|| 8

Chapter Fifteen

Bali Conquers Svarga|| 8.15.1-2 ||r-rjovca

bale pada-traya bhme

kasmd dharir aycata

bhtevara kpaa-val

labdhrtho 'pi babandha tam

etad veditum icchmo

mahat kauthala hi na

ycevarasya prasya

bandhana cpy angasa

Mahrja Parkit said: The Supreme Lord is the proprietor of everything. Why did the Lord of all beings beg three paces of land from Bali Mahrja like a poor man, and when he got the gift for which he had begged, why did he nonetheless arrest Bali Mahrja? I am very anxious to know the begging and binding up by the Lord who is complete in himself and faultless.The Fifteenth Chapter describes how Bali obtained a chariot and horses by performance of sacrifice, how he attained Svarga and how the devats fled in fear.

|| 8.15.3 ||r-uka uvca

parjita-rr asubhi ca hpito

hndrea rjan bhgubhi sa jvita

sarvtman tn abhajad bhgn bali

iyo mahtmrtha-nivedanena

ukadeva Gosvm said: O King! When Bali Mahrja lost all his wealth and became unconscious, ukrcrya, a descendant of Bhgu, brought him back to life. Because of this, the great soul Bali Mahrja became a disciple of ukrcrya and began to serve him with great faith, offering to him everything he had.Bali lost his wealth in the fight with the devats, and his life airs abandoned him (hpita).

|| 8.15.4 ||ta brhma bhgava pryam

ayjayan vivajit tri-kam

jigama vidhinbhiicya

mahbhiekea mahnubhv

The brhmaa descendants of Bhgu were very pleased with Bali Mahrja, 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 Vivajit sacrifice.Vivajit means by the Vivajit sacrifice.

|| 8.15.5 ||tato ratha kcana-paa-naddho

hay ca haryava-turaga-var

dhvaja ca sihena virjamno

hutand sa havirbhir it

From the fire worshipped with oblations, there arose chariot covered with gold and silk. There also appeared yellow horses like those of Indra, and a flag marked with a lion.Horses yellow in color like those of Indra appeared.

|| 8.15.6 ||dhanu ca divya puraopanaddha

tv ariktau kavaca ca divyam

pitmahas tasya dadau ca mlm

amlna-pup jalaja ca ukra

A gilded bow, two infallible quivers, and celestial armor also appeared. Bali Mahrja's grandfather Prahlda Mahrja offered Bali a garland of flowers that would never fade, and ukrcrya gave him a conch.His grandfather was Prahlda. Jalajam means a conch.

|| 8.15.7 ||eva sa viprrjita-yodhanrthas

tai kalpita-svastyayano 'tha viprn

pradaki-ktya kta-prama

prahrdam mantrya nama-cakra

When Mahrja Bali had thus performed the special rites advised by the brhmaas and had received, by their grace, the equipment for fighting, he circumambulated the brhmaas and offered them obeisances. He also saluted Prahlda Mahrja and offered obeisances to him.He had obtained articles for fighting which are supplied by the brhmaas.

|| 8.15.8-9 ||athruhya ratha divya

bhgu-datta mahratha

susrag-dharo 'tha sannahya

dhanv khag dhteudhi

hemgada-lasad-bhu

sphuran-makara-kuala

rarja ratham rho

dhiya-stha iva havyav

Then, after getting on the chariot given by ukrcrya, Bali Mahrja, decorated with a beautiful 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 fire on an altar.|| 8.15.10-11 ||tulyaivarya-bala-rbhi

sva-ythair daitya-ythapai

pibadbhir iva kha dgbhir

dahadbhi paridhn iva

vto vikaran mahatm

sur dhvajin vibhu

yayv indra-pur svddh

kampayann iva rodas

When he assembled with his soldiers and the demon chiefs, who were equal to him in strength, wealth and beauty, they appeared as if they would swallow the sky and burn all directions with their vision. After gathering the demoniac soldiers, Bali Mahrja departed for the prosperous city of Indra, making the entire surface of the world tremble.Surrounded by the solders he went to Indras city. The two verses are connected. Paridhn means directions.|| 8.15.12 ||ramym upavanodynai

rmadbhir nandandibhi

kjad-vihaga-mithunair

gyan-matta-madhuvratai

pravla-phala-puporu-

bhra-khmara-drumai

King Indra's city was attractive with pleasing forests and gardens, such as the Nandana garden, filled with deathless trees, whose branches were heavy with fruits, flowers and shoots, and endowed with intoxicated humming bees and couples of chirping birds.

The city was pleasant with deathless trees whose branches were heavy with fruits, flowers and shoots.

|| 8.15.13 ||hasa-srasa-cakrhva-

kraava-kulkul

nalinyo yatra kranti

pramad sura-sevit

In the gardens there were ponds full of swans, cranes, cakravkas and ducks in which the devats women played.In the gardens (yatra) there were ponds where women played.

|| 8.15.14 ||ka-gagay devy

vt parikha-bhtay

prkregni-varena

slenonnatena ca

The city was surrounded by canals full of ka-gag, which acted as a moat, and by high walls which were the color of fire with high watchtowers.Details of the city are given. The ka-gag acted as a moat (parikha-bhtay).|| 8.15.15 ||rukma-paa-kapai ca

dvrai sphaika-gopurai

ju vibhakta-prapath

vivakarma-vinirmitm

The city, built of Vivakarma, was divided by broad roads and had crystal gates and entrances with golden doors.

Gopuram means a gate to the city. It was divided by wide roads.

|| 8.15.16 ||sabh-catvara-rathyhy

vimnair nyarbudair yutm

gakair maimayair

vajra-vidruma-vedibhi

The city was full of courtyards, smaller roads, resting areas, and not less than one hundred million airplanes. The jeweled crossroads had sitting places made of diamond and coral.Sabh means a place to rest. Catvara means a crossroads. Rathya means a smaller road.

|| 8.15.17 ||yatra nitya-vayo-rp

ym viraja-vsasa

bhrjante rpavan-nryo

hy arcirbhir iva vahnaya

Everlastingly beautiful and youthful women known as yma, who were dressed with clean garments, shone in the city like fires with flames. A ym woman is a woman who has warm limbs during the cold and cool limbs during the hot season, and whose breasts are very firm.

|| 8.15.18 ||sura-str-kea-vibhraa-

nava-saugandhika-srajm

yatrmodam updya

mrga vti mruta

The breezes blowing in the streets of the city bore the fragrance of the flowers falling from the hair of the devat women.

|| 8.15.19 ||hema-jlka-nirgacchad-

dhmenguru-gandhin

purea praticchanna-

mrge ynti sura-priy

Apsars passed on the streets, which were covered with the white, fragrant smoke of aguru incense emanating from windows with golden filigree.The smoke came from the golden lattices of windows. Sura-priy means Apsars.

|| 8.15.20 ||mukt-vitnair mai-hema-ketubhir

nn-patk-valabhbhir vtm

ikhai-prvata-bhga-ndit

vaimnika-str-kala-gta-magalm

The city was shaded by canopies decorated with pearls, and the turrets of the palaces had flags of jewels 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 chanted auspicious songs. The city was covered with turrets having flags and banners made of jewels and gold, and with canopies made of pearls.

|| 8.15.21 ||mdaga-akhnaka-dundubhi-svanai

satla-v-murajea-veubhi

ntyai savdyair upadeva-gtakair

manoram sva-prabhay jita-prabhm

The city was attractive with the sounds of mdagas, conchs, kettledrums, with flutes keeping beat to stringed instruments and tambourines, with dancing along with instrumental music, and with Gandharvas singing. The beauty of Indrapur defeated beauty personified.

The city defeated beauty personified (jita-prabhm) by its beauty. Another version has jita-grahm. This means it defeated the planets like the sun.

|| 8.15.22 ||y na vrajanty adharmih

khal bhta-druha ah

mnina kmino lubdh

ebhir hn vrajanti yat

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.Ebhi means of these faults.

|| 8.15.23 ||t deva-dhn sa varthin-patir

bahi samantd rurudhe ptanyay

crya-datta jalaja mah-svana

dadhmau prayujan bhayam indra-yoitm

Bali Mahrja, the leader of the army, surrounded this abode of Indra on all sides with his troops. He created fear in the women of the city by loudly blowing the conch given by ukrcrya.

Ptanyay means by his troops.

|| 8.15.24 ||maghavs tam abhipretya

bale paramam udyamam

sarva-deva-gaopeto

gurum etad uvca ha

Seeing Balis indefatigable endeavor, King Indra, along with the other devats, approached his guru and spoke as follows.|| 8.15.25 ||bhagavann udyamo bhyn

baler na prva-vairia

aviahyam ima manye

kenst tejasorjita

My lord! The effort of our old enemy Bali Mahrja is stronger. I think that we cannot resist his strength. How did he attain such power?Imam refers to Balis effort or his strength. How did he become (st) so powerful?

|| 8.15.26 ||naina kacit kuto vpi

prativyohum adhvara

pibann iva mukheneda

lihann iva dio daa

dahann iva dio dgbhi

savartgnir ivotthita

No one anywhere can counteract Bali, since he seems to be devouring the universe with his mouth, licking it up, and burning all direction with his glance. It is as if the fire of final destruction has arisen.

Pratibohum means to counteract with troops. This is because he seems to be devouring the universe.|| 8.15.27 ||brhi kraam etasya

durdharatvasya mad-ripo

oja saho bala tejo

yata etat samudyama

Kindly tell me the cause by which the enemy has power of senses, mind and body which produces intolerable enthusiasm? Tell me cause by which he has strength of senses, mind and body, from which he has become enthusiastic.

|| 8.15.28 ||r-gurur uvca

jnmi maghava chatror

unnater asya kraam

iyyopabhta tejo

bhgubhir brahma-vdibhi

Bhaspati said: O Indra! I know the cause for your enemy's becoming so powerful. The brhmaa descendants of Bhgu endowed their student with their power.The brhmaas gave as an exchange their own powers to Bali, who had offered to them everything out of extreme devotion and faith. Thus it was their power, not Balis. Therefore it is difficult for you to counteract it. We are not less powerful than them. If we become pleased with your devotion and faith, you will become immediately full of our power and will be able to defeat him. This hint is given by the verse. || 8.15.29 ||ojasvina bali jetu

na samartho 'sti kacana

bhavad-vidho bhavn vpi

varjayitvevara harim

vijeyati na ko 'py ena

brahma-teja-samedhitam

nsya akta pura sthtu

ktntasya yath jan

Neither you nor anyone like you can conquer the most powerful Bali. Indeed, no one but the Supreme Lord can conquer him, for he is now equipped with the power of brhmaas. Just as no one can stand before Yamarja, no one can now stand before Bali.Shall I go out and fight with him now or not? He answers with this verse.

|| 8.15.30 ||tasmn nilayam utsjya

yya sarve tri-viapam

yta kla pratkanto

yata atror viparyaya

Therefore, waiting until the situation of your enemies is reversed, you should all leave Svarga and go to a place where you will not be seen.Please give a mantra to counteract this situation. He answers with this verse. Wait for the time by which the defeat of the enemy will be possible.

|| 8.15.31 ||ea vipra-balodarka

sampraty rjita-vikrama

tem evpamnena

snubandho vinakyati

Bali, by the result of the power of brhmaas, had become powerful at this moment. When he later insults the brhmaas, he will be vanquished along with his assistants.When and how will Bali be defeated? This verse gives comfort to Indra. Udarka means the final result, according to Amara-koa. When he offends them he will be vanquished. This is the normal viewpoint. However, because he had devotion to Viu, though he offended the brhmaas, he obtained enjoyment greater than Svarga because he attained Sutala with Viu as his doorkeeper, and in a future Manvantara he would attain the position of Indra. || 8.15.32 ||eva sumantritrths te

gururthnudarin

hitv tri-viapa jagmur

grv kma-rpia

The devats, being thus advised by Bhaspati who saw the truth, assumed forms according to their desire and left Svarga.

|| 8.15.33 ||devev atha nilneu

balir vairocana purm

deva-dhnm adhihya

vaa ninye jagat-trayam

When the devats had disappeared, Bali, the son of Virocana, entered the heavenly kingdom, and from there he brought the three worlds under his control.

|| 8.15.34 ||ta viva-jayina iya

bhgava iya-vatsal

atena hayamedhnm

anuvratam ayjayan

The brhmaa descendants of Bhgu, very pleased with their disciple, who had conquered the entire universe, now engaged him in performing one hundred horse sacrifices.They engaged him in sacrifices to make his position as Indra strong.

|| 8.15.35 ||tatas tad-anubhvena

bhuvana-traya-virutm

krti diku-vitanvna

sa reja uur iva

By these sacrifices, he gained a reputation in all directions, spreading throughout the three worlds. Thus he shone in his position like the moon.

|| 8.15.36 ||bubhuje ca riya svddh

dvija-devopalambhitm

kta-ktyam ivtmna

manyamno mahman

The great soul, thinking himself successful, enjoyed the wealth and prosperity of the kingdom obtained through the brhmaas. Dvija-deva means brhmaas.Thus ends the commentary on the Fifteen Chapter of the Eighth Canto of the Bhgavatam for the pleasure of the devotees, in accordance with the previous cryas.