॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Thursday, 23 February 2023 - Srimad Bhagavatam VIII.22- Bali shows his true mettle by accepting the Lord's punishment. Bhagavan explains to him, in the presence of Prahlada who arrives there, and Brahma, that by His grace, Bali will live well in the splendid Sutala and later attain the status of Indra during Manu Savarni's period.
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Sage Shuka now narrated what occurred after the Lord had thus spoken to King Bali.
King Bali was not chagrined at being outwitted by Bhagavan Vamana. He now spoke:
बलिरुवाच
यद्युत्तमश्लोक भवान् ममेरितं वचो व्यलीकं सुरवर्य मन्यते । करोम्यृतं तन्न भवेत्प्रलम्भनं पदं तृतीयं कुरु शीर्ष्णि मे निजम् ॥
बिभेमि नाहं निरयात्पदच्युतो न पाशबन्धाद्व्यसनाद्दुरत्ययात् । नैवार्थकृच्छ्राद्भवतो विनिग्रहादसाधुवादाद्भृशमुद्विजे यथा ॥
T: “Oh Lord, if you consider that I have reneged on my promise, I shall make good. Please therefore place Your lotus foot on my head as Your third step! I do not fear being deprived of all my possessions, living a hellish life, being arrested for poverty by the ropes of Varuna or being punished by You as much as I fear defamation.”
“Surprising as it is, the way You have punished me, yet, because You are the most worshippable Lord, I regard the punishment You have given me as a most exalted gift. Since Your Lordship is indirectly the greatest well-wisher of us, demons, You act for our best welfare by posing as our enemy. Because demons like us always aspire for a position of false prestige, by chastising us You give us the eyes by which we see the right path. Indeed, in many instances, demons become highly inimical towards You and yet are freed by You in the end!”
“I recall my grandfather, renowned as Bhakta Prahlada, who suffered at his father’s hands but never swerved from devotion to You. I also know that all material possessions, prestige and family are indeed bonds that hold us back spiritually. Your treatment of me, therefore, has to be only a blessing in disguise!”
Just then Bhakta Prahlada himself arrived there. King Bali was deeply aggrieved that he could not offer his grandfather customary respects in his bound condition. He simply turned his eyes downward and cried. Prahlada saw first Narayana Himself there, surrounded by His attendants. He was overwhelmed with devotion.
प्रह्लाद उवाच
त्वयैव दत्तं पदमैन्द्रमूर्जितं हृतं तदेवाद्य तथैव शोभनम् ।
मन्ये महानस्य कृतो ह्यनुग्रहो विभ्रंशितो यच्छ्रिय आत्ममोहनात् ॥
T: Bhakta Prahlada said: “My Lord, it is Your Lordship who gave this Bali the very great opulence of the post of the king of heaven, and now, today, it is You who have taken it all away. I think You have acted with equal beauty in both ways. Because his exalted position as the king of heaven was putting him in the darkness of ignorance, You have done him a very merciful favour by taking away all his opulence.”
Lord Brahma then began to speak to Bhagavan, within the hearing of Bhakta Prahlada, who stood nearby with folded hands. But King Bali’s faithful queen, afraid and aggrieved at seeing her husband arrested, folded her hands and spoke as follows.
Queen Vindhyavali said: “Oh my Lord, this creation is simply Your Leela (sport) but men foolishly claim ownership and doership. That is why they offer even You alms! What good can they do for You, who are the independent creator, maintainer and annihilator of this universe?”
Lord Brahma interceded: “Bhagavan, You have done enough to teach Bali a lesson. Kindly now release him! Bali has offered his all, even his head, to You! It is certain that by offering even water, newly grown grass, or flower buds at Your lotus feet, those who maintain no mental duplicity can achieve the most exalted position within the spiritual world. This King Bali, without duplicity, has now offered everything in the three worlds. How then can he deserve to suffer this arrest?”
श्रीभगवानुवाच
ब्रह्मन् यमनुगृह्णामि तद्विशो विधुनोम्यहम् । यन्मदः पुरुषः स्तब्धो लोकं मां चावमन्यते ॥
दा कदाचिज्जीवात्मा संसरन् निजकर्मभिः । नानायोनिष्वनीशोऽयं पौरुषीं गतिमाव्रजेत् ॥
जन्मकर्मवयोरूपविद्यैश्वर्यधनादिभिः । यद्यस्य न भवेत्स्तम्भस्तत्रायं मदनुग्रहः ॥
मानस्तम्भनिमित्तानां जन्मादीनां समन्ततः । सर्वश्रेयःप्रतीपानां हन्त मुह्येन्न मत्परः ॥
एष दानवदैत्यानामग्रणीः कीर्तिवर्धनः । अजैषीदजयां मायां सीदन्नपि न मुह्यति ॥
क्षीणरिक्थश्च्युतः स्थानात्क्षिप्तो बद्धश्च शत्रुभिः । ज्ञातिभिश्च परित्यक्तो यातनामनुयापितः ॥
गुरुणा भर्त्सितः शप्तो जहौ सत्यं न सुव्रतः । छलैरुक्तो मया धर्मो नायं त्यजति सत्यवाक् ॥
एष मे प्रापितः स्थानं दुष्प्रापममरैरपि । सावर्णेरन्तरस्यायं भवितेन्द्रो मदाश्रयः ॥
तावत्सुतलमध्यास्तां विश्वकर्मविनिर्मितम् । यन्नाधयो व्याधयश्च क्लमस्तन्द्रा पराभवः ।
नोपसर्गा निवसतां सम्भवन्ति ममेक्षया ॥
इन्द्रसेन महाराज याहि भो भद्रमस्तु ते । सुतलं स्वर्गिभिः प्रार्थ्यं ज्ञातिभिः परिवारितः ॥
T: Bhagavan said: “My dear Lord Brahma, because of material opulence a foolish person becomes dull-witted and mad. Thus, he has no respect for anyone within the three worlds and defies even My authority. To such a person I show special favour by first taking away all his possessions.”
“In the cycle of birth and death again and again in different species, by one’s good Karma, one may happen to become a human being. This human birth is very rarely obtained. If a human being is born in an aristocratic family or a higher status of life, if he performs wonderful activities, if he is youthful, if he has personal beauty, good education and good wealth, and if he is nonetheless not proud of his opulence, it is to be understood that he is especially favoured by Bhagavan.”
“Although aristocratic birth and other such opulence are impediments to advancement in devotional service because they are causes of false prestige and pride, this opulence never disturb a pure devotee of Bhagavan. King Bali has become the most famous among the demons and nonbelievers, for in spite of being bereft of all material opulence, he is fixed in his devotional service.”
“Although bereft of his riches, fallen from his original position, defeated and arrested by his enemies, rebuked and deserted by his relatives and friends, although suffering the pain of being bound and although rebuked and cursed by his spiritual master, King Bali, being fixed in his vow, did not give up his truthfulness. It was certainly with the pretension that I spoke about Dharma, but he did not give up Dharma, for he is true to his word. Because of his great tolerance, I have given him a place not obtainable even by the gods. He will become King of the heaven during the period of the Manu known as Savarni."
"Until King Bali achieves the position of King of heaven, he shall live on the planet Sutala, which was made by Vishwakarma according to My order. Because it is specially protected by Me, it is free from mental and bodily miseries, fatigue, dizziness, defeat and all other disturbances. King Bali, the future Indra! You may now go and live there peacefully, surrounded by your friends and relatives. All good fortune unto you. No one will be able to conquer you, as you shall be protected by My Chakra!"
"Oh great hero, I shall always be with you and give you protection in all respects along with your associates and paraphernalia. Moreover, you will always be able to see Me there. You will also be purified of all false tendencies you may have acquired by association with Asuras and Danavas.”
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
