Bhagavatapurana 8.21: athaikaviṃśo'dhyāyaḥ

8.21.1

/0 śrīśuka uvāca
satyaṃ samīkṣyābjabhavo nakhendubhir hatasvadhāmadyutirāvṛto 'bhyagāt /
marīcimiśrā ṛṣayo bṛhadvratāḥ sanandanādyā naradeva yoginaḥ //

The glorious Śuka said:
Beholding [him], the Lotus-born on Satyaloka, the radiance of whose abode was eclipsed by the moon-like toenails, approached surrounded [by sages]—
Marīci and the other seers of great vows, and the yogins headed by Sanandana, O lord of men—

1. Sri Suka said:—Seeing the foot of the Lord that reached the Satyaloka, his region eclipsed in splendour by the brilliant moon-like nails of the Lord and himself immersed in it, the lotus-born Brahma came forth as also the great sages Mareechi and others, Sanandana and other yogins of great vow, O king!

8.21.2

vedopavedā niyamā yamānvitās tarketihāsāṅgapurāṇasaṃhitāḥ /
ye cāpare yogasamīradīpita jñānāgninā randhitakarmakalmaṣāḥ /
vavandire yatsmaraṇānubhāvataḥ svāyambhuvaṃ dhāma gatā akarmakam //

the Vedas and Upavedas, the observances accompanied by restraints, logic, histories, auxiliary sciences, and collections of Purāṇas,
and those others whose impurities of action had been burned away by the fire of knowledge kindled by the wind of yoga,
who had attained the actionless abode of the Self-born by the power of remembering him—all bowed down.

2. The Vedas, the secondary Vedas, Niyamas, Yamas, (the gods presiding over these), Logic, History, the six subsidiary studies called Angas, Puranas and Samhitas; and also many others who, by means of the fire of wisdom kindled by the wind of yoga, had the

impurities of their Karma burnt up.

3. All came up, bowed to and praised the Lord's foot, by virtue of contemplating which they were all able to go to the region of Brahma, which is not accessible by means of Karma. Then the lotus-born brought water to worship Vishnu's foot lifted up into the heavens; he (Brahma) being one possessed of purest name and true knowledge devoutly worshipped it and sang its praises; for he is himself born of the lotus that adorns the navel of the Lord.

8.21.3

athāṅghraye pronnamitāya viṣṇor upāharat padmabhavo 'rhaṇodakam /
samarcya bhaktyābhyagṛṇāc chuciśravā yannābhipaṅkeruhasambhavaḥ svayam //

Then, for that raised foot of Viṣṇu, the Lotus-born presented worship water;
having worshipped him with devotion, he of pure renown, who had himself sprung from his navel lotus, offered praise.

8.21.4

dhātuḥ kamaṇḍalujalaṃ tadurukramasya pādāvanejanapavitratayā narendra /
svardhuny abhūn nabhasi sā patatī nimārṣṭi lokatrayaṃ bhagavato viśadeva kīrtiḥ //

That water from the creator's waterpot, through the sanctity of washing the foot of Urukrama, O king of men,
became the river of heaven; falling in the sky, like the Lord's pure glory, it cleanses the three worlds.

4. O great king, the water in the jar of Brahma hallowed by washing the feet of the Almighty Lord became the celestial river in the heavens and flowing down purifies the three worlds like the pure glory of the Almighty Lord.

8.21.5

brahmādayo lokanāthāḥ svanāthāya samādṛtāḥ /
sānugā balimājahruḥ saṅkṣiptātmavibhūtaye //

Brahmā and the other protectors of the worlds, along with their followers, reverently brought / offerings to their master, whose cosmic majesty was now drawn in.

5. Brahma and other rulers of the world, full of devotion and earnestness, accompanied by their attendants, brought their tribute of offerings to their Lord who again withdrew His all-encompassing form into a limited personality (i. e., who stood as Vamana again);

8.21.6

toyaiḥ samarhaṇaiḥ sragbhirdivyagandhānulepanaiḥ /
dhūpairdīpaiḥ surabhibhirlājākṣataphalāṅkuraiḥ //

With waters, respectful gifts, garlands, divine fragrant pastes, / with incense, lamps, fragrant parched grains, unbroken rice, fruits, and sprouts,

6. With waters meant for worship, with wreaths of flowers, divine pigments of fragrant sandals and perfumes, with burning frankincense and lights, fried grain, unbroken grains of rice, fruits and shoots;

8.21.7

stavanairjayaśabdaiśca tadvīryamahimāṅkitaiḥ /
nṛtyavāditragītaiśca śaṅkhadundubhiniḥsvanaiḥ //

with hymns of praise, shouts of victory celebrating His heroic deeds and majesty, / with dancing, instrumental music, songs, and the sounds of conches and kettle-drums,

7. With songs of praise, with shouts of victory celebrating His power and greatness, with dancing arrangements, musical instruments played upon and songs sung by songsters, and with the sounds of conches and drums.

8.21.8

jāmbavān ṛkṣarājastu bherīśabdairmanojavaḥ /
vijayaṃ dikṣu sarvāsu mahotsavamaghoṣayat //

Jāmbavān, the king of bears, swift as thought, / proclaimed the victory and the great festival in all directions with the beats of drums.

8. Jambavan, king of bears, quick as thought, proclaimed, in all directions, with beating of drums, the victory of the Lord and the great festivity.

8.21.9

mahīṃ sarvāṃ hṛtāṃ dṛṣṭvā tripadavyājayācñayā /
ūcuḥ svabharturasurā dīkṣitasyātyamarṣitāḥ //

Seeing the entire earth taken away under the pretext of begging for three paces, / the Asuras, intensely angered, spoke to their consecrated master:

9. On seeing that, under the pretext of begging for three feet of ground, the whole earth was taken (occupied) when their master was engaged in the sacrifice, the enraged Asuras said to him (Bali).

8.21.10

na vāyaṃ brahmabandhurviṣṇurmāyāvināṃ varaḥ /
dvijarūpapraticchanno devakāryaṃ cikīrṣati //

"This is no mere wretched brāhmaṇa, but Viṣṇu, foremost among weavers of illusion! / Disguised in the form of a twice-born, He wishes to carry out the purpose of the gods.

10. "This is not indeed a brahmin child; He is Vishnu the fore-most among those possessed of illusive powers and disguised in

the form of a brahmin, He seeks to accomplish the purpose of the gods.

8.21.11

anena yācamānena śatruṇā vaṭurūpiṇā /
sarvasvaṃ no hṛtaṃ bharturnyastadaṇḍasya barhiṣi //

By this enemy who begged in the form of a student, / our master—who laid aside his staff during the sacrifice—has been robbed of his all!

11\. "By this enemy, in the form of a brahmacharin, coming for alms, we are robbed of everything while our lord has laid down the rod of punishment on account of the sacrifice (he was engaged in).

8.21.12

satyavratasya satataṃ dīkṣitasya viśeṣataḥ /
nānṛtaṃ bhāṣituṃ śakyaṃ brahmaṇyasya dayāvataḥ //

For one always devoted to truth, especially when consecrated for sacrifice, / devoted to brāhmaṇas and full of compassion, it is impossible to speak a falsehood.

12\. "It was not possible to utter falsehood for our lord who is always true to his word, especially when he consecrates himself for the sacrifice, and who is naturally devoted to brahmins and full of generous feelings.

8.21.13

tasmādasya vadho dharmo bhartuḥ śuśrūṣaṇaṃ ca naḥ /
ity āyudhāni jagṛhurbaleranucarāsurāḥ //

Therefore, killing Him is our dharma, and service to our master!" / Thinking thus, the Asura followers of Bali took up their weapons.

13\. "Therefore it is our duty and also a service done to our master to lay hands on Him;" (Sri Suka said) with this resolution the Asuras, Bali's attendants, took up their arms.

8.21.14

te sarve vāmanaṃ hantuṃ śūlapaṭṭiśapāṇayaḥ /
anicchanto bale rājan prādravan jātamanyavaḥ //

All of them, with tridents and spears in hand, / rushed forward enraged to kill Vāmana, even against Bali’s wishes, O King.

14\. With Soola and Pattisa in their hands they all ran in great rage to strike at Vamana, though Bali did not like it.

8.21.15

tān abhidravato dṛṣṭvā ditijānīkapān nṛpa /
prahasyānucarā viṣṇoḥ pratyaṣedhannudāyudhāḥ //

Seeing those commanders of the Diti-born host charging, O king, / Viṣṇu’s attendants laughed aloud and blocked them with weapons raised.

15\. Seeing those leaders of Daitya forces rushing to attack, O king, Vishnu's attendants laughed out and raised their weapons and resisted them.

8.21.16

nandaḥ sunando 'tha jayo vijayaḥ prabalo balaḥ /
kumudaḥ kumudākṣaśca viṣvaksenaḥ patattrirāṭ //

Nanda, Sunanda, then Jaya, Vijaya, Prabala, Bala, / Kumuda, Kumudākṣa, Viṣvaksena, the king of birds [Garuḍa],

16 & 17\. Nanda, Sunanda, Jaya, Vijaya, Prabala, Bala, Kumuda, Kumudaksha, Vishvaksena and Garuda (king of birds), Jayanta, Srutadeva, and the devout Pushpadanta, all strong as ten thousand elephants beat the Asura army.

8.21.17

jayantaḥ śrutadevaśca puṣpadanto 'tha sātvataḥ /
sarve nāgāyutaprāṇāścamūṃ te jaghnurāsurīm //

Jayanta, Śrutadeva, Puṣpadanta, and Sātvata— / all possessing the strength of ten thousand elephants—struck down the Asura army.

8.21.18

hanyamānān svakān dṛṣṭvā puruṣānucarairbaliḥ /
vārayāmāsa saṃrabdhān kāvyaśāpamanusmaran //

Seeing his own men being slain by the Puruṣa's attendants, / Bali restrained his agitated warriors, remembering the curse of Śukra:

18\. When he saw his people being beaten by the attendants of the supreme Person, Bali remembered Sukra's curse and commanded them to stop, enraged as they were.

8.21.19

he vipracitte he rāho he neme śrūyatāṃ vacaḥ /
mā yudhyata nivartadhvaṃ na naḥ kālo 'yamarthakṛt //

"O Vipracitti, O Rāhu, O Nemi, hear my word! / Do not fight; turn back! This time is not favorable to us.

19\. O Viprachitti O Rahu, O Nemi, listen to my word; do you not fight, do you return; this is not the time favourable to us.

8.21.20

yaḥ prabhuḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ sukhaduḥkhopapattaye /
taṃ nātivartituṃ daityāḥ pauruṣairīśvaraḥ pumān //

That Lord who governs all beings to bring about joy and sorrow— / no man, O Daityas, is able to overcome Him by human prowess.

20\. No man is able, O Diti's sons, by human efforts, to overcome Him who is the powerful cause of pleasure and pain of all creatures.

8.21.21

yo no bhavāya prāg āsīdabhavāya divaukasām /
sa eva bhagavān adya vartate tadviparyayam //

He who was formerly for our prosperity and for the adversity of the sky-dwellers, / that very Lord is today acting to the reverse.

21\. The same Almighty Lord, who was the cause of our prosperity and the decline of the celestials is now so disposed as to reverse that state.

8.21.22

balena sacivairbuddhyā durgairmantrauṣadhādibhiḥ /
sāmādibhirupāyaiśca kālaṃ nātyeti vai janaḥ //

By strength, by counselors, by intellect, by fortresses, by incantations, herbs, and the like, / and by conciliation and other means, a person cannot overcome Time.

22\. No person indeed surmounts the power of time by means of strength, helpers, intelligence, fortresses, spells, medical herbs and other things, or by peace or other expedients. 23. These attendants of Hari were many times indeed vanquished by you and strengthened by Providence: the very same gods now (to day) conquer us and are rejoiced (at our defeat).

8.21.23

bhavadbhirnirjitā hy ete bahuśo 'nucarā hareḥ /
daivenarddhaista evādya yudhi jitvā nadanti naḥ //

These very attendants of Hari were defeated by you many times; / today, prosperous through destiny, they roar having conquered us in battle.

8.21.24

etān vayaṃ vijeṣyāmo yadi daivaṃ prasīdati /
tasmāt kālaṃ pratīkṣadhvaṃ yo no 'rthatvāya kalpate //

We shall conquer them if destiny becomes favorable; / therefore await the time that is suited for our success."

24. We shall conquer these (again) if it please Providence; therefore wait for the time which will turn to our advantage.

8.21.25

/0 śrīśuka uvāca
patyurnigaditaṃ śrutvā daityadānavayūthapāḥ /
rasāṃ nirviviśū rājan viṣṇupārṣada tāḍitāḥ //

Śrī Śuka said:
Hearing the word of their master, the commanders of the Daityas and Dānavas, / struck by Viṣṇu’s attendants, entered the underworld, O King.

25. Sri Suka said:— On hearing the words of their Lord the leading Daityas and Danavas beaten by the attendants of Vishnu entered Rasatala, (the nether world), O king.

8.21.26

atha tārkṣyasuto jñātvā virāṭ prabhucikīrṣitam /
babandha vāruṇaiḥ pāśairbaliṃ sūtye 'hani kratau //

Then Garuḍa, knowing the desire of his master, / bound Bali with the ropes of Varuṇa on the day of the soma extraction at the sacrifice.

26. Then having understood what the Lord expected him to do, the son of Tarkshya, a brilliant bird, bound Bali with the ropes of Varuna on the _sutya_ day (the day for extracting the juice of soma) of the sacrifice.

8.21.27

hāhākāro mahān āsīdrodasyoḥ sarvato diśam /
nigṛhyamāṇe 'surapatau viṣṇunā prabhaviṣṇunā //

A great cry of grief arose in heaven and earth and in every direction, / as the lord of the Asuras was restrained by all-powerful Viṣṇu.

27. There was a great outcry on the earth and in heaven and in all directions when by Vishnu of supreme powers and majesty the Lord of Asuras was being taken.

8.21.28

taṃ baddhaṃ vāruṇaiḥ pāśairbhagavān āha vāmanaḥ /
naṣṭaśriyaṃ sthiraprajñamudārayaśasaṃ nṛpa //

To him bound by the ropes of Varuṇa, his fortune lost, / his intellect steady, his renown sublime, the Lord Vāmana spoke, O King:

28. The glorious Vamana said to Bali that lay tied down with Varuna's ropes, possessed of presence of mind and great fame, O king, though deprived of his fortune.

8.21.29

padāni trīṇi dattāni bhūmermahyaṃ tvayāsura /
dvābhyāṃ krāntā mahī sarvā tṛtīyamupakalpaya //

"Three paces of earth were granted to Me by you, O Asura; / by two paces the entire earth was traversed. Provide the third!

29. O Asura, three feet of ground were given Me by thee and by two all the earth was covered (encompassed); show Me the place for the third.

8.21.30

yāvat tapaty asau gobhiryāvadinduḥ sahoḍubhiḥ /
yāvadvarṣati parjanyastāvatī bhūriyaṃ tava //

As far as the sun shines with its rays, as far as the moon with the stars, / as far as the rain-cloud showers, so much was this earth of yours.

30. As far as the sun warms with his rays, as far as the Moon shines along with the constellations of stars, as far as Parjanya all the land is thine.

8.21.31

padaikena mayākrānto bhūrlokaḥ khaṃ diśastanoḥ /
svarlokaste dvitīyena paśyataste svamātmanā //

With one step, the realm of earth, the sky, and the directions were traversed by Me; / with the second, heaven, which was yours while you watched yourself, was covered.

31. "With one foot the Bhuloka has been covered by Me, the sky and the directions by the main body and the Svarga too with the second foot, as thou seest thyself.

8.21.32

pratiśrutamadātuste niraye vāsa iṣyate /
viśa tvaṃ nirayaṃ tasmādguruṇā cānumoditaḥ //

Dwelling in hell is prescribed for one who does not give what was promised; / therefore, enter hell, as also approved by your teacher.

32. "If thou shouldst not give what thou hast promised, it is certain that thou wilt have a place in hell; so do thou enter into Naraka, to the approbation of thy preceptor.

8.21.33

vṛthā manorathastasya dūraḥ svargaḥ pataty adhaḥ /
pratiśrutasyādānena yo 'rthinaṃ vipralambhate //

In vain is his desire, heaven is far from him, he falls downward— / who deceives a petitioner by not giving what was promised.

33. "His hopes are in vain and Svarga is far from him, he (only) falls down into hell, who without giving what he promised deceives the person seeking after help.

8.21.34

vipralabdho dadāmīti tvayāhaṃ cāḍhyamāninā /
tadvyalīkaphalaṃ bhuṅkṣva nirayaṃ katicit samāḥ //

Proud of your wealth, you deceived Me saying 'I give'; / enjoy the fruit of that falsehood: hell for some years."

34. "I am now deceived by thy promise "I give thee" since

thou hast been proud of being very rich; therefore eat of the fruit of lying, _i. e._, hell for some years.