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2024-04-27, 7:25 AM |
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Chapter
21: Bali
Mahârâja Arrested by the Lord
(1)
S'rî S'uka said: 'He who appeared on the
lotus [Brahmâ] observed from the place of truth [from Satyaloka]
how the light of his abode had been covered and had faded because of the effulgence of the Lord's toenails and thus oh god of man, he approached Him
together with vowed brahmacârîs like the sages
headed by Marîci and with Sanandana and the other Kumâras. (2-3) They fully expert in the Vedas and their
supplements, the regulations and the abstinence, being well versed in
logic, history, didactics, the classical stories, the Vedic corollaries
and such, thereupon
offered
their
obeisances
at
Lord
Vishnu's
lotus
feet
together
with
the others who ignited
by
the winds of yoga and the fire of spiritual knowledge, free from fruitive activities by simply meditating on the self-born one had attained his abode. Lord
Brahmâ, the most
celebrated Vedic authority, he
who as a person had appeared on the lotus that had sprouted from His
navel, then pleased Him by devoutly
paying
homage,
worshiping
Him
with
oblations
of
water [see
also 3.8]. (4) The water
from Lord Brahmâ's kamandalu,
purified from washing the feet of Lord Urukrama oh king of the humans,
became the [celestial] Svardhunî [the Ganges]. Its water flowing
down
from outer space purifies the three worlds
the same way the fame of the Supreme Lord purifies. (5)
Lord Brahmâ and the others, they who were the predominating
deities of the different worlds, were of the greatest respect for their
master and collected with all their followers the necessities for
worshiping the All-powerful Soul who had returned to His original size.
(6-7) With water for the feet and for the
guests, flower garlands, all sorts of pulp to smear, fragrant incense
and lamps, fried rice, whole grains, fruits, roots and sprouts,
they offered their respects exclaiming 'Jaya, jaya' to the glory
of His actions, thereby dancing, singing and playing instruments as
vibrating conch shells and beating kettledrums. (8) Jâmbavân,
the
king
of
the bears, blissfully sounded the bugle in every direction and
proclaimed a
great festival for [celebrating] His victory. (9) The Asuras were very angry when they saw that all the land of their master who had been
so determined to be of sacrifice, was lost on the simple plea of three
steps of land: (10) 'Is this brahmin friend not actually Vishnu Himself,
the greatest of all cheaters. who assuming the form of a brahmin
willfully tries to deceive us in the interest of the gods? (11)
He, the enemy, in the form of
a boy begging for a donation stole everything
away from our master who for the sacrifice gave up his exercise of power. (12) Favorable to the brahmins and always sworn to
the truth, he personally now being initiated for performing a yajña, cannot speak a lie. (13) In
the service of our master it is
therefore our duty to kill Him!' Thus the Asura
followers
of
Bali
took
up
their different weapons. (14) Oh
King, having
taken up their tridents and lances they with their angry minds all together rushed
forward against
the will of Bali. (15) But the
associates of Vishnu who saw the Daitya soldiers coming oh ruler, smiled,
took up their weapons and threw them back. (16-17) Nanda and Sunanda came forward as also Jaya,
Vijaya, Prabala, Bala, Kumuda,
Kumudâksha, Vishvaksena, Patattrirâth [Garuda], Jayanta,
S'rutadeva, Pushpadanta and Sâtvata. They all together as strong
as a thousand elephants killed the Asura soldiers.
(18) The moment Bali saw
that his men were killed by the followers of the Original Personality,
he
remembered the curse of S'ukrâcârya [8.20:
15] and commanded his angry
men to retreat:
(19) 'Oh Vipracitti, Râhu and Nemi please
listen, do not fight, stop with this. Now is not the time to settle
this. (20) The
Master of
All Living Beings, that Person of Control who decides about happiness
and
distress, can by human effort not be superseded oh Daityas. (21) Formerly
time
worked
in
our
favor
and
brought
us the victory over the
gods, but today time, which indeed is the Greatest Power [the Supreme
Authority] in
our existence, works against us. (22)
No man
is able to surpass the time factor by any power, counsel, cleverness, fortifications, spells,
herbs,
diplomacy or by whatever other means or likewise schemes. (23) In
the past you managed to defeat many followers of Vishnu, but today they
who had the luck to increase their wealth are roaring that they defeated us in battle [see
B.G. 18:
13-15]. (24) We will defeat them when fate works in our favor and
therefore we now must await the time of our luck.'
(25) S'rî S'uka said: 'After the Daitya
and Dânava leaders had heard what their master said they left
grudgingly for the lower regions oh King, to which they were driven by
the associates
of Vishnu. (26) Thereafter, on the day when for the
sacrifice
the soma is extracted [soma-pâna], Bali was arrested by the son of Târkshya [Garuda] to the desire of
the Master of the King of the
Birds [Lord Vishnu] and bound
with the ropes of Varuna. (27)
Because of the
apprehension of the Asura leader by Vishnu, the mightiest
One around, from every direction
in the
upper and lower worlds a great
roar of disappointment rose. (28)
Bereft
of
his
luster
he,
the one so magnanimous and celebrated oh King, remained
determined as
ever. Unto him thus being bound with Varuna's ropes the Supreme Lord
Vâmana said: (29) 'You have given Me three steps of
land oh Asura. With two I occupied the complete surface of the earth
and now you owe me a third one. (30) As
far as the
sun, the moon and the stars can shed their light and as far as the
clouds are pouring rain, you own all the land. (31)
In one step with
My
body occupying the sky in
all directions
I have covered the entire sphere of the earth [Bhûrloka] and with
the
second step I before your eyes occupied the higher worlds you own. (32)
Unable to provide
what you have promised, hell is your destination. Because also your
guru is of this opinion, therefore go to that place where there is no
happiness [see also 6.17: 28]. (33) Anyone
who
disappoints
a
petitioner
by
failing
to
give what he has promised, falls down deeply. Far removed
from a higher life, his desires will lead nowhere. (34) You,
proud of your possessions, have deceived Me with your promise. Having used such a false prospect you will therefore have to reside in hell for a couple of years.'
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