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
usma-kale susitalah
stanau sukathinau yasam
tah syamah parikirtitah

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.

Next verse (SB8.15.23)