

 

Feed-back | Links | Downloads | MusicPictures | What's New | Search | Donations