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sri-sukah uvaca—Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; tasya—of Prahlada Maharaja; anusrnvatah—so that he could hear; rajan—O King Pariksit; prahradasya—of Prahlada Maharaja; krta-anjaleh—who was standing with folded hands; hiranyagarbhah—Lord Brahma; bhagavan—the most powerful; uvaca—said; madhusudanam—unto Madhusudana, the Personality of Godhead.

Sukadeva Gosvami continued: O King Pariksit, Lord Brahma then began to speak to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, within the hearing of Prahlada Maharaja, who stood nearby with folded hands.

SB8.22.19

TEXT 19

baddham viksya patim sadhvi

tat-patni bhaya-vihvala

pranjalih pranatopendram

babhase ’van-mukhi nrpa

SYNONYMS

baddham—arrested; viksya—seeing; patim—her husband; sadhvi—the chaste woman; tat-patni—Bali Maharaja’s wife; bhaya-vihvala—being very disturbed by fear; pranjalih—with folded hands; pranata—having offered obeisances; upendram—unto Vamanadeva; babhase—addressed; avak-mukhi—with face downward; nrpa—O Maharaja Pariksit.

TRANSLATION

But Bali Maharaja’s chaste wife, afraid and aggrieved at seeing her husband arrested, immediately offered obeisances to Lord Vamanadeva [Upendra]. She folded her hands and spoke as follows.

PURPORT

Although Lord Brahma was speaking, he had to stop for a while because Bali Maharaja’s wife, Vindhyavali, who was very agitated and afraid, wanted to say something.

SB8.22.20

TEXT 20

sri-vindhyavalir uvaca

kridartham atmana idam tri-jagat krtam te

svamyam tu tatra kudhiyo ’para isa kuryuh

kartuh prabhos tava kim asyata avahanti

tyakta-hriyas tvad-avaropita-kartr-vadah

sri-vindhyavalih uvaca—Vindhyavali, the wife of Bali Maharaja, said; krida-artham—for the sake of pastimes; atmanah—of Yourself; idam—this; tri-jagat—the three worlds (this universe); krtam—was created; te—by You; svamyam—proprietorship; tu—but; tatra—thereon; kudhiyah—foolish rascals; apare—others; isa—O my Lord; kuryuh—have established; kartuh—for the supreme creator; prabhoh—for the supreme maintainer; tava—for Your good self; kim—what; asyatah—for the supreme annihilator; avahanti—they can offer; tyakta-hriyah—shameless, without intelligence; tvat—by You; avaropita—falsely imposed because of a poor fund of knowledge; kartr-vadah—the proprietorship of such foolish agnostics.

Srimati Vindhyavali said: O my Lord, You have created the entire universe for the enjoyment of Your personal pastimes, but foolish, unintelligent men have claimed proprietorship for material enjoyment. Certainly they are shameless agnostics. Falsely claiming proprietorship, they think they can give charity and enjoy. In such a condition, what good can they do for You, who are the independent creator, maintainer and annihilator of this universe?

Bali Maharaja’s wife, who was most intelligent, supported the arrest of her husband and accused him of having no intelligence because he had claimed proprietorship of the property of the Lord. Such a claim is a sign of demoniac life. Although the demigods, who are officials appointed by the Lord for management, are attached to materialistic enjoyment, they never claim to be proprietors of the universe, for they know that the actual proprietor of everything is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is the qualification of the demigods. But the demons, instead of accepting the exclusive proprietorship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, claim the property of the universe for themselves through demarcations of nationalism. “This part is mine, and that part is yours,” they say. “This part I can give in charity, and this part I can keep for my enjoyment.” These are all demoniac conceptions. This is described in Bhagavad-gita (16.13): idam adya maya labdham imam prapsye manoratham. “Thus far I have acquired so much money and land. Now I have to add more and more. In this way I shall be the greatest proprietor of everything. Who can compete with me?” These are all demoniac conceptions.

Bali Maharaja’s wife accused Bali Maharaja by saying that although the Supreme Personality of Godhead had arrested him, showing him extraordinary mercy, and although Bali Maharaja was offering his body to the Supreme Lord for the Lord’s third step, he was still in the darkness of ignorance. Actually the body did not belong to him, but because of his long-standing demoniac mentality he could not understand this. He thought that since he had been defamed for his inability to fulfill his promise of charity, and since the body belonged to him, he would free himself from defamation by offering his body. Actually, however, the body does not belong to anyone but the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by whom the body is given. As stated in Bhagavad-gita (18.61):

isvarah sarva-bhutanam
hrd-dese ’rjuna tisthati
bhramayan sarva-bhutani
yantrarudhani mayaya

The Lord is situated in the core of everyone’s heart, and, according to the material desires of the living entity, the Lord offers a particular type of machine—the body—through the agency of the material energy. The body actually does not belong to the living entity; it belongs to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Under the circumstances, how could Bali Maharaja claim that the body belonged to him?

Thus Vindhyavali, Bali Maharaja’s intelligent wife, prayed that her husband be released, by the Lord’s causeless mercy. Otherwise, Bali Maharaja was nothing but a shameless demon, specifically described as tyakta-hriyas tvad-avaropita-kartr-vadah, a foolish person claiming proprietorship over the property of the Supreme Person. In the present age, Kali-yuga, the number of such shameless men, who are agnostics disbelieving in the existence of God, has increased. Trying to defy the authority of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, so-called scientists, philosophers and politicians manufacture plans and schemes for the destruction of the world. They cannot do anything good for the world, and unfortunately, because of Kali-yuga, they have plunged the affairs of the world into mismanagement. Thus there is a great need for the Krsna consciousness movement for the benefit of innocent people who are being carried away by propaganda of such demons. If the present status quo is allowed to continue, people will certainly suffer more and more under the leadership of these demoniac agnostics.

SB8.22.21

TEXT 21

sri-brahmovaca

bhuta-bhavana bhutesa

deva-deva jaganmaya

muncainam hrta-sarvasvam

nayam arhati nigraham

sri-brahma uvaca—Lord Brahma said; bhuta-bhavana—O Supreme Being, well-wisher of everyone, who can cause one to flourish; bhuta-isa—O master of everyone; deva-deva—O worshipable Deity of the demigods; jagat-maya—O all-pervading one; munca—please release; enam—this poor Bali Maharaja; hrta-sarvasvam—now bereft of everything; na—not; ayam—such a poor man; arhati—deserves; nigraham—punishment.

Lord Brahma said: O well-wisher and master of all living entities, O worshipable Deity of all the demigods, O all-pervading Personality of Godhead, now this man has been sufficiently punished, for You have taken everything. Now You can release him. He does not deserve to be punished more.

When Lord Brahma saw that Prahlada Maharaja and Vindhyavali had already approached the Lord to ask mercy for Bali Maharaja, he joined them and recommended Bali Maharaja’s release on the grounds of worldly calculations.

SB8.22.22

TEXT 22

krtsna te ’nena datta bhur

lokah karmarjitas ca ye

niveditam ca sarvasvam

atmaviklavaya dhiya

krtsnah—all; te—unto You; anena—by Bali Maharaja; dattah—have been given or returned; bhuh lokah—all land and all planets; karma-arjitah ca—whatever he achieved by his pious activities; ye—all of which; niveditam ca—have been offered to You; sarvasvam—everything he possessed; atma—even his body; aviklavaya—without hesitation; dhiya—by such intelligence.

Bali Maharaja had already offered everything to Your Lordship. Without hesitation, he has offered his land, the planets and whatever else he earned by his pious activities, including even his own body.

SB8.22.23

TEXT 23

yat-padayor asatha-dhih salilam pradaya

durvankurair api vidhaya satim saparyam

apy uttamam gatim asau bhajate tri-lokim

dasvan aviklava-manah katham artim rcchet

SYNONYMS

yat-padayoh—at the lotus feet of Your Lordship; asatha-dhih—a great-minded person who is without duplicity; salilam—water; pradaya—offering; durva—with fully grown grass; ankuraih—and with buds of flowers; api—although; vidhaya—offering; satim—most exalted; saparyam—with worship; api—although; uttamam—the most highly elevated; gatim—destination; asau—such a worshiper; bhajate—deserves; tri-lokim—the three worlds; dasvan—giving to You; aviklava-manah—without mental duplicity; katham—how; artim—the distressed condition of being arrested; rcchet—he deserves.

TRANSLATION

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 Bali Maharaja, without duplicity, has now offered everything in the three worlds. How then can he deserve to suffer from arrest?

PURPORT

In Bhagavad-gita (9.26) it is stated:

patram puspam phalam toyam
yo me bhaktya prayacchati
tad aham bhakty-upahrtam
asnami prayatatmanah

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is so kind that if an unsophisticated person, with devotion and without duplicity, offers at the lotus feet of the Lord a little water, a flower, a fruit or a leaf, the Lord accepts it. Then the devotee is promoted to Vaikuntha, the spiritual world. Brahma drew the Lord’s attention to this subject and requested that He release Bali Maharaja, who was suffering, being bound by the ropes of Varuna, and who had already given everything, including the three worlds and whatever he possessed.

SB8.22.24

TEXT 24

sri-bhagavan uvaca

brahman yam anugrhnami

tad-viso vidhunomy aham

yan-madah purusah stabdho

lokam mam cavamanyate

sri-bhagavan uvaca—the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; brahman—O Lord Brahma; yam—unto anyone to whom; anugrhnami—I show My mercy; tat—his; visah—material opulence or riches; vidhunomi—take away; aham—I; yat-madah—having false prestige due to this money; purusah—such a person; stabdhah—being dull-minded; lokam—the three worlds; mam ca—unto Me also; avamanyate—derides.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead 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 favor by first taking away all his possessions.

A civilization that has become godless because of material advancement in opulence is extremely dangerous. Because of great opulence, a materialist becomes so proud that he has no regard for anyone and even refuses to accept the authority of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The result of such a mentality is certainly very dangerous. To show special favor, the Lord sometimes makes an example of someone like Bali Maharaja, who was now bereft of all his possessions.

SB8.22.25

TEXT 25

yada kadacij jivatma

samsaran nija-karmabhih

nana-yonisv aniso ’yam

paurusim gatim avrajet

yada—when; kadacit—sometimes; jiva-atma—the living entity; samsaran—rotating in the cycle of birth and death; nija-karmabhih—because of his own fruitive activities; nana-yonisu—in different species of life; anisah—not independent (completely under the control of material nature); ayam—this living entity; paurusim gatim—the situation of being human; avrajet—wants to obtain.

While rotating in the cycle of birth and death again and again in different species because of his own fruitive activities, the dependent living entity, by good fortune, may happen to become a human being. This human birth is very rarely obtained.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is fully independent. Thus it is not always a fact that a living being’s loss of all opulence is a sign of the Supreme Lord’s mercy upon him. The Lord can act any way He likes. He may take away one’s opulence, or He may not. There are varieties of forms of life, and the Lord treats them according to the circumstances, as He chooses. Generally it is to be understood that the human form of life is one of great responsibility.

purusah prakrti-stho hi
bhunkte prakrtijan gunan
karanam guna-sango ’sya
sad-asad-yoni-janmasu

“The living entity in material nature follows the ways of life, enjoying the three modes of nature. This is due to his association with that material nature. Thus he meets with good and evil amongst various species.” (Bg. 13.22) After thus rotating through many, many forms of life in the cycle of birth and death, the living being gets a chance for a human form. Therefore every human being, especially one belonging to a civilized nation or culture, must be extremely responsible in his activities. He should not risk degradation in the next life. Because the body will change (tatha dehantara-praptir), we should be extremely careful. To see to the proper use of life is the purpose of Krsna consciousness. The foolish living entity declares freedom from all control, but factually he is not free; he is fully under the control of material nature. He must therefore be most careful and responsible in the activities of his life.

SB8.22.26

TEXT 26

janma-karma-vayo-rupa-

vidyaisvarya-dhanadibhih

yady asya na bhavet stambhas

tatrayam mad-anugrahah

janma—by birth in an aristocratic family; karma—by wonderful activities, pious activities; vayah—by age, especially youth, when one is capable of doing many things; rupa—by personal beauty, which attracts everyone; vidya—by education; aisvarya—by opulence; dhana—by wealth; adibhih—by other opulences also; yadi—if; asya—of the possessor; na—not; bhavet—there is; stambhah—pride; tatra—in such a condition; ayam—a person; mat-anugrahah—should be considered to have received My special mercy.

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, a good education and good wealth, and if he is nonetheless not proud of his opulences, it is to be understood that he is especially favored by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

When in spite of possessing all these opulences a person is not proud, this means that he is fully aware that all his opulences are due to the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He therefore engages all his possessions in the service of the Lord. A devotee knows very well that everything, even his body, belongs to the Supreme Lord. If one lives perfectly in such Krsna consciousness, it is to be understood that he is especially favored by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The conclusion is that one’s being deprived of his wealth is not to be considered the special mercy of the Lord. If one continues in his opulent position but does not become unnecessarily proud, falsely thinking that he is the proprietor of everything, this is the Lord’s special mercy.

SB8.22.27

TEXT 27

mana-stambha-nimittanam

janmadinam samantatah

sarva-sreyah-pratipanam

hanta muhyen na mat-parah

mana—of false prestige; stambha—because of this impudence; nimittanam—which are the causes; janma-adinam—such as birth in a high family; samantatah—taken together; sarva-sreyah—for the supreme benefit of life; pratipanam—which are impediments; hanta—also; muhyet—becomes bewildered; na—not; mat-parah—My pure devotee.

Although aristocratic birth and other such opulences are impediments to advancement in devotional service because they are causes of false prestige and pride, these opulences never disturb a pure devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Devotees like Dhruva Maharaja, who was given unlimited material opulence, have the special mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Once Kuvera wanted to give Dhruva Maharaja a benediction, but although Dhruva Maharaja could have asked him for any amount of material opulence, he instead begged Kuvera that he might continue his devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When a devotee is fixed in his devotional service, there is no need for the Lord to deprive him of his material opulences. The Supreme Personality of Godhead never takes away material opulences achieved because of devotional service, although He sometimes takes away opulences achieved by pious activities. He does this to make a devotee prideless or put him in a better position in devotional service. If a special devotee is meant for preaching but does not give up his family life or material opulences to take to the service of the Lord, the Lord surely takes away his material opulences and establishes him in devotional service. Thus the pure devotee becomes fully engaged in propagating Krsna consciousness.

SB8.22.28

TEXT 28

esa danava-daityanam

agranih kirti-vardhanah

ajaisid ajayam mayam

sidann api na muhyati

esah—this Bali Maharaja; danava-daityanam—among the demons and unbelievers; agranih—the foremost devotee; kirti-vardhanah—the most famous; ajaisit—has already surpassed; ajayam—the insurmountable; mayam—material energy; sidan—being bereft (of all material opulences); api—although; na—not; muhyati—is bewildered.

Bali Maharaja has become the most famous among the demons and nonbelievers, for in spite of being bereft of all material opulences, he is fixed in his devotional service.

In this verse, the words sidann api na muhyati are very important. A devotee is sometimes put into adversity while executing devotional service. In adversity, everyone laments and becomes aggrieved, but by the grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, a devotee, even in the worst condition, can understand that he is going through a severe examination by the Personality of Godhead. Bali Maharaja passed all such examinations, as explained in the following verses.

SB8.22.29-30

TEXTS 29–30

ksina-rikthas cyutah sthanat

ksipto baddhas ca satrubhih

jnatibhis ca parityakto

yatanam anuyapitah

guruna bhartsitah sapto

jahau satyam na suvratah

chalair ukto maya dharmo

nayam tyajati satya-vak

ksina-rikthah—although bereft of all riches; cyutah—fallen; sthanat—from his superior position; ksiptah—forcefully thrown away; baddhah ca—and forcefully bound; satrubhih—by his enemies; jnatibhih ca—and by his family members or relatives; parityaktah—deserted; yatanam—all kinds of suffering; anuyapitah—unusually severely suffered; guruna—by his spiritual master; bhartsitah—rebuked; saptah—and cursed; jahau—gave up; satyam—truthfulness; na—not; su-vratah—being fixed in his vow; chalaih—pretentiously; uktah—spoken; maya—by Me; dharmah—the religious principles; na—not; ayam—this Bali Maharaja; tyajati—does give up; satya-vak—being true to his word.

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, Bali Maharaja, being fixed in his vow, did not give up his truthfulness. It was certainly with pretension that I spoke about religious principles, but he did not give up religious principles, for he is true to his word.

Bali Maharaja passed the severe test put before him by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is further proof of the Lord’s mercy toward His devotee. The Supreme Personality of Godhead sometimes puts a devotee to severe tests that are almost unbearable. One could hardly even live under the conditions forced upon Bali Maharaja. That Bali Maharaja endured all these severe tests and austerities is the mercy of the Supreme Lord. The Lord certainly appreciates the devotee’s forbearance, and it is recorded for the future glorification of the devotee. This was not an ordinary test. As described in this verse, hardly anyone could survive such a test, but for the future glorification of Bali Maharaja, one of the mahajanas, the Supreme Personality of Godhead not only tested him but also gave him the strength to tolerate such adversity. The Lord is so kind to His devotee that when severely testing him the Lord gives him the necessary strength to be tolerant and continue to remain a glorious devotee.

SB8.22.31

TEXT 31

esa me prapitah sthanam

dusprapam amarair api

savarner antarasyayam

bhavitendro mad-asrayah

esah—Bali Maharaja; me—by Me; prapitah—has achieved; sthanam—a place; dusprapam—extremely difficult to obtain; amaraih api—even by the demigods; savarneh antarasya—during the period of the Manu known as Savarni; ayam—this Bali Maharaja; bhavita—will become; indrah—the lord of the heavenly planet; mat-asrayah—completely under My protection.

The Lord continued: Because of his great tolerance, I have given him a place not obtainable even by the demigods. He will become King of the heavenly planets during the period of the Manu known as Savarni.

This is the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Even if the Lord takes away a devotee’s material opulences, the Lord immediately offers him a position of which the demigods cannot even dream. There are many examples of this in the history of devotional service. One of them is the opulence of Sudama Vipra. Sudama Vipra suffered severe material scarcity, but he was not disturbed and did not deviate from devotional service. Thus he was ultimately given an exalted position by the mercy of Lord Krsna. Here the word mad-asrayah is very significant. Because the Lord wanted to give Bali Maharaja the exalted position of Indra, the demigods might naturally have been envious of him and might have fought to disturb his position. But the Supreme Personality of Godhead assured Bali Maharaja that he would always remain under the Lord’s protection (mad-asrayah).

SB8.22.32

TEXT 32

tavat sutalam adhyastam

visvakarma-vinirmitam

yad adhayo vyadhayas ca

klamas tandra parabhavah

nopasarga nivasatam

sambhavanti mameksaya

tavat—as long as you are not in the post of Lord Indra; sutalam—in the planet known as Sutala; adhyastam—go live there and occupy the place; visvakarma-vinirmitam—which is especially created by Visvakarma; yat—wherein; adhayah—miseries pertaining to the mind; vyadhayah—miseries pertaining to the body; ca—also; klamah—fatigue; tandra—dizziness or laziness; parabhavah—becoming defeated; na—not; upasargah—symptoms of other disturbances; nivasatam—of those who live there; sambhavanti—become possible; mama—of Me; iksaya—by the special vigilance.

Until Bali Maharaja achieves the position of King of heaven, he shall live on the planet Sutala, which was made by Visvakarma according to My order. Because it is especially protected by Me, it is free from mental and bodily miseries, fatigue, dizziness, defeat and all other disturbances. Bali Maharaja, you may now go live there peacefully.

Visvakarma is the engineer or architect for the palatial buildings in the heavenly planets. Therefore, since he was engaged to construct the residential quarters of Bali Maharaja, the buildings and palaces on the planet Sutala must at least equal those on the heavenly planets. A further advantage of this place designed for Bali Maharaja was that he would not be disturbed by any outward calamity. Moreover, he would not be disturbed by mental or bodily miseries. These are all extraordinary features of the planet Sutala, where Bali Maharaja would live.

In the Vedic literatures we find descriptions of many different planets where there are many, many palaces, hundreds and thousands of times better than those of which we have experience on this planet earth. When we speak of palaces, this naturally includes the idea of great cities and towns. Unfortunately, when modern scientists try to explore other planets they see nothing but rocks and sand. Of course, they may go on their frivolous excursions, but the students of the Vedic literature will never believe them or give them any credit for exploring other planets.

SB8.22.33

TEXT 33

indrasena maharaja

yahi bho bhadram astu te

sutalam svargibhih prarthyam

jnatibhih parivaritah

indrasena—O Maharaja Bali; maharaja—O King; yahi—better go; bhoh—O King; bhadram—all auspiciousness; astu—let there be; te—unto you; sutalam—in the planet known as Sutala; svargibhih—by the demigods; prarthyam—desirable; jnatibhih—by your family members; parivaritah—surrounded.

O Bali Maharaja [Indrasena], now you may go to the planet Sutala, which is desired even by the demigods. Live there peacefully, surrounded by your friends and relatives. All good fortune unto you.

Bali Maharaja was transferred from the heavenly planet to the planet Sutala, which is hundreds of times better than heaven, as indicated by the words svargibhih prarthyam. When the Supreme Personality of Godhead deprives His devotee of material opulences, this does not mean that the Lord puts him into poverty; rather, the Lord promotes him to a higher position. The Supreme Personality of Godhead did not ask Bali Maharaja to separate from his family; instead, the Lord allowed him to stay with his family members (jnatibhih parivaritah).

SB8.22.34

TEXT 34

na tvam abhibhavisyanti

lokesah kim utapare

tvac-chasanatigan daityams

cakram me sudayisyati

na—not; tvam—unto you; abhibhavisyanti—will be able to conquer; loka-isah—the predominating deities of the various planets; kim uta apare—what to speak of ordinary people; tvat-sasana-atigan—who transgress your rulings; daityan—such demons; cakram—disc; me—My; sudayisyati—will kill.