॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Wednesday, 15 February 2023 - Srimad Bhagavatam VIII.15- Bali, by the blessings of Bhargava Shukracharya, wins over the three worlds and lords over them in great prosperity.
***
राजोवाच
बलेः पदत्रयं भूमेः कस्माद्धरिरयाचत ।
भूत्वेश्वरः कृपणवल्लब्धार्थोऽपि बबन्ध तम् ॥
T: King Parikshit was quite perplexed to hear that Bhagavan had dethroned a valiant and good devotee, Bali. He inquired from Sage Shuka: “Bhagavan is the proprietor of everything. Why did He beg three paces of land from King Bali like a poor man, and when He got the gift for which He had begged, why did He nonetheless arrest and dethrone King Bali who had just completed a great Yajna, whose overlord is Bhagavan Himself!?”
Sage Shuka began to narrate the sequence of events, without directly answering Parikshit.
***
After Bali and his Asura warriors were comprehensively defeated, as narrated before, the descendant of the great Sage Bhrigu, Sage Shukracharya, brought Bali back to life and full glory. He and other Bhargavas blessed Bali to become super-powerful. Shukra supervised over a tremendous Yajna called Vishwajit (World Conquest). From the sacred fire arose a fantastic golden chariot with the flag sporting a lion, equipped as well with great weapons. King Prahlada gave his grandson an eternally fresh garland of lotuses.
अथारुह्य रथं दिव्यं भृगुदत्तं महारथः । सुस्रग्धरोऽथ सन्नह्य धन्वी खड्गी धृतेषुधिः ॥
हेमाङ्गदलसद्बाहुः स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलः । रराज रथमारूढो धिष्ण्यस्थ इव हव्यवाट् ॥
T: The glorious-looking Bali wore that splendid garland, put on his impenetrable armour, picked up his magnificent bow and inexhaustible quiver, and ascended that chariot. With his gold bracelets and sapphire earrings, Bali looked like the Yajna fire!
Accompanied by his wonderful army of Asuras, all carrying deadly weapons and thristing for revenge, Bali proceeded to attack the heavenly capital of Indra, Amaravati. Their army tore the sky asunder with fire and was obviously unconquerable.
***
Shuka now gave a wonderful description of Amaravati. Its gardens were heavenly with flowers so fragrant and lovely that one would blink in disbelief. The mansions were all gold and precious stones. Created by the divine architect, Vishwakarma, heaven was …simply heaven. The eternally youthful damsels that roamed freely would take your breath away, and Vayu, the Wind god, moved around intoxicated with the fragrances that emanated from these women. In other words, Amaravati was the most desirable destination for an ambitious warlord.
Cut to a most worried Indra and his court, plunged into great anxiety on coming to know how Bali was coming to attack. Everyone knew that the gods’ recent victory was only one battle won, and the next battle appeared most unwelcome with such a fortified adversary.
***
Indra enquired, in a quivering voice, of his guru, Brihaspati: how come Bali had become so powerful!?
गुरुरुवाच
जानामि मघवन् शत्रोरुन्नतेरस्य कारणम् । शिष्यायोपभृतं तेजो भृगुभिर्ब्रह्मवादिभिः ॥
ओजस्विनं बलिं जेतुं न समर्थोऽस्ति कश्चन । विजेष्यति न कोऽप्येनं ब्रह्मतेजःसमेधितम् ॥
भवद्विधो भवान् वापि वर्जयित्वेश्वरं हरिम् | नास्य शक्तः पुरः स्थातुं कृतान्तस्य यथा जनाः ॥
तस्मान्निलयमुत्सृज्य यूयं सर्वे त्रिविष्टपम् । यात कालं प्रतीक्षन्तो यतः शत्रोर्विपर्ययः ॥
एष विप्रबलोदर्कः सम्प्रत्यूर्जितविक्रमः । तेषामेवापमानेन सानुबन्धो विनङ्क्ष्यति ॥
T: Brihaspati spoke: “ Oh Indra, I know the cause for your enemy’s becoming so powerful. The sages descended from Sage Bhrigu, being worshipped by Bali, their disciple, have endowed him with such extraordinary power. Neither you nor your men can conquer this most powerful Bali. Indeed, no one but Bhagavan can conquer him, for he is now equipped with the supreme spiritual power called Brahma- Tejas. Like Yama, he is irresistible. Therefore, wait until the situation of your enemies turns adverse (by the play of Time!). Indra, you should all leave this heaven and go elsewhere, where you will not be seen.”
“A time will come when Bali will incur the displeasure of sages and fall from his powerful status.”
Indra and the entire citizenry of heaven vanished from Amaravati and found ways to remain invisible.
When the gods had disappeared, Bali entered Amaravati and quickly established his control and lordship over the three worlds.
The sages descended from Bhrigu, led by Sage Shukracharya, were very pleased with their disciple, who had conquered the entire universe. They now engaged him in performing one hundred Ashwamedha sacrifices. We have seen before that this is the key to invincibility and ultimate lordship.
When King Bali 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. His mood was one of great felicity, power, and enjoyment.
***
॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
