The Subterranean Realms

Verse 1 (bhagavata.5.24.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच अधस्तात्सवितुर्योजनायुते स्वर्भानुर्नक्षत्रवच्चरतीत्येके योऽसावमरत्वं ग्रहत्वं चालभत भगवदनुकम्पया स्वयमसुरापसदः सैंहिकेयो ह्यतदर्हस्तस्य तात जन्म कर्माणि चोपरिष्टाद्वक्ष्यामः ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca adhastāt savitur yojanāyute svarbhānur nakṣatravac caratīty eke yo ’sāv amaratvaṁ grahatvaṁ cālabhata bhagavad-anukampayā svayam asurāpasadaḥ saiṁhikeyo hy atad-arhas tasya tāta janma karmāṇi copariṣṭād vakṣyāmaḥ.

Shukadeva Gosvami said: Below the sun, at a distance of ten thousand yojanas, moves Svarbhanu, that is, Rahu, like a star, some say. Though the most abominable of the asuras, and utterly unfit for it, he attained immortality and the status of a planetary deity by the grace of Bhagavan, being the son of Simhika. His birth and deeds, dear one, I shall relate later.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.5.24.2)

यददस्तरणेर्मण्डलं प्रतपतस्तद्विस्तरतो योजनायुतमाचक्षते द्वादशसहस्रं सोमस्य त्रयोदशसहस्रं राहोर्यः पर्वणि तद्व्यवधानकृद्वैरानुबन्धः सूर्याचन्द्रमसावभिधावति ॥ २ ॥

yad adas taraṇer maṇḍalaṁ pratapatas tad vistarato yojanāyutam ācakṣate dvādaśa-sahasraṁ somasya trayodaśa-sahasraṁ rāhor yaḥ parvaṇi tad-vyavadhāna-kṛd vairānubandhaḥ sūryā-candramasāv abhidhāvati.

The circle of the sun, which burns with heat, is said to measure ten thousand yojanas; the moon's circle, twelve thousand; and Rahu's, thirteen thousand. Rahu, bearing an ancient enmity, chases after the sun and moon on the parva days, the days of full and new moon, and causes their occlusion.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.5.24.3)

तन्निशम्योभयत्रापि भगवता रक्षणाय प्रयुक्तं सुदर्शनं नाम भागवतं दयितमस्त्रं तत्तेजसा दुर्विषहं मुहुः परिवर्तमानमभ्यवस्थितो मुहूर्तमुद्विजमानश्चकितहृदय आरादेव निवर्तते तदुपरागमिति वदन्ति लोकाः ॥ ३ ॥

tan niśamyobhayatrāpi bhagavatā rakṣaṇāya prayuktaṁ sudarśanaṁ nāma bhāgavataṁ dayitam astraṁ tat tejasā durviṣahaṁ muhuḥ parivartamānam abhyavasthito muhūrtam udvijamānaś cakita-hṛdaya ārād eva nivartate tad uparāgam iti vadanti lokāḥ.

Hearing of this, Bhagavan employs, for the protection of both the sun and moon, his beloved and devoted weapon called Sudarshana. Unable to bear the intense heat of its ceaselessly turning blaze, Rahu, having lingered but a moment, his heart trembling with fear, withdraws while still some distance away. That event is what people call an eclipse.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.5.24.4)

ततोऽधस्तात्सिद्धचारणविद्याधराणां सदनानि तावन्मात्र एव ॥ ४ ॥

tato ’dhastāt siddha-cāraṇa-vidyādharāṇāṁ sadanāni tāvan mātra eva.

Below that, at that very same distance, are the abodes of the Siddhas, the Charanas and the Vidyadharas.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.5.24.5)

ततोऽधस्ताद्यक्षरक्षः पिशाचप्रेतभूतगणानां विहाराजिरमन्तरिक्षं यावद्वायुः प्रवाति यावन्मेघा उपलभ्यन्ते ॥ ५ ॥

tato ’dhastād yakṣa-rakṣaḥ-piśāca-preta-bhūta-gaṇānāṁ vihārājiram antarikṣaṁ yāvad vāyuḥ pravāti yāvan meghā upalabhyante.

Below that is the playground of the Yakshas, Rakshasas, Pishachas, ghosts and other spirit-beings, that is, the sky, extending as far as the wind blows and clouds are seen.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.5.24.6)

ततोऽधस्ताच्छतयोजनान्तर इयं पृथिवी यावद्धंसभासश्येनसुपर्णादयः पतत्त्रिप्रवरा उत्पतन्तीति ॥ ६ ॥

tato ’dhastāc chata-yojanāntara iyaṁ pṛthivī yāvad dhaṁsa-bhāsa-śyena-suparṇādayaḥ patattri-pravarā utpatantīti.

Below that, at a distance of a hundred yojanas, is this earth, extending as high as swans, hawks, eagles and other foremost birds are able to fly.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.5.24.7)

उपवर्णितं भूमेर्यथासन्निवेशावस्थानमवनेरप्यधस्तात् सप्त भूविवरा एकैकशो योजनायुतान्तरेणायामविस्तारेणोपक्लृप्ता अतलं वितलं सुतलं तलातलं महातलं रसातलं पातालमिति ॥ ७ ॥

upavarṇitaṁ bhūmer yathā-sanniveśāvasthānam avaner apy adhastāt sapta bhū-vivarā ekaikaśo yojanāyutāntareṇāyāma-vistāreṇopakḷptā atalaṁ vitalaṁ sutalaṁ talātalaṁ mahātalaṁ rasātalaṁ pātālam iti.

The arrangement of the earth's situation has now been described. Below the earth, likewise, are seven subterranean regions, each ten thousand yojanas apart, and each of the same extent in length and breadth: Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talatala, Mahatala, Rasatala and Patala.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.5.24.8)

एतेषु हि बिलस्वर्गेषु स्वर्गादप्यधिककामभोगैश्वर्यानन्दभूतिविभूतिभिः सुसमृद्धभवनोद्यानाक्रीडविहारेषु दैत्यदानवकाद्रवेया नित्यप्रमुदितानुरक्तकलत्रापत्यबन्धुसुहृदनुचरा गृहपतय ईश्वरादप्यप्रतिहतकामा मायाविनोदा निवसन्ति ॥ ८ ॥

eteṣu hi bila-svargeṣu svargād apy adhika-kāma-bhogaiśvaryānanda-bhūti-vibhūtibhiḥ susamṛddha-bhavanodyānākrīḍa-vihāreṣu daitya-dānava-kādraveyā nitya-pramuditānurakta-kalatrāpatya-bandhu-suhṛd-anucarā gṛha-pataya īśvarād apy apratihata-kāmā māyā-vinodā nivasanti.

In these subterranean heavens, in dwellings, gardens and pleasure-grounds richer even than those of heaven in desire, enjoyment, opulence, joy and prosperity, the Daityas, Danavas and Nagas dwell as householders, ever joyful, devoted to their wives, children, kinsmen, friends and followers, their desires unchecked even by the ruler of heaven, and delighting always in illusion.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.5.24.9)

येषु महाराज मयेन मायाविना विनिर्मिताः पुरो नानामणिप्रवरप्रवेकविरचितविचित्रभवनप्राकारगोपुरसभाचैत्यचत्वरायतनादिभिर्नागासुरमिथुनपारावतशुकसारिकाकीर्णकृत्रिमभूमिभिर्विवरेश्वरगृहोत्तमैः समलङ्कृताश्चकासति ॥ ९ ॥

yeṣu mahārāja mayena māyāvinā vinirmitāḥ puro nānā-maṇi-pravara-praveka-viracita-vicitra-bhavana-prākāra-gopura-sabhā-caitya-catvarāyatanādibhir nāgāsura-mithuna-pārāvata-śuka-sārikākīrṇa-kṛtrima-bhūmibhir vivareśvara-gṛhottamaiḥ samalaṅkṛtāś cakāsati.

In these regions, O great King, the sorcerer-demon Maya has constructed cities adorned with wondrous mansions, walls, gateways, assembly halls, shrines, squares and temples, all fashioned from the finest of various gems, their artificial grounds thronged with pairs of Nagas and Asuras and with pigeons, parrots and mynas. These cities shine, furnished with the finest palaces of the lords of those subterranean realms.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.5.24.10)

उद्यानानि चातितरां मनइन्द्रियानन्दिभिः कुसुमफलस्तबकसुभगकिसलयावनतरुचिरविटपविटपिनां लताङ्गालिङ्गितानां श्रीभिः समिथुनविविधविहङ्गमजलाशयानाममलजलपूर्णानां झषकुलोल्लङ्घनक्षुभितनीरनीरजकुमुदकुवलयकह्लारनीलोत्पल लोहितशतपत्रादिवनेषुकृतनिकेतनानामेकविहाराकुलमधुरविविधस्वनादिभिरिन्द्रि-योत्सवैरमरलोकश्रियमतिशयितानि ॥ १० ॥

udyānāni cātitarāṁ mana-indriyānandibhiḥ kusuma-phala-stabaka-subhaga-kisalayāvanata-rucira-viṭapa-viṭapināṁ latāṅgāliṅgitānāṁ śrībhiḥ samithuna-vividha-vihaṅgama-jalāśayānām amala-jala-pūrṇānāṁ jhaṣakulollaṅghana-kṣubhita-nīra-nīraja-kumuda-kuva-laya-kahlāra-nīlotpala-lohita-śatapatrādi-vaneṣu kṛta-niketanānām eka-vihārākula-madhura-vividha-svanādibhir indriyotsavair amara-loka-śriyam atiśayitāni.

And the gardens there delight the mind and senses beyond measure. The branches of their trees, beautiful with clusters of flowers, fruits and tender shoots and embraced by vines, bend low with beauty. Their lakes, filled with clear water and thronged with pairs of every kind of waterbird, are stirred by shoals of leaping fish among thickets of white lilies, blue lotuses and red lotuses. Alive always with delightful sport and sweet, varied birdsong, these gardens, in such festivals for the senses, surpass even the splendor of the world of the immortals.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.5.24.11)

यत्र ह वाव न भयमहोरात्रादिभिः कालविभागैरुपलक्ष्यते ॥ ११ ॥

yatra ha vāva na bhayam aho-rātrādibhiḥ kāla-vibhāgair upalakṣyate.

There, indeed, no fear whatsoever is felt from divisions of time such as day and night.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.5.24.12)

यत्र हि महाहिप्रवरशिरोमणयः सर्वं तमः प्रबाधन्ते ॥ १२ ॥

yatra hi mahāhi-pravara-śiro-maṇayaḥ sarvaṁ tamaḥ prabādhante.

For there, the crest-jewels set upon the hoods of the great and foremost serpents dispel all darkness.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.5.24.13)

न वा एतेषु वसतां दिव्यौषधिरसरसायनान्नपानस्नानादिभिराधयो व्याधयो वलीपलितजरादयश्च देहवैवर्ण्यदौर्गन्ध्यस्वेदक्लमग्लानिरिति वयोऽवस्थाश्च भवन्ति ॥ १३ ॥

na vā eteṣu vasatāṁ divyauṣadhi-rasa-rasāyanānna-pāna-snānādibhir ādhayo vyādhayo valī-palita-jarādayaś ca deha-vaivarṇya-daurgandhya-sveda-klama-glānir iti vayo ’vasthāś ca bhavanti.

For those dwelling there, through divine herbal essences, elixirs, food, drink, bathing and the rest, mental anguish and disease never arise, nor do wrinkles, grey hair, old age, or the marks of aging, such as discoloration of the body, foul odor, sweating, fatigue and weariness.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.5.24.14)

न हि तेषां कल्याणानां प्रभवति कुतश्चन मृत्युर्विना भगवत्तेजसश्चक्रापदेशात् ॥ १४ ॥

na hi teṣāṁ kalyāṇānāṁ prabhavati kutaścana mṛtyur vinā bhagavat-tejasaś cakrāpadeśāt.

For those blessed beings, death has no power over them from any quarter whatsoever, except through the radiance of Bhagavan manifest under the name of His discus.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.5.24.15)

यस्मिन् प्रविष्टेऽसुरवधूनां प्रायः पुंसवनानि भयादेव स्रवन्ति पतन्ति च ॥ १५ ॥

yasmin praviṣṭe ’sura-vadhūnāṁ prāyaḥ puṁsavanāni bhayād eva sravanti patanti ca.

When this discus enters those regions, the wombs of the demons' wives, out of sheer terror, generally miscarry and are cast down.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.5.24.16)

अथातले मयपुत्रोऽसुरो बलो निवसति येन ह वा इह सृष्टाः षण्णवतिर्मायाः काश्चनाद्यापि मायाविनो धारयन्ति यस्य च जृम्भमाणस्य मुखतस्त्रयः स्त्रीगणा उदपद्यन्त स्वैरिण्यः कामिन्यः पुंश्चल्य इति या वै बिलायनं प्रविष्टं पुरुषं रसेन हाटकाख्येन साधयित्वा स्वविलासावलोकनानुरागस्मितसंलापोपगूहनादिभिः स्वैरं किल रमयन्ति यस्मिन्नुपयुक्ते पुरुष ईश्वरोऽहं सिद्धोऽहमित्ययुतमहागजबलमात्मानमभिमन्यमानः कत्थते मदान्ध इव ॥ १६ ॥

athātale maya-putro ’suro balo nivasati yena ha vā iha sṛṣṭāḥ ṣaṇ-ṇavatir māyāḥ kāścanādyāpi māyāvino dhārayanti yasya ca jṛmbhamāṇasya mukhatas trayaḥ strī-gaṇā udapadyanta svairiṇyaḥ kāminyaḥ puṁścalya iti yā vai bilāyanaṁ praviṣṭaṁ puruṣaṁ rasena hāṭakākhyena sādhayitvā sva-vilāsāvalokanānurāga-smita-saṁlāpopagūhanādibhiḥ svairaṁ kila ramayanti yasminn upayukte puruṣa īśvaro ’haṁ siddho ’ham ity ayuta-mahā-gaja-balam ātmānam abhimanyamānaḥ katthate madāndha iva.

Now, in Atala resides the demon Bala, son of Maya, who created here ninety-six kinds of magic, some of which sorcerers still practice to this very day. From his mouth, as he yawned, arose three classes of women, called svairini, kamini and pumshchali, who, subduing any man who enters that region with a liquor called hataka, delight him at will through their alluring glances, affectionate smiles, conversation and embraces. The man, upon partaking of that drink, comes to consider himself equal in strength to ten thousand great elephants, and, deluded by pride, boasts, 'I am the lord, I am the perfected one,' like one blinded by intoxication.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.5.24.17)

ततोऽधस्ताद्वितले हरो भगवान् हाटकेश्वरः स्वपार्षदभूतगणावृतः प्रजापतिसर्गोपबृंहणाय भवो भवान्या सह मिथुनीभूत आस्ते यतः प्रवृत्ता सरित्प्रवरा हाटकी नाम भवयोर्वीर्येण यत्र चित्रभानुर्मातरिश्वना समिध्यमान ओजसा पिबति तन्निष्ठ्यूतं हाटकाख्यं सुवर्णं भूषणेनासुरेन्द्रावरोधेषु पुरुषाः सह पुरुषीभिर्धारयन्ति ॥ १७ ॥

tato ’dhastād vitale haro bhagavān hāṭakeśvaraḥ sva-pārṣada-bhūta-gaṇāvṛtaḥ prajāpati-sargopabṛṁhaṇāya bhavo bhavānyā saha mithunī-bhūta āste yataḥ pravṛttā sarit-pravarā hāṭakī nāma bhavayor vīryeṇa yatra citrabhānur mātariśvanā samidhyamāna ojasā pibati tan niṣṭhyūtaṁ hāṭakākhyaṁ suvarṇaṁ bhūṣaṇenāsurendrāvarodheṣu puruṣāḥ saha puruṣībhir dhārayanti.

Below that, in Vitala, Bhagavan Hara, known as Hatakeshvara, surrounded by his own attendant hosts of ghosts, remains united with Bhavani for the furtherance of Prajapati's work of creation. From their union flows the foremost of rivers, named Hataki, and when the fire, kindled by the force of the wind, drinks that river and spits it forth again with its own vigor, what is expelled becomes the gold called Hataka. With this gold, men, together with their women, adorn themselves in the inner chambers of the lords of the asuras.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.5.24.18)

ततोऽधस्तात्सुतले उदारश्रवाः पुण्यश्लोको विरोचनात्मजो बलिर्भगवता महेन्द्रस्य प्रियं चिकीर्षमाणेनादितेर्लब्धकायो भूत्वा वटुवामनरूपेण पराक्षिप्तलोकत्रयो भगवदनुकम्पयैव पुनः प्रवेशित इन्द्रादिष्वविद्यमानया सुसमृद्धया श्रियाभिजुष्टः स्वधर्मेणाराधयंस्तमेव भगवन्तमाराधनीयमपगतसाध्वस आस्तेऽधुनापि ॥ १८ ॥

tato ’dhastāt sutale udāra-śravāḥ puṇya-śloko virocanātmajo balir bhagavatā mahendrasya priyaṁ cikīrṣamāṇenāditer labdha-kāyo bhūtvā vaṭu-vāmana-rūpeṇa parākṣipta-loka-trayo bhagavad-anukampayaiva punaḥ praveśita indrādiṣv avidyamānayā susamṛddhayā śriyābhijuṣṭaḥ sva-dharmeṇārādhayaṁs tam eva bhagavantam ārādhanīyam apagata-sādhvasa āste ’dhunāpi.

Below that, in Sutala, dwells Bali, son of Virochana, celebrated for his generosity and pure in renown, who was deprived of the three worlds when Bhagavan, wishing to favor Mahendra, took birth from Aditi in the form of a dwarf brahmachari. Yet, purely out of the Lord's own compassion, Bali was reinstated, endowed with a prosperity greater even than Indra's own, and even now he remains there, worshiping, through his own devotional service, that same Bhagavan who alone is worthy of worship, all fear now departed from him.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.5.24.19)

नो एवैतत्साक्षात्कारो भूमिदानस्य यत्तद्भगवत्यशेषजीवनिकायानां जीवभूतात्मभूते परमात्मनि वासुदेवे तीर्थतमे पात्र उपपन्ने परया श्रद्धया परमादरसमाहितमनसा सम्प्रतिपादितस्य साक्षादपवर्गद्वारस्य यद्बिलनिलयैश्वर्यम् ॥ १९ ॥

no evaitat sākṣātkāro bhūmi-dānasya yat tad bhagavaty aśeṣa-jīva-nikāyānāṁ jīva-bhūtātma-bhūte paramātmani vāsudeve tīrthatame pātra upapanne parayā śraddhayā paramādara-samāhita-manasā sampratipāditasya sākṣād apavarga-dvārasya yad bila-nilayaiśvaryam.

This, however, should not be understood merely as the direct fruit of his gift of land, that this dominion over the subterranean world was granted to him. Rather, he offered everything, with the deepest faith and a mind wholly absorbed in reverence, to Bhagavan Vasudeva Himself, the Supersoul dwelling as the very self of all the multitudes of living beings, the most worthy of all recipients, and the direct doorway to liberation.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.5.24.20)

यस्य ह वाव क्षुतपतनप्रस्खलनादिषु विवशः सकृन्नामाभिगृणन् पुरुषः कर्मबन्धनमञ्जसा विधुनोति यस्य हैव प्रतिबाधनं मुमुक्षवोऽन्यथैवोपलभन्ते ॥ २० ॥

yasya ha vāva kṣuta-patana-praskhalanādiṣu vivaśaḥ sakṛn nāmābhigṛṇan puruṣaḥ karma-bandhanam añjasā vidhunoti yasya haiva pratibādhanaṁ mumukṣavo ’nyathaivopalabhante.

One who, quite involuntarily, in the course of sneezing, falling, stumbling or the like, utters His name even once, is thereby swiftly freed from the bondage of karma, a bondage that those seeking liberation by other means find resisted only with great difficulty.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.5.24.21)

तद्भक्तानामात्मवतां सर्वेषामात्मन्यात्मद आत्मतयैव ॥ २१ ॥

tad bhaktānām ātmavatāṁ sarveṣām ātmany ātmada ātmatayaiva.

To all His devotees, the self-realized, He gives His very own Self, granting Himself to each according to that devotee's own true nature.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.5.24.22)

न वै भगवान्नूनममुष्यानुजग्राह यदुत पुनरात्मानुस्मृतिमोषणं मायामयभोगैश्वर्यमेवातनुतेति ॥ २२ ॥

na vai bhagavān nūnam amuṣyānujagrāha yad uta punar ātmānusmṛti-moṣaṇaṁ māyāmaya-bhogaiśvaryam evātanuteti.

Bhagavan did not, in truth, favor Bali merely by once more extending to him illusory enjoyment and opulence, for such things rob a person of remembrance of the self.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.5.24.23)

यत्तद्भगवतानधिगतान्योपायेन याच्ञाच्छलेनापहृतस्वशरीरावशेषितलोकत्रयो वरुणपाशैश्च सम्प्रतिमुक्तो गिरिदर्यां चापविद्ध इति होवाच ॥ २३ ॥

yat tad bhagavatānadhigatānyopāyena yācñā-cchalenāpahṛta-sva-śarīrāvaśeṣita-loka-trayo varuṇa-pāśaiś ca sampratimukto giri-daryāṁ cāpaviddha iti hovāca.

That very wealth Bhagavan took away, finding no other means, under the pretext of begging, seizing the three worlds and leaving him only his own body; and Bali, then bound with the ropes of Varuna and cast into a mountain cave, spoke thus.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.5.24.24)

नूनं बतायं भगवानर्थेषु न निष्णातो योऽसाविन्द्रो यस्य सचिवो मन्त्राय वृत एकान्ततो बृहस्पतिस्तमतिहाय स्वयमुपेन्द्रेणात्मानमयाचतात्मनश्चाशिषो नो एव तद्दास्यमतिगम्भीरवयसः कालस्य मन्वन्तरपरिवृत्तं कियल्लोकत्रयमिदम् ॥ २४ ॥

nūnaṁ batāyaṁ bhagavān artheṣu na niṣṇāto yo ’sāv indro yasya sacivo mantrāya vṛta ekāntato bṛhaspatis tam atihāya svayam upendreṇātmānam ayācatātmanaś cāśiṣo no eva tad-dāsyam ati-gambhīra-vayasaḥ kālasya manvantara-parivṛttaṁ kiyal loka-trayam idam.

'Surely, alas, this Indra is not truly skilled in what matters, though Brihaspati alone is his chosen counselor. Passing him by, the Lord Himself, as Upendra, came begging of me, not for anything of His own, but only so that I might attain His grace. How trifling, indeed, is this dominion over the three worlds, a thing that revolves and passes with the turning of manvantaras within the unfathomable vastness of time!'

Verse 25 (bhagavata.5.24.25)

यस्यानुदास्यमेवास्मत्पितामहः किल वव्रे न तु स्वपित्र्यं यदुताकुतोभयं पदं दीयमानं भगवतः परमिति भगवतोपरते खलु स्वपितरि ॥ २५ ॥

yasyānudāsyam evāsmat-pitāmahaḥ kila vavre na tu sva-pitryaṁ yad utākutobhayaṁ padaṁ dīyamānaṁ bhagavataḥ param iti bhagavatoparate khalu sva-pitari.

My grandfather, indeed, chose nothing but servitude to Him, not even his own father's inheritance, that fearless abode which Bhagavan Himself offered him upon his father's death, and this too he declined.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.5.24.26)

तस्य महानुभावस्यानुपथममृजितकषायः को वास्मद्विधः परिहीणभगवदनुग्रह उपजिगमिषतीति ॥ २६ ॥

tasya mahānubhāvasyānupatham amṛjita-kaṣāyaḥ ko vāsmad-vidhaḥ parihīṇa-bhagavad-anugraha upajigamiṣatīti.

Who, then, among those like us, our impurities still uncleansed and lacking the grace of Bhagavan, could hope to walk the path of that great soul?

Verse 27 (bhagavata.5.24.27)

तस्यानुचरितमुपरिष्टाद्विस्तरिष्यते यस्य भगवान् स्वयमखिलजगद्गुरुर्नारायणो द्वारि गदापाणिरवतिष्ठते निजजनानुकम्पितहृदयो येनाङ्गुष्ठेन पदा दशकन्धरो योजनायुतायुतं दिग्विजय उच्चाटितः ॥ २७ ॥

tasyānucaritam upariṣṭād vistariṣyate yasya bhagavān svayam akhila-jagad-gurur nārāyaṇo dvāri gadā-pāṇir avatiṣṭhate nija-janānukampita-hṛdayo yenāṅguṣṭhena padā daśa-kandharo yojanāyutāyutaṁ dig-vijaya uccāṭitaḥ.

His deeds shall be described further on, this Bali at whose door Bhagavan Narayana Himself, guru of the entire universe, stands even now, mace in hand, His heart moved with compassion for His own devotee. It was He who, with the mere toe of His foot, flung away the ten-headed Ravana across a distance of ten thousand times ten thousand yojanas, when Ravana came in his conquest of the directions.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.5.24.28)

ततोऽधस्तात्तलातले मयो नाम दानवेन्द्रस्त्रिपुराधिपतिर्भगवता पुरारिणा त्रिलोकीशं चिकीर्षुणा निर्दग्धस्वपुरत्रयस्तत्प्रसादाल्लब्धपदो मायाविनामाचार्यो महादेवेन परिरक्षितो विगतसुदर्शनभयो महीयते ॥ २८ ॥

tato ’dhastāt talātale mayo nāma dānavendras tri-purādhipatir bhagavatā purāriṇā tri-lokī-śaṁ cikīrṣuṇā nirdagdha-sva-pura-trayas tat-prasādāl labdha-pado māyāvinām ācāryo mahādevena parirakṣito vigata-sudarśana-bhayo mahīyate.

Below that, in Talatala, resides Maya, lord of the Danavas, ruler of Tripura, the three cities. Once, when Bhagavan Purari, that is, Shiva, wished to become lord of the three worlds, he burned Maya's three cities, but afterward, by his grace, restored them. As master of all sorcerers, protected by Mahadeva, Maya lives on, exalted, free from any fear of the Sudarshana disc.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.5.24.29)

ततोऽधस्तान्महातले काद्रवेयाणां सर्पाणां नैकशिरसां क्रोधवशो नाम गणः कुहकतक्षककालियसुषेणादिप्रधाना महाभोगवन्तः पतत्त्रिराजाधिपतेः पुरुषवाहादनवरतमुद्विजमानाः स्वकलत्रापत्यसुहृत्कुटुम्बसङ्गेन क्वचित्प्रमत्ता विहरन्ति ॥ २९ ॥

tato ’dhastān mahātale kādraveyāṇāṁ sarpāṇāṁ naika-śirasāṁ krodhavaśo nāma gaṇaḥ kuhaka-takṣaka-kāliya-suṣeṇādi-pradhānā mahā-bhogavantaḥ patattri-rājādhipateḥ puruṣa-vāhād anavaratam udvijamānāḥ sva-kalatrāpatya-suhṛt-kuṭumba-saṅgena kvacit pramattā viharanti.

Below that, in Mahatala, dwell the many-hooded serpents, sons of Kadru, of a clan called Krodhavasha, chief among them being Kuhaka, Takshaka, Kaliya and Sushena. Mighty of body, ever fearful of the mount of the king of birds, Garuda, they still, at times, sport carelessly with their wives, children, friends and kinsmen.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.5.24.30)

ततोऽधस्ताद्रसातले दैतेया दानवाः पणयो नाम निवातकवचाः कालेया हिरण्यपुरवासिन इति विबुधप्रत्यनीका उत्पत्त्या महौजसो महासाहसिनो भगवतः सकललोकानुभावस्य हरेरेव तेजसा प्रतिहतबलावलेपा बिलेशया इव वसन्ति ये वै सरमयेन्द्रदूत्या वाग्भिर्मन्त्रवर्णाभिरिन्द्राद्बिभ्यति ॥ ३० ॥

tato ’dhastād rasātale daiteyā dānavāḥ paṇayo nāma nivāta-kavacāḥ kāleyā hiraṇya-puravāsina iti vibudha-pratyanīkā utpattyā mahaujaso mahā-sāhasino bhagavataḥ sakala-lokānubhāvasya harer eva tejasā pratihata-balāvalepā bileśayā iva vasanti ye vai saramayendra-dūtyā vāgbhir mantra-varṇābhir indrād bibhyati.

Below that, in Rasatala, dwell the Daitya and Danava demons known as Panis, Nivatakavachas, Kaleyas and the dwellers of Hiranyapura, enemies of the gods, mighty and daring from birth, their pride of strength broken only by the power of Bhagavan Hari, who pervades all the worlds. They live there like snakes in their holes, and they fear Indra at the mere sound of the words of imprecation spoken by his messenger Sarama.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.5.24.31)

ततोऽधस्तात्पाताले नागलोकपतयो वासुकिप्रमुखाः शङ्खकुलिकमहाशङ्खश्वेतधनञ्जयधृतराष्ट्रशङ्खचूडकम्बलाश्वतरदेवदत्तादयो महाभोगिनो महामर्षा निवसन्ति येषामु ह वै पञ्चसप्तदशशतसहस्रशीर्षाणां फणासु विरचिता महामणयो रोचिष्णवः पातालविवरतिमिरनिकरं स्वरोचिषा विधमन्ति ॥ ३१ ॥

tato ’dhastāt pātāle nāga-loka-patayo vāsuki-pramukhāḥ śaṅkha-kulika-mahāśaṅkha-śveta-dhanañjaya-dhṛtarāṣṭra-śaṅkhacūḍa-kambalāśvatara-devadattādayo mahā-bhogino mahāmarṣā nivasanti yeṣām u ha vai pañca-sapta-daśa-śata-sahasra-śīrṣāṇāṁ phaṇāsu viracitā mahā-maṇayo rociṣṇavaḥ pātāla-vivara-timira-nikaraṁ sva-rociṣā vidhamanti.

Below that, in Patala, dwell the lords of Nagaloka, headed by Vasuki, Shankha, Kulika, Mahashankha, Shveta, Dhananjaya, Dhritarashtra, Shankhachuda, Kambala, Ashvatara, Devadatta, and others, mighty of body and fierce in wrath. Upon their hoods, numbering five, seven, ten, a hundred or a thousand, are set great, shining gems, which by their own radiance dispel the mass of darkness that fills the caverns of Patala.