Bali Maharaja Surrenders the Universe

Verse 1 (bhagavata.8.20.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच बलिरेवं गृहपतिः कुलाचार्येण भाषितः । तूष्णीं भूत्वा क्षणं राजन्नुवाचावहितो गुरुम् ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca balir evaṁ gṛha-patiḥ kulācāryeṇa bhāṣitaḥ tūṣṇīṁ bhūtvā kṣaṇaṁ rājann uvācāvahito gurum

Shukadeva Gosvami said: O King, thus addressed by his family preceptor, Bali the householder fell silent for a moment, and then, having weighed it carefully, replied to his guru.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.8.20.2)

श्रीबलिरुवाच सत्यं भगवता प्रोक्तं धर्मोऽयं गृहमेधिनाम् । अर्थं कामं यशो वृत्तिं यो न बाधेत कर्हिचित् ॥ २ ॥

śrī-balir uvāca satyaṁ bhagavatā proktaṁ dharmo ’yaṁ gṛhamedhinām arthaṁ kāmaṁ yaśo vṛttiṁ yo na bādheta karhicit

Shri Bali said: What You have said is true — this indeed is the dharma of the householder, that which never obstructs one's prosperity, one's pleasures, one's fame, or one's livelihood.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.8.20.3)

स चाहं वित्तलोभेन प्रत्याचक्षे कथं द्विजम् । प्रतिश्रुत्य ददामीति प्राह्रादिः कितवो यथा ॥ ३ ॥

sa cāhaṁ vitta-lobhena pratyācakṣe kathaṁ dvijam pratiśrutya dadāmīti prāhrādiḥ kitavo yathā

But how could I, grandson of Prahlada, out of greed for wealth, go back on a word given to a brahmana — like some common cheat — having already said, 'I shall give'?

Verse 4 (bhagavata.8.20.4)

न ह्यसत्यात् परोऽधर्म इति होवाच भूरियम् । सर्वं सोढुमलं मन्ये ऋतेऽलीकपरं नरम् ॥ ४ ॥

na hy asatyāt paro ’dharma iti hovāca bhūr iyam sarvaṁ soḍhum alaṁ manye ṛte ’līka-paraṁ naram

There is no greater unrighteousness than untruth — on this very point, the earth herself has declared that she can bear any weight, except that of a person given wholly to falsehood.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.8.20.5)

नाहं बिभेमि निरयान्नाधन्यादसुखार्णवात् । न स्थानच्यवनान्मृत्योर्यथा विप्रप्रलम्भनात् ॥ ५ ॥

nāhaṁ bibhemi nirayān nādhanyād asukhārṇavāt na sthāna-cyavanān mṛtyor yathā vipra-pralambhanāt

I fear neither hell, nor poverty, nor an ocean of misfortune, nor the loss of my station, nor even death itself — as much as I fear the deceiving of a brahmana.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.8.20.6)

यद् यद्धास्यति लोकेऽस्मिन्सम्परेतं धनादिकम् । तस्य त्यागे निमित्तं किं विप्रस्तुष्येन्न तेन चेत् ॥ ६ ॥

yad yad dhāsyati loke ’smin samparetaṁ dhanādikam tasya tyāge nimittaṁ kiṁ vipras tuṣyen na tena cet

Whatever wealth will in any case abandon a person at death, what loss is there in giving it up — even should this brahmana not be satisfied by it?

Verse 7 (bhagavata.8.20.7)

श्रेयः कुर्वन्ति भूतानां साधवो दुस्त्यजासुभिः । दध्यङ्शिबिप्रभृतयः को विकल्पो धरादिषु ॥ ७ ॥

śreyaḥ kurvanti bhūtānāṁ sādhavo dustyajāsubhiḥ dadhyaṅ-śibi-prabhṛtayaḥ ko vikalpo dharādiṣu

Saintly men like Dadhichi and Shibi have worked the welfare of all beings even at the cost of their own lives, the hardest thing of all to relinquish — what hesitation, then, can there be over a mere patch of earth?

Verse 8 (bhagavata.8.20.8)

यैरियं बुभुजे ब्रह्मन्दैत्येन्द्रैरनिवर्तिभिः । तेषां कालोऽग्रसील्लोकान् न यशोऽधिगतं भुवि ॥ ८ ॥

yair iyaṁ bubhuje brahman daityendrair anivartibhiḥ teṣāṁ kālo ’grasīl lokān na yaśo ’dhigataṁ bhuvi

O brahmana, those unyielding lords of the Daityas who once enjoyed this earth — time has taken everything from them, save only the fame that still endures in this world.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.8.20.9)

सुलभा युधि विप्रर्षे ह्यनिवृत्तास्तनुत्यजः । न तथा तीर्थ आयाते श्रद्धया ये धनत्यजः ॥ ९ ॥

sulabhā yudhi viprarṣe hy anivṛttās tanu-tyajaḥ na tathā tīrtha āyāte śraddhayā ye dhana-tyajaḥ

O best of brahmanas, warriors unafraid to give up their lives on the battlefield are easily found — but rare indeed is one who, when a great and sanctifying soul arrives, gives up his wealth with true faith.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.8.20.10)

मनस्विनः कारुणिकस्य शोभनं यदर्थिकामोपनयेन दुर्गतिः । कुतः पुनर्ब्रह्मविदां भवादृशां ततो वटोरस्य ददामि वाञ्छितम् ॥ १० ॥

manasvinaḥ kāruṇikasya śobhanaṁ yad arthi-kāmopanayena durgatiḥ kutaḥ punar brahma-vidāṁ bhavādṛśāṁ tato vaṭor asya dadāmi vāñchitam

For a magnanimous and compassionate soul, it is a fine thing indeed to fall into hardship while fulfilling a petitioner's wish — how much more so for one versed in Brahman, as you are; so I shall give this young brahmachari exactly what He desires.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.8.20.11)

यजन्ति यज्ञंक्रतुभिर्यमादृता भवन्त आम्नायविधानकोविदाः । स एव विष्णुर्वरदोऽस्तु वा परो दास्याम्यमुष्मै क्षितिमीप्सितां मुने ॥ ११ ॥

yajanti yajñaṁ kratubhir yam ādṛtā bhavanta āmnāya-vidhāna-kovidāḥ sa eva viṣṇur varado ’stu vā paro dāsyāmy amuṣmai kṣitim īpsitāṁ mune

That very Lord of sacrifice whom you, versed in the discipline of the Veda, worship with such reverence through many rites — He is Vishnu Himself; whether He has come as one bestowing blessings or as a foe, O sage, I shall give Him the land He desires regardless.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.8.20.12)

यद्यप्यसावधर्मेण मां बध्नीयादनागसम् । तथाप्येनं न हिंसिष्ये भीतं ब्रह्मतनुं रिपुम् ॥ १२ ॥

yadyapy asāv adharmeṇa māṁ badhnīyād anāgasam tathāpy enaṁ na hiṁsiṣye bhītaṁ brahma-tanuṁ ripum

Even should He unjustly bind me, though I am guiltless, still I shall not raise my hand against this foe who has taken, in his very fear, the form of a brahmana.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.8.20.13)

एष वा उत्तमश्लोको न जिहासति यद् यशः । हत्वा मैनां हरेद् युद्धे शयीत निहतो मया ॥ १३ ॥

eṣa vā uttamaśloko na jihāsati yad yaśaḥ hatvā maināṁ hared yuddhe śayīta nihato mayā

If this is indeed Bhagavan, praised in the finest verse, He will never abandon His own renown — either He will slay me in battle and take this land, or He shall fall, slain by my own hand.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.8.20.14)

श्रीशुक उवाच एवमश्रद्धितं शिष्यमनादेशकरं गुरुः । शशाप दैवप्रहितः सत्यसन्धं मनस्विनम् ॥ १४ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca evam aśraddhitaṁ śiṣyam anādeśakaraṁ guruḥ śaśāpa daiva-prahitaḥ satya-sandhaṁ manasvinam

Shukadeva Gosvami said: To this disciple, who thus disregarded his teacher's command yet remained firm in truth and magnanimous of heart, the guru — moved by divine will — pronounced a curse.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.8.20.15)

दृढं पण्डितमान्यज्ञः स्तब्धोऽस्यस्मदुपेक्षया । मच्छासनातिगो यस्त्वमचिराद्भ्रश्यसे श्रियः ॥ १५ ॥

dṛḍhaṁ paṇḍita-māny ajñaḥ stabdho ’sy asmad-upekṣayā mac-chāsanātigo yas tvam acirād bhraśyase śriyaḥ

'Firmly convinced of your own wisdom, though a fool, you have grown impudent and disregarded us. Since you have overstepped my authority, you shall very soon fall from all your fortune.'

Verse 16 (bhagavata.8.20.16)

एवं शप्तः स्वगुरुणा सत्यान्न चलितो महान् । वामनाय ददावेनामर्चित्वोदकपूर्वकम् ॥ १६ ॥

evaṁ śaptaḥ sva-guruṇā satyān na calito mahān vāmanāya dadāv enām arcitvodaka-pūrvakam

Shukadeva Gosvami said: Cursed thus by his own guru, that great soul still did not waver from truth, and having worshipped Him with water, he made over the land to Vamana.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.8.20.17)

विन्ध्यावलिस्तदागत्य पत्नी जालकमालिनी । आनिन्ये कलशं हैममवनेजन्यपां भृतम् ॥ १७ ॥

vindhyāvalis tadāgatya patnī jālaka-mālinī āninye kalaśaṁ haimam avanejany-apāṁ bhṛtam

At that moment his wife Vindhyavali, adorned with a garland of pearls, arrived there, bringing a golden vessel filled with water for the washing of the feet.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.8.20.18)

यजमानः स्वयं तस्य श्रीमत् पादयुगं मुदा । अवनिज्यावहन्मूर्ध्नि तदपो विश्वपावनीः ॥ १८ ॥

yajamānaḥ svayaṁ tasya śrīmat pāda-yugaṁ mudā avanijyāvahan mūrdhni tad apo viśva-pāvanīḥ

The sacrificer Bali himself, with great joy, washed those two beautiful lotus feet, and bore upon his own head that water which purifies the entire universe.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.8.20.19)

तदासुरेन्द्रं दिवि देवतागणा गन्धर्वविद्याधरसिद्धचारणाः । तत्कर्म सर्वेऽपि गृणन्त आर्जवं प्रसूनवर्षैर्ववृषुर्मुदान्विताः ॥ १९ ॥

tadāsurendraṁ divi devatā-gaṇā gandharva-vidyādhara-siddha-cāraṇāḥ tat karma sarve ’pi gṛṇanta ārjavaṁ prasūna-varṣair vavṛṣur mudānvitāḥ

At that moment, in the heavens the gods, the Gandharvas, the Vidyadharas, the Siddhas and the Charanas, all praising the simple honesty of this lord of the asuras, joyfully rained down flowers upon him.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.8.20.20)

नेदुर्मुहुर्दुन्दुभयः सहस्रशो गन्धर्वकिम्पूरुषकिन्नरा जगुः । मनस्विनानेन कृतं सुदुष्करं विद्वानदाद् यद् रिपवे जगत्त्रयम् ॥ २० ॥

nedur muhur dundubhayaḥ sahasraśo gandharva-kimpūruṣa-kinnarā jaguḥ manasvinānena kṛtaṁ suduṣkaraṁ vidvān adād yad ripave jagat-trayam

Thousands of drums sounded again and again, and the Gandharvas, Kimpurushas and Kinnaras sang out: 'What a difficult deed this wise and great-hearted man has done — giving the three worlds to the very one siding with his foes!'

Verse 21 (bhagavata.8.20.21)

तद् वामनं रूपमवर्धताद्भुतं हरेरनन्तस्य गुणत्रयात्मकम् । भूः खं दिशो द्यौर्विवराः पयोधय- स्तिर्यङ्नृदेवा ऋषयो यदासत ॥ २१ ॥

tad vāmanaṁ rūpam avardhatādbhutaṁ harer anantasya guṇa-trayātmakam bhūḥ khaṁ diśo dyaur vivarāḥ payodhayas tiryaṅ-nṛ-devā ṛṣayo yad-āsata

Then that wondrous dwarf form began to grow — the form of the boundless Hari, embodying the three modes of nature — until the earth, the sky, the directions, heaven, the caverns, the oceans, beasts and birds, men, gods and sages all came to dwell within it.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.8.20.22)

काये बलिस्तस्य महाविभूतेः सहर्त्विगाचार्यसदस्य एतत् । ददर्श विश्वं त्रिगुणं गुणात्मके भूतेन्द्रियार्थाशयजीवयुक्तम् ॥ २२ ॥

kāye balis tasya mahā-vibhūteḥ sahartvig-ācārya-sadasya etat dadarśa viśvaṁ tri-guṇaṁ guṇātmake bhūtendriyārthāśaya-jīva-yuktam

Within the body of that supremely opulent Lord, Bali, together with his priests, teachers and the whole assembly, beheld the entire three-natured universe — the elements, the senses, their objects, mind and intelligence and ego, and every living being — laid open before him.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.8.20.23)

रसामचष्टाङ्घ्रितलेऽथ पादयो- र्महीं महीध्रान्पुरुषस्य जङ्घयोः । पतत्त्रिणो जानुनि विश्वमूर्ते- रूर्वोर्गणं मारुतमिन्द्रसेनः ॥ २३ ॥

rasām acaṣṭāṅghri-tale ’tha pādayor mahīṁ mahīdhrān puruṣasya jaṅghayoḥ patattriṇo jānuni viśva-mūrter ūrvor gaṇaṁ mārutam indrasenaḥ

Bali, now holding Indra's own seat, beheld in the soles of that universal Person's feet the netherworlds, on His feet the surface of the earth, on His calves the mountains, on His knees the birds, and on His thighs the very hosts of the winds.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.8.20.24)

सन्ध्यां विभोर्वाससि गुह्य ऐक्षत् प्रजापतीञ्जघने आत्ममुख्यान् । नाभ्यां नभः कुक्षिषु सप्तसिन्धू- नुरुक्रमस्योरसि चर्क्षमालाम् ॥ २४ ॥

sandhyāṁ vibhor vāsasi guhya aikṣat prajāpatīñ jaghane ātma-mukhyān nābhyāṁ nabhaḥ kukṣiṣu sapta-sindhūn urukramasyorasi carkṣa-mālām

In that Lord's garment he saw the evening twilight, in His private parts all the Prajapatis, on His waist himself together with his ministers, in His navel the sky, in His belly the seven oceans, and upon the chest of that far-striding Lord the very garland of the stars.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.8.20.25)

हृद्यङ्ग धर्मं स्तनयोर्मुरारे- र्ऋतं च सत्यं च मनस्यथेन्दुम् । श्रियं च वक्षस्यरविन्दहस्तां कण्ठे च सामानि समस्तरेफान् ॥ २५ ॥

hṛdy aṅga dharmaṁ stanayor murārer ṛtaṁ ca satyaṁ ca manasy athendum śriyaṁ ca vakṣasy aravinda-hastāṁ kaṇṭhe ca sāmāni samasta-rephān

O King, upon the heart of that Murari he saw dharma; upon His breast, truth and pleasing speech; within His mind, the moon; upon His chest, lotus-handed Shri; and in His throat, all the chants of the Sama Veda.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.8.20.26)

इन्द्रप्रधानानमरान्भुजेषु तत्कर्णयोः ककुभो द्यौश्च मूर्ध्नि । केशेषु मेघाञ्छ्वसनं नासिकाया- मक्ष्णोश्च सूर्यं वदने च वह्निम् ॥ २६ ॥

indra-pradhānān amarān bhujeṣu tat-karṇayoḥ kakubho dyauś ca mūrdhni keśeṣu meghāñ chvasanaṁ nāsikāyām akṣṇoś ca sūryaṁ vadane ca vahnim

The gods headed by Indra dwelt in His arms, the directions in His two ears, the heaven upon His head, the clouds in His hair, the wind in His nostrils, the sun in His eyes, and fire in His mouth — all this he beheld.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.8.20.27)

वाण्यां च छन्दांसि रसे जलेशं भ्रुवोर्निषेधं च विधिं च पक्ष्मसु । अहश्च रात्रिं च परस्य पुंसो मन्युं ललाटेऽधर एव लोभम् ॥ २७ ॥

vāṇyāṁ ca chandāṁsi rase jaleśaṁ bhruvor niṣedhaṁ ca vidhiṁ ca pakṣmasu ahaś ca rātriṁ ca parasya puṁso manyuṁ lalāṭe ’dhara eva lobham

In His speech he saw the Vedic hymns, on His tongue the god of waters, on His brows prohibition, and upon His eyelids ordinance — day and night themselves in that Supreme Person, anger upon His brow, and greed upon His lower lip.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.8.20.28)

स्पर्शे च कामं नृप रेतसाम्भः पृष्ठे त्वधर्मं क्रमणेषु यज्ञम् । छायासु मृत्युं हसिते च मायां तनूरुहेष्वोषधिजातयश्च ॥ २८ ॥

sparśe ca kāmaṁ nṛpa retasāmbhaḥ pṛṣṭhe tv adharmaṁ kramaṇeṣu yajñam chāyāsu mṛtyuṁ hasite ca māyāṁ tanū-ruheṣv oṣadhi-jātayaś ca

O King, in His touch he saw desire, in His seed the waters, upon His back irreligion, in His strides the sacrifice itself, in His shadow death, in His smile the power of illusion, and in the hairs of His body every kind of healing herb.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.8.20.29)

नदीश्च नाडीषु शिला नखेषु बुद्धावजं देवगणानृषींश्च । प्राणेषु गात्रे स्थिरजङ्गमानि सर्वाणि भूतानि ददर्श वीरः ॥ २९ ॥

nadīś ca nāḍīṣu śilā nakheṣu buddhāv ajaṁ deva-gaṇān ṛṣīṁś ca prāṇeṣu gātre sthira-jaṅgamāni sarvāṇi bhūtāni dadarśa vīraḥ

In His veins he saw the rivers, in His nails the rocks, in His intelligence Brahma, the gods and the sages, and in His vital breaths and limbs every being, moving and unmoving — all this that hero Bali beheld.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.8.20.30)

सर्वात्मनीदं भुवनं निरीक्ष्य सर्वेऽसुराः कश्मलमापुरङ्ग । सुदर्शनं चक्रमसह्यतेजो धनुश्च शार्ङ्गं स्तनयित्नुघोषम् ॥ ३० ॥

sarvātmanīdaṁ bhuvanaṁ nirīkṣya sarve ’surāḥ kaśmalam āpur aṅga sudarśanaṁ cakram asahya-tejo dhanuś ca śārṅgaṁ stanayitnu-ghoṣam

O King, seeing this entire world contained within that all-Self, all the asuras were overcome with dread — beholding the Sudarshana discus, unbearable in its brilliance, and the bow named Sharnga, resounding like the thunder of massed clouds.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.8.20.31)

पर्जन्यघोषो जलजः पाञ्चजन्यः कौमोदकी विष्णुगदा तरस्विनी । विद्याधरोऽसिः शतचन्द्रयुक्त- स्तूणोत्तमावक्षयसायकौ च ॥ ३१ ॥

parjanya-ghoṣo jalajaḥ pāñcajanyaḥ kaumodakī viṣṇu-gadā tarasvinī vidyādharo ’siḥ śata-candra-yuktas tūṇottamāv akṣayasāyakau ca

The conch Panchajanya, roaring like the clouds; the swift-striking mace Kaumodaki; the sword and shield named Vidyadhara, marked with a hundred crescent moons; and the finest of quivers, Akshayasayaka — all these too appeared there.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.8.20.32)

सुनन्दमुख्या उपतस्थुरीशं पार्षदमुख्याः सहलोकपालाः । स्फुरत्किरीटाङ्गदमीनकुण्डलः श्रीवत्सरत्नोत्तममेखलाम्बरैः ॥ ३२ ॥

sunanda-mukhyā upatasthur īśaṁ pārṣada-mukhyāḥ saha-loka-pālāḥ sphurat-kirīṭāṅgada-mīna-kuṇḍalaḥ śrīvatsa-ratnottama-mekhalāmbaraiḥ

Sunanda and the other chief attendants, together with the guardian deities of every world, stood in praise before that Lord, resplendent with a gleaming crown, armlets, fish-shaped earrings, the mark of Shrivatsa, the finest of jewels, a girdle, and royal garments.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.8.20.33)

मधुव्रतस्रग्वनमालयावृतो रराज राजन्भगवानुरुक्रमः । क्षितिं पदैकेन बलेर्विचक्रमे नभः शरीरेण दिशश्च बाहुभिः ॥ ३३ ॥

madhuvrata-srag-vanamālayāvṛto rarāja rājan bhagavān urukramaḥ kṣitiṁ padaikena baler vicakrame nabhaḥ śarīreṇa diśaś ca bāhubhiḥ

O King, thus adorned, girded with a forest garland alive with the hum of bees, Bhagavan of the far strides shone forth in splendor; and with a single stride He covered the whole of Bali's earth, with His body the sky, and with His arms every direction.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.8.20.34)

पदं द्वितीयं क्रमतस्त्रिविष्टपं न वै तृतीयाय तदीयमण्वपि । उरुक्रमस्याङ्घ्रिरुपर्युपर्यथो महर्जनाभ्यां तपसः परं गतः ॥ ३४ ॥

padaṁ dvitīyaṁ kramatas triviṣṭapaṁ na vai tṛtīyāya tadīyam aṇv api urukramasyāṅghrir upary upary atho mahar-janābhyāṁ tapasaḥ paraṁ gataḥ

With His second stride He spanned the whole of heaven, and for the third not even the smallest space of His own remained unclaimed — the foot of the far-striding Lord passed above Maharloka and Janaloka, going on beyond Tapoloka itself.