॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Wednesday, 22 February 2023 - Srimad Bhagavatam VIII.21- Bhagavan Vamana as Trivikrama is worshipped by all. Bali accepts his fate with composure as he is punished for being unable to give the gift of land for Bhagavan's third measure. He is bound and sent to the netherworld.
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श्रीशुक उवाच
सत्यं समीक्ष्याब्जभवो नखेन्दुभिर्हतस्वधामद्युतिरावृतोऽभ्यगात् ।
मरीचिमिश्रा ऋषयो बृहद्व्रताः सनन्दनाद्या नरदेव योगिनः ॥
धातुः कमण्डलुजलं तदुरुक्रमस्य पादावनेजनपवित्रतया नरेन्द्र ।
स्वर्धुन्यभून्नभसि सा पतती निमार्ष्टि लोकत्रयं भगवतो विशदेव कीर्तिः ॥
सत्यं समीक्ष्याब्जभवो नखेन्दुभिर्हतस्वधामद्युतिरावृतोऽभ्यगात् ।
मरीचिमिश्रा ऋषयो बृहद्व्रताः सनन्दनाद्या नरदेव योगिनः ॥
धातुः कमण्डलुजलं तदुरुक्रमस्य पादावनेजनपवित्रतया नरेन्द्र ।
स्वर्धुन्यभून्नभसि सा पतती निमार्ष्टि लोकत्रयं भगवतो विशदेव कीर्तिः ॥
Sage Shuka continued: When Lord Brahma, the lotus-born one, saw his Brahmaloka bedazzled by the toenails of Lord Vamana whose raised foot penetrated the heavens, he deferentially approached Bhagavan along with sages like Marichi and Sanandana. Those who came to the Lord were adepts in all branches of knowledge and self-realized ones.
Brahma washed Bhagavan’s holy foot with the water from his kamandalu. This water became the most sanctified river Ganga that cleansed the three worlds eventually! All the gods worshipped Lord Trivikrama, manifested first as Vamana. Jambavan, the lord of bears, son of Brahma, worshipped Bhagavan and proclaimed in the three worlds the "Vijaya" of Bhagavan.
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Seeing how Bali had lost his all to Bhagavan's Vamana avatara, the Asuras around Bali became very angry. They said they will fight and destroy Vamana for this trick, on behalf of Bali who had avowed peace during the Yajna. But Vishnu's attendants countered them decisively. Seeing his Asuras losing their lives, Bali stopped the fight. He pleaded,
हन्यमानान् स्वकान् दृष्ट्वा पुरुषानुचरैर्बलिः । वारयामास संरब्धान् काव्यशापमनुस्मरन् ॥
यो नो भवाय प्रागासीदभवाय दिवौकसाम् । स एव भगवानद्य वर्तते तद्विपर्ययम् ॥
बलेन सचिवैर्बुद्ध्या दुर्गैर्मन्त्रौषधादिभिः । सामादिभिरुपायैश्च कालं नात्येति वै जनः ॥
T: Bali said, " Oh Viprachitti, Rahu, Nemi, please hear my words! Don’t fight. Stop immediately, for the present time is not in our favour. The supreme factor Time, which represents Bhagavan, was previously in our favour and not in favour of the Devas, but now the tables are turned. No one can surpass Bhagavan as Time or Kaala by material power, by strategem, or - by intelligence, diplomacy, fortresses, mystic mantras, medicinal herbs, or by any other means. (Note the idea of bio-warfare here!)
As directed by Bhagavan, Garuda came and bound King Balihand and foot with Varuna-pasha (the bindings of the netherworld). All the Asuras fled to the netherworld as their cause was lost.
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Bhagavan addressed Bali.
पदैकेन मयाक्रान्तो भूर्लोकः खं दिशस्तनोः । स्वर्लोकस्तु द्वितीयेन पश्यतस्ते स्वमात्मना ॥
प्रतिश्रुतमदातुस्ते निरये वास इष्यते । विश त्वं निरयं तस्माद्गुरुणा चानुमोदितः ॥
T: "Oh, King Bali, remember your gift of the three paces of land. Of your possessions, with one step I have occupied Bhuloka, and with My body, I have occupied the entire sky and all directions. And in your presence, with My second step, I have occupied the heavens. Because you have been unable to give the gift according to your promise, the rule is that you should go down to live in the hellish netherworld. Therefore, in accordance with the order of your Guru, Sage Shukracharya, your spiritual master, now go down and live there."
Bali presented the sight of a king who had lost his all, but not his spirit and composure in this adversity.
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
