Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 8: “Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Chapter Fifteen
Bali Maharaja Conquers the Heavenly Planets
SB8.15Summary
This chapter describes how Bali, after performing the Visvajit-yajna, received the benediction of a chariot and various kinds of paraphernalia for war, with which he attacked the King of heaven. All the demigods, being afraid of him, left the heavenly planets and went away, following the instructions of their guru.
Maharaja Pariksit wanted to understand how Lord Vamanadeva, on the plea of taking three paces of land from Bali Maharaja, took everything away from him and arrested him. Sukadeva Gosvami responded to this inquiry with the following explanation. In the fight between the demons and the demigods, as described in the Eleventh Chapter of this canto, Bali was defeated, and he died in the fight, but by the grace of Sukracarya he regained his life. Thus he engaged himself in the service of Sukracarya, his spiritual master. The descendants of Bhrgu, being pleased with him, engaged him in the Visvajit-yajna. When this yajna was performed, from the fire of yajna came a chariot, horses, a flag, a bow, armor and two quivers of arrows. Maharaja Prahlada, Bali Maharaja’s grandfather, gave Bali an eternal garland of flowers, and Sukracarya gave him a conchshell. Bali Maharaja, after offering obeisances to Prahlada, the brahmanas and his spiritual master, Sukracarya, equipped himself to fight with Indra and went to Indrapuri with his soldiers. Blowing his conchshell, he attacked the outskirts of Indra’s kingdom. When Indra saw Bali Maharaja’s prowess, he went to his own spiritual master, Brhaspati, told him about Bali’s strength, and inquired about his duty. Brhaspati informed the demigods that because Bali had been endowed with extraordinary power by the brahmanas, the demigods could not fight with him. Their only hope was to gain the favor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Indeed, there was no alternative. Under the circumstances, Brhaspati advised the demigods to leave the heavenly planets and keep themselves somewhere invisible. The demigods followed his orders, and Bali Maharaja, along with his associates, gained the entire kingdom of Indra. The descendants of Bhrgu Muni, being very affectionate to their disciple Bali Maharaja, engaged him in performing one hundred asvamedha-yajnas. In this way, Bali enjoyed the opulences of the heavenly planets. SB8.15.1-2 TEXTS 1–2 sri-rajovaca baleh pada-trayam bhumeh kasmad dharir ayacata bhutesvarah krpana-val labdhartho ’pi babandha tam etad veditum icchamo mahat kautuhalam hi nah yacnesvarasya purnasya bandhanam capy anagasah SYNONYMS sri-raja uvaca—the King said; baleh—of Bali Maharaja; pada-trayam—three steps; bhumeh—of land; kasmat—why; harih—the Supreme Personality of Godhead (in the form of Vamana); ayacata—begged; bhuta-isvarah—the proprietor of all the universe; krpana-vat—like a poor man; labdha-arthah—He got the gift; api—although; babandha—arrested; tam—him (Bali); etat—all this; veditum—to understand; icchamah—we desire; mahat—very great; kautuhalam—eagerness; hi—indeed; nah—our; yacna—begging; isvarasya—of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; purnasya—who is full in everything; bandhanam—arresting; ca—also; api—although; anagasah—of he who was faultless. TRANSLATION Maharaja Pariksit inquired: The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the proprietor of everything. Why did He beg three paces of land from Bali Maharaja like a poor man, and when He got the gift for which He had begged, why did He nonetheless arrest Bali Maharaja? I am very much anxious to know the mystery of these contradictions. SB8.15.3 TEXT 3 sri-suka uvaca parajita-srir asubhis ca hapito hindrena rajan bhrgubhih sa jivitah sarvatmana tan abhajad bhrgun balih sisyo mahatmartha-nivedanena SYNONYMS sri-sukah uvaca—Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; parajita—being defeated; srih—opulences; asubhih ca—of life also; hapitah—deprived; hi—indeed; indrena—by King Indra; rajan—O King; bhrgubhih—by the descendants of Bhrgu Muni; sah—he (Bali Maharaja); jivitah—brought back to life; sarva-atmana—in full submission; tan—them; abhajat—worshiped; bhrgun—the descendants of Bhrgu Muni; balih—Maharaja Bali; sisyah—a disciple; mahatma—the great soul; artha-nivedanena—by giving them everything. TRANSLATION Sukadeva Gosvami said: O King, when Bali Maharaja lost all his opulence and died in the fight, Sukracarya, a descendant of Bhrgu Muni, brought him back to life. Because of this, the great soul Bali Maharaja became a disciple of Sukracarya and began to serve him with great faith, offering everything he had. SB8.15.4 TEXT 4 tam brahmana bhrgavah priyamana ayajayan visvajita tri-nakam jigisamanam vidhinabhisicya mahabhisekena mahanubhavah SYNONYMS tam—upon him (Bali Maharaja); brahmanah—all the brahmanas; bhrgavah—the descendants of Bhrgu Muni; priyamanah—being very pleased; ayajayan—engaged him in performing a sacrifice; visvajita—known as Visvajit; tri-nakam—the heavenly planets; jigisamanam—desiring to conquer; vidhina—according to regulative principles; abhisicya—after purifying; maha-abhisekena—by bathing him in a great abhiseka ceremony; maha-anubhavah—the exalted brahmanas. TRANSLATION The brahmana descendants of Bhrgu Muni were very pleased with Bali Maharaja, 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 yajna known as Visvajit. SB8.15.5 TEXT 5 tato rathah kancana-patta-naddho hayas ca haryasva-turanga-varnah dhvajas ca simhena virajamano hutasanad asa havirbhir istat SYNONYMS tatah—thereafter; rathah—a chariot; kancana—with gold; patta—and silk garments; naddhah—wrapped; hayah ca—horses also; haryasva-turanga-varnah—exactly of the same color as the horses of Indra (yellow); dhvajah ca—a flag also; simhena—with the mark of a lion; virajamanah—existing; huta-asanat—from the blazing fire; asa—there was; havirbhih—by offerings of clarified butter; istat—worshiped. TRANSLATION When ghee [clarified butter] was offered in the fire of sacrifice, there appeared from the fire a celestial chariot covered with gold and silk. There also appeared yellow horses like those of Indra, and a flag marked with a lion. SB8.15.6 TEXT 6 dhanus ca divyam puratopanaddham tunav ariktau kavacam ca divyam pitamahas tasya dadau ca malam amlana-puspam jalajam ca sukrah SYNONYMS dhanuh—a bow; ca—also; divyam—uncommon; purata-upanaddham—covered with gold; tunau—two quivers; ariktau—infallible; kavacam ca—and armor; divyam—celestial; pitamahah tasya—his grandfather, namely Prahlada Maharaja; dadau—gave; ca—and; malam—a garland; amlana-puspam—made of flowers that do not fade away; jala jam—a conchshell (which is born in water); ca—as well as; sukrah—Sukracarya. TRANSLATION A gilded bow, two quivers of infallible arrows, and celestial armor also appeared. Bali Maharaja’s grandfather Prahlada Maharaja offered Bali a garland of flowers that would never fade, and Sukracarya gave him a conchshell. SB8.15.7 TEXT 7 evam sa viprarjita-yodhanarthas taih kalpita-svastyayano ’tha vipran pradaksini-krtya krta-pranamah prahradam amantrya namas-cakara SYNONYMS evam—in this way; sah—he (Bali Maharaja); vipra-arjita—gained by the grace of the brahmanas; yodhana-arthah—possessing equipment for fighting; taih—by them (the brahmanas); kalpita—advice; svastyayanah—ritualistic performance; atha—as; vipran—all the brahmanas (Sukracarya and others); pradaksini-krtya—circumambulating; krta-pranamah—offered his respectful obeisances; prahradam—unto Prahlada Maharaja; amantrya—addressing; namah-cakara—offered him obeisances. TRANSLATION When Maharaja Bali had thus performed the special ritualistic ceremony advised by the brahmanas and had received, by their grace, the equipment for fighting, he circumambulated the brahmanas and offered them obeisances. He also saluted Prahlada Maharaja and offered obeisances to him. SB8.15.8-9 TEXTS 8–9 atharuhya ratham divyam bhrgu-dattam maharathah susrag-dharo ’tha sannahya dhanvi khadgi dhrtesudhih hemangada-lasad-bahuh sphuran-makara-kundalah raraja ratham arudho dhisnya-stha iva havyavat SYNONYMS atha—thereupon; aruhya—getting on; ratham—the chariot; divyam—celestial; bhrgu-dattam—given by Sukracarya; maha-rathah—Bali Maharaja, the great charioteer; su-srak-dharah—decorated with a nice garland; atha—thus; sannahya—covering his body with armor; dhanvi—equipped with a bow; khadgi—taking a sword; dhrta-isudhih—taking a quiver of arrows; hema-angada-lasat-bahuh—decorated with golden bangles on his arms; sphurat-makara-kundalah—decorated with brilliant earrings resembling sapphires; raraja—was illuminating; ratham arudhah—getting on the chariot; dhisnya-sthah—situated on the altar of sacrifice; iva—like; havya-vat—worshipable fire. TRANSLATION Then, after getting on the chariot given by Sukracarya, Bali Maharaja, decorated with a nice 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 worshipable fire. SB8.15.10-11 TEXTS 10–11 tulyaisvarya-bala-sribhih sva-yuthair daitya-yuthapaih pibadbhir iva kham drgbhir dahadbhih paridhin iva vrto vikarsan mahatim asurim dhvajinim vibhuh yayav indra-purim svrddham kampayann iva rodasi SYNONYMS tulya-aisvarya—equal in opulence; bala—strength; sribhih—and in beauty; sva-yuthaih—by his own men; daitya-yutha-paih—and by the chiefs of the demons; pibadbhih—drinking; iva—as if; kham—the sky; drgbhih—with the sight; dahadbhih—burning; paridhin—all directions; iva—as if; vrtah—surrounded; vikarsan—attracting; mahatim—very great; asurim—demoniac; dhvajinim—soldiers; vibhuh—most powerful; yayau—went; indra-purim—to the capital of King Indra; su-rddham—very opulent; kampayan—causing to tremble; iva—as if; rodasi—the complete surface of the world. TRANSLATION When he assembled with his own soldiers and the demon chiefs, who were equal to him in strength, opulence and beauty, they appeared as if they would swallow the sky and burn all directions with their vision. After thus gathering the demoniac soldiers, Bali Maharaja departed for the opulent capital of Indra. Indeed, he seemed to make the entire surface of the world tremble. SB8.15.12 TEXT 12 ramyam upavanodyanaih srimadbhir nandanadibhih kujad-vihanga-mithunair gayan-matta-madhuvrataih pravala-phala-pusporu- bhara-sakhamara-drumaih SYNONYMS ramyam—very pleasing; upavana—with orchards; udyanaih—and gardens; srimadbhih—very beautiful to see; nandana-adibhih—such as Nandana; kujat—chirping; vihanga—birds; mithunaih—with pairs; gayat—singing; matta—mad; madhu-vrataih—with bees; pravala—of leaves; phala-puspa—fruits and flowers; uru—very great; bhara—bearing the weight; sakha—whose branches; amara-drumaih—with eternal trees. TRANSLATION King Indra’s city was full of pleasing orchards and gardens, such as the Nandana garden. Because of the weight of the flowers, leaves and fruit, the branches of the eternally existing trees were bending down. The gardens were visited by pairs of chirping birds and singing bees. The entire atmosphere was celestial. SB8.15.13 TEXT 13 hamsa-sarasa-cakrahva- karandava-kulakulah nalinyo yatra kridanti pramadah sura-sevitah SYNONYMS hamsa—of swans; sarasa—cranes; cakrahva—birds known as cakravakas; karandava—and water fowl; kula—by groups; akulah—congested; nalinyah—lotus flowers; yatra—where; kridanti—enjoyed sporting; pramadah—beautiful women; sura-sevitah—protected by the demigods. TRANSLATION Beautiful women protected by the demigods sported in the gardens, which had lotus ponds full of swans, cranes, cakravakas and ducks. SB8.15.14 TEXT 14 akasa-gangaya devya vrtam parikha-bhutaya prakarenagni-varnena sattalenonnatena ca SYNONYMS akasa-gangaya—by Ganges water known as Akasa-ganga; devya—the always-worshipable goddess; vrtam—surrounded; parikha-bhutaya—as a trench; prakarena—by ramparts; agni-varnena—resembling fire; sa-attalena—with places for fighting; unnatena—very high; ca—and. TRANSLATION The city was surrounded by trenches full of Ganges water, known as Akasa-ganga, and by a high wall, which was the color of fire. Upon this wall were parapets for fighting. SB8.15.15 TEXT 15 rukma-patta-kapatais ca dvaraih sphatika-gopuraih justam vibhakta-prapatham visvakarma-vinirmitam SYNONYMS rukma-patta—possessing plates made of gold; kapataih—the doors of which; ca—and; dvaraih—with entrances; sphatika-gopuraih—with gates made of excellent marble; justam—linked; vibhakta-prapatham—with many different public roads; visvakarma-vinirmitam—constructed by Visvakarma, the heavenly architect. TRANSLATION The doors were made of solid gold plates, and the gates were of excellent marble. These were linked by various public roads. The entire city had been constructed by Visvakarma. SB8.15.16 TEXT 16 sabha-catvara-rathyadhyam vimanair nyarbudair yutam srngatakair manimayair vajra-vidruma-vedibhih SYNONYMS sabha—with assembly houses; catvara—courtyards; rathya—and public roads; adhyam—opulent; vimanaih—by airplanes; nyarbudaih—not less than ten crores (one hundred million); yutam—endowed; srnga-atakaih—with crossroads; mani-mayaih—made of pearls; vajra—made of diamonds; vidruma—and coral; vedibhih—with places to sit. TRANSLATION The city was full of courtyards, wide roads, assembly houses, and not less than one hundred million airplanes. The crossroads were made of pearl, and there were sitting places made of diamond and coral. SB8.15.17 TEXT 17 yatra nitya-vayo-rupah syama viraja-vasasah bhrajante rupavan-naryo hy arcirbhir iva vahnayah SYNONYMS yatra—in that city; nitya-vayah-rupah—who were ever beautiful and young; syamah—possessing the quality of syama; viraja-vasasah—always dressed with clean garments; bhrajante—glitter; rupa-vat—well decorated; naryah—women; hi—certainly; arcirbhih—with many flames; iva—like; vahnayah—fires. TRANSLATION Everlastingly beautiful and youthful women, who were dressed with clean garments, glittered in the city like fires with flames. They all possessed the quality of syama. PURPORT Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura gives a hint of the quality of the syama woman. sita-kale bhaved usna A woman whose body is very warm during the winter and cool during the summer and who generally has very firm breasts is called syama. SB8.15.18 TEXT 18 sura-stri-kesa-vibhrasta- nava-saugandhika-srajam yatramodam upadaya marga avati marutah SYNONYMS sura-stri—of the women of the demigods; kesa—from the hair; vibhrasta—fallen; nava-saugandhika—made of fresh, fragrant flowers; srajam—of the flower garlands; yatra—wherein; amodam—the fragrance; upadaya—carrying; marge—on the roads; avati—blows; marutah—the breeze. TRANSLATION The breezes blowing in the streets of the city bore the fragrance of the flowers falling from the hair of the women of the demigods. SB8.15.19 TEXT 19 hema-jalaksa-nirgacchad- dhumenaguru-gandhina pandurena praticchanna- marge yanti sura-priyah SYNONYMS hema-jala-aksa—from dainty little windows made of networks of gold; nirgacchat—emanating; dhumena—by smoke; aguru-gandhina—fragrant due to burning incense known as aguru; pandurena—very white; praticchanna—covered; marge—on the street; yanti—pass; sura-priyah—beautiful public women known as Apsaras, celestial girls. TRANSLATION Apsaras passed on the streets, which were covered with the white, fragrant smoke of aguru incense emanating from windows with golden filigree. SB8.15.20 TEXT 20 mukta-vitanair mani-hema-ketubhir nana-pataka-valabhibhir avrtam sikhandi-paravata-bhrnga-naditam vaimanika-stri-kala-gita-mangalam SYNONYMS mukta-vitanaih—by canopies decorated with pearls; mani-hema-ketubhih—with flags made with pearls and gold; nana-pataka—possessing various kinds of flags; valabhibhih—with the domes of the palaces; avrtam—covered; sikhandi—of birds like peacocks; paravata—pigeons; bhrnga—bees; naditam—vibrated by the respective sounds; vaimanika—getting on airplanes; stri—of women; kala-gita—from the choral singing; mangalam—full of auspiciousness. TRANSLATION The city was shaded by canopies decorated with pearls, and the domes of the palaces had flags of pearl 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 constantly chanted auspicious songs that were very pleasing to the ear. SB8.15.21 TEXT 21 mrdanga-sankhanaka-dundubhi-svanaih satala-vina-murajesta-venubhih nrtyaih savadyair upadeva-gitakair manoramam sva-prabhaya jita-prabham SYNONYMS mrdanga—of drums; sankha—conchshells; anaka-dundubhi—and kettledrums; svanaih—by the sounds; sa-tala—in perfect tune; vina—a stringed instrument; muraja—a kind of drum; ista-venubhih—accompanied by the very nice sound of the flute; nrtyaih—with dancing; sa-vadyaih—with concert instruments; upadeva-gitakaih—with singing by the secondary demigods like the Gandharvas; manoramam—beautiful and pleasing; sva-prabhaya—by its own brilliance; jita-prabham—the personification of beauty was conquered. TRANSLATION The city was filled with the sounds of mrdangas, conchshells, kettledrums, flutes and well-tuned stringed instruments all playing in concert. There was constant dancing and the Gandharvas sang. The combined beauty of Indrapuri defeated beauty personified. SB8.15.22 TEXT 22 yam na vrajanty adharmisthah khala bhuta-druhah sathah maninah kamino lubdha ebhir hina vrajanti yat SYNONYMS yam—in the streets of the city; na—not; vrajanti—pass; adharmisthah—irreligious persons; khalah—envious persons; bhuta-druhah—persons violent toward other living entities; sathah—cheaters; maninah—falsely prestigious; kaminah—lusty; lubdhah—greedy; ebhih—these; hinah—completely devoid of; vrajanti—walk; yat—on the street. TRANSLATION 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.
usma-kale susitalah
stanau sukathinau yasam
tah syamah parikirtitah