Bhagavatapurana 8.23: atha trayoviṃśo'dhyāyaḥ

8.23.1

/0 śrīśuka uvāca
ity uktavantaṃ puruṣaṃ purātanaṃ mahānubhāvo 'khilasādhusammataḥ /
baddhāñjalirbāṣpakalākulekṣaṇo bhaktyutkalo gadgadayā girābravīt //

Śrī Śuka said:
To the Ancient Person who had spoken thus, the noble one, respected by all the virtuous,
with folded hands, his eyes flooded with drops of tears, surging with devotion, spoke in a choked voice.

1. To the Perfect and Eternal Lord who thus gave expression to His grace, Bali, of great Virtue, commended by all the righteous people, joined his hands (in reverence) with tears filling his eyes in devotion that could not be contained, and said in a trembling voice.

8.23.2

/0 śrībaliruvāca
aho praṇāmāya kṛtaḥ samudyamaḥ prapannabhaktārthavidhau samāhitaḥ /
yal lokapālaistvadanugraho 'marair alabdhapūrvo 'pasade 'sure 'rpitaḥ //

Śrī Bali said:
Ah, even the mere effort made to bow down, intent upon the welfare of the surrendered devotee,
was accepted as such! For a favor never before attained by the guardians of the world or the immortals has been bestowed on an outcaste Asura!

2. (Bali said): What! a mere effort made to bow to Thee has been sufficient for Thy suppliant votaries for earning their purpose; for Thy grace as never before attained by the gods who protect the worlds, has been bestowed on a wretched Asura.

8.23.3

/0 śrīśuka uvāca
ity uktvā harimānatya brahmāṇaṃ sabhavaṃ tataḥ /
viveśa sutalaṃ prīto balirmuktaḥ sahāsuraiḥ //

Śrī Śuka said:
Having spoken thus and bowed to Hari, then to Brahmā along with Śiva,
Bali, liberated, gladly entered Sutala together with the Asuras.

Sri Suka said:—Having thus spoken and bowed to Hari Brahma and Siva, and freed from ties, he cheerfully entered Sutala together with his Asuras.

8.23.4

evamindrāya bhagavān pratyānīya triviṣṭapam /
pūrayitvāditeḥ kāmamaśāsat sakalaṃ jagat //

Thus the Lord, having restored heaven to Indra
and fulfilled the desire of Aditi, ruled the entire universe.

4. Having thus restored svarga to Indra and accomplished the desire of Aditi, the glorious Lord ruled the whole world.

8.23.5

labdhaprasādaṃ nirmuktaṃ pautraṃ vaṃśadharaṃ balim /
niśāmya bhaktipravaṇaḥ prahrāda idamabravīt //

Seeing his grandson Bali, the bearer of his lineage, freed and favored with grace,
Prahrāda, brimming with devotion, spoke this.

5. Having seen Bali, his grandson and the thread of his race released from bonds and made the recipient of (the Lord's) grace, Prahlāda in submissive devotion said as follows:

8.23.6

/0 śrīprahrāda uvāca
nemaṃ viriñco labhate prasādaṃ na śrīrna śarvaḥ kimutāpare 'nye /
yan no 'surāṇāmasi durgapālo viśvābhivandyairabhivanditāṅghriḥ //

Śrī Prahrāda said:
Neither Brahmā receives this grace, nor Lakṣmī, nor Śiva, much less anyone else,
in that you, whose feet are worshipped by those worshipped by all the world, are the fortress guard for us Asuras.

6. Prahlada said:— Neither Virincha nor Sri nor Siva enjoys this grace of Thine: how could others get that? Thou art the defender of the fortress of us, Asuras,—Thou whose feet are worshipped even by those whom the whole world worships.

8.23.6.p1

yatpādapadmamakarandaniṣevaṇena $ brahmādayaḥ śaraṇadāśnuvate vibhūtīḥ &

By partaking of the nectar of whose lotus feet Brahmā and the others, granting refuge, attain their opulences,

7. O Lord that givest protection, Brahma and others enjoy great wealth and prosperity and powers by virtue of their devotion to the honey of Thy lotus-like feet. For what reason is it that we of crooked ways and of the wicked race have been made the object of Thy gracious glances?

8.23.7

kasmādvayaṃ kusṛtayaḥ khalayonayaste % dākṣiṇyadṛṣṭipadavīṃ bhavataḥ praṇītāḥ //

how have we, born of wicked origins and practicing deceits, been brought within the path of your gracious glance?

8.23.7.p2

citraṃ tavehitamaho 'mitayogamāyā $ līlāvisṛṣṭabhuvanasya viśāradasya &

Ah, wondrous is your activity, of you who have brought forth the worlds in divine play by your boundless yogamāyā, who are all-skillful,

8. Most astonishing is Thy work in that Thou, who hast created the world in sportful display of Thy inscrutable Yogamaya, who art omniscient, Atman of all and dost equally regard all, art yet of one even nature. For, beloved of Thy votaries, Thou art of the same nature as the kalpa tree.

8.23.7.p3

citraṃ tavehitamaho 'mitayogamāyā $ līlāvisṛṣṭabhuvanasya viśāradasya &

Ah, wondrous is your activity, of you who have brought forth the worlds in divine play by your boundless yogamāyā, who are all-skillful,

8.23.8

sarvātmanaḥ samadṛśo 'viṣamaḥ svabhāvo % bhaktapriyo yadasi kalpatarusvabhāvaḥ //

who are the Self of all, seeing with equal vision, whose nature is impartial, yet who love your devotees, having the nature of a wish-fulfilling tree!

8.23.9

/0 śrībhagavān uvāca
vatsa prahrāda bhadraṃ te prayāhi sutalālayam /
modamānaḥ svapautreṇa jñātīnāṃ sukhamāvaha //

The Lord said:
My child Prahrāda, may all be well with you; proceed to the realm of Sutala.
Rejoicing with your grandson, bring happiness to your kinsmen.

9. The Lord saïd:— O son Prahlada, be happy, cheerfully go to the abode of Sutala, along with thy grandson and make all thy kith and kin happy.

8.23.10

nityaṃ draṣṭāsi māṃ tatra gadāpāṇimavasthitam /
maddarśanamahāhlāda dhvastakarmanibandhanaḥ //

Constantly you will see me stationed there, mace in hand,
freed from the bonds of karma by the great bliss of beholding me.

10. Thou shalt always see Me there with Gada in My hand and shalt have the bonds of karma sundered by the great joy of seeing Me.

8.23.11

/0 śrīśuka uvāca
ājñāṃ bhagavato rājan prahrādo balinā saha /
bāḍhamity amalaprajño mūrdhny ādhāya kṛtāñjaliḥ //

Śrī Śuka said:
Receiving the Lord's command with folded hands upon his head, saying 'So be it',
O king, Prahrāda of spotless intellect, along with Bali,

11. Sri Suka said:— O king, Prahlada of pure wisdom, as well as Bali, bowed his head and, folding his hands, accepted the mandate of the glorious Lord saying, “It will surely be done”.

8.23.12

parikramyādipuruṣaṃ sarvāsuracamūpatiḥ /
praṇatastadanujñātaḥ praviveśa mahābilam //

circumambulated the Original Person, and having bowed, the commander of all the Asura host,
given leave by him, entered the great subterranean realm.

12. Having gone round the Eternal Person, the Lord of all the Asura forces, made his bow and with His permission entered the “Great Cave.”

8.23.13

athāhośanasaṃ rājan harirnārāyaṇo 'ntike /
āsīnamṛtvijāṃ madhye sadasi brahmavādinām //

Then, O king, Hari, Nārāyaṇa, addressed Uśanas,
seated near the priests in the assembly of the expounders of the Veda:

13. Then, O king, Sri Narayana who absolves His votaries from all sin, said to Sukra who was near, in the midst of the assemblage of priests versed in the Vedas.

8.23.14

brahman santanu śiṣyasya karmacchidraṃ vitanvataḥ /
yat tat karmasu vaiṣamyaṃ brahmadṛṣṭaṃ samaṃ bhavet //

O Brahman, make whole the defect in the ritual performed by your disciple;
that flaw which occurs in rites becomes flawless when overseen by a brahmin.

14. The Lord said:— O Brahmin, make up the interruption in the sacrifice that was being performed by thy disciple; for any defect in a sacrifice, or religious rite will be removed even if Brahmins look at it (and it will be complete if actully carried out by them).

8.23.15

/0 śrīśukra uvāca
kutastatkarmavaiṣamyaṃ yasya karmeśvaro bhavān /
yajñeśo yajñapuruṣaḥ sarvabhāvena pūjitaḥ //

Śrī Śukra said:
Whence could there be a flaw in the ritual of one by whom you, the Lord of sacrifice,
the Person of sacrifice, the Lord of rites, have been worshipped with every devotional feeling?

15. Sukra said:— (How)could the sacrificial act be defective of one by whom Thou, the source and conductor of all activities, that bestowest the fruit of sacrifices, and art in the form of Sacrifice itself, hast been worshipped with all his substance (in absolute devotion).

8.23.16

mantratastantrataśchidraṃ deśakālārhavastutaḥ /
sarvaṃ karoti niśchidramanusaṅkīrtanaṃ tava //

Whatever flaw there may be regarding mantras, rituals, place, time, or worthy articles,
all that is rendered flawless by the continuous glorification of you.

16. Any defect of the mantra, or of the accessory acts, or in respect of time, place and the proper articles ceases to be such; and it is removed when Thy name is uttered.

8.23.17

tathāpi vadato bhūman kariṣyāmy anuśāsanam /
etac chreyaḥ paraṃ puṃsāṃ yat tavājñānupālanam //

Even so, O infinite Lord, as you speak, I will carry out your instruction; / for to obey your command is the highest good for mortals."

17. Still, as Thou sayest, O perfect One, I shall do Thy bidd-

ing. This is the most beneficial proceedure for men that they abide by Thy command.

8.23.18

/0 śrīśuka uvāca
pratinandya harerājñāmuśanā bhagavān iti /
yajñacchidraṃ samādhatta balerviprarṣibhiḥ saha //

Śrī Śuka said: / Welcoming the command of Hari with these words, the venerable Uśanas / remedied the defect in Bali's sacrifice along with the brahmin seers.

18. Sri Suka said:— The worshipful Sukra gladly accepted Sri Hari's command and with the help of Brahmin Sages made up the defect in the sacrifice of Bali (duly completed it).

8.23.19

evaṃ balermahīṃ rājan bhikṣitvā vāmano hariḥ /
dadau bhrātre mahendrāya tridivaṃ yat parairhṛtam //

Thus having begged the earth from Bali, O King, Hari as Vāmana / gave the three heavens, which had been seized by others, to his brother, the great Indra.

19. Having thus accepted the earth as alms from Bali, Hari as Vamana gave back to His brother Indra, the earth as well as the celestial kingdom which had been usurped by the enemies(of Indra).

8.23.20

prajāpatipatirbrahmā devarṣipitṛbhūmipaiḥ /
dakṣabhṛgvaṅgiromukhyaiḥ kumāreṇa bhavena ca //

Brahmā, the lord of the lords of creatures, together with the celestial seers, the ancestors, and the earthly rulers, / headed by Dakṣa, Bhṛgu, and Aṅgiras, and with Sanatkumāra and Bhava,

20—23. Brahma, father of all Prajapatis, together with the gods, rishis, pitris and kings, Daksha, Bhrigu, Angiras, and others, with Sanatkumara and Siva, crowned Vamana king over all the worlds and the worlds' protectors for the satisfaction of Kasyapa and Aditi and for the well-being of all creatures; and for the prosperity of all made Him Upendra as one able to protect the Vedas, all the gods, Dharma (Righteousness), reputation, wealth and auspicious vows and Svarga and Moksha. Thereupon, O king, all the creatures were highly rejoiced.

8.23.21

kaśyapasyāditeḥ prītyai sarvabhūtabhavāya ca /
lokānāṃ lokapālānāmakarodvāmanaṃ patim //

to bring joy to Kaśyapa and Aditi and for the welfare of all beings, / made Vāmana the lord of the worlds and of the guardians of the worlds,

8.23.22

vedānāṃ sarvadevānāṃ dharmasya yaśasaḥ śriyaḥ /
maṅgalānāṃ vratānāṃ ca kalpaṃ svargāpavargayoḥ //

and made him the master of the Vedas, of all the gods, of dharma, fame, and fortune, / of auspicious rites, vows, heaven, and liberation.

8.23.23

upendraṃ kalpayāṃ cakre patiṃ sarvavibhūtaye /
tadā sarvāṇi bhūtāni bhṛśaṃ mumudire nṛpa //

He established Upendra as the master for all prosperity. / Then all beings rejoiced greatly, O King.

8.23.24

tatastvindraḥ puraskṛtya devayānena vāmanam /
lokapālairdivaṃ ninye brahmaṇā cānumoditaḥ //

Thereupon, placing Vāmana before him, Indra, accompanied by the world-guardians / and approved by Brahmā, took him to heaven in a celestial vehicle.

24. Then with the approval of Brahma, Indra along with the world's protectors did honour to Vamana and took Him to the celestial capital in a celestial car.

8.23.25

prāpya tribhuvanaṃ cendra upendrabhujapālitaḥ /
śriyā paramayā juṣṭo mumude gatasādhvasaḥ //

And having regained the three worlds and being protected by the arms of Upendra, / Indra, attended by supreme splendor, rejoiced, free from fear.

25. Having recovered the three worlds defended by the arms of Upendra and having attained utmost grandeur, Indra was rejoiced at his being freed from fear.

8.23.26

brahmā śarvaḥ kumāraśca bhṛgvādyā munayo nṛpa /
pitaraḥ sarvabhūtāni siddhā vaimānikāśca ye //

Brahmā, Śarva, Sanatkumāra, Bhṛgu and the other sages, O King, / the ancestors, all living beings, the Siddhas, and those who ride celestial chariots,

26.&27. Brahma, Siva, Kumara, Bhrigu and others sages, O king, Pitris, all the Bhutas, Siddhas, and also those who move about in heavenly cars returned to their respective abodes singing that most wonderful and worthy deed of Vishnu and commended Aditi also.

8.23.27

sumahat karma tadviṣṇorgāyantaḥ paramadbhutam /
dhiṣṇyāni svāni te jagmuraditiṃ ca śaśaṃsire //

singing of that most wondrous, great deed of Viṣṇu, / departed to their own realms and praised Aditi.

8.23.28

sarvametan mayākhyātaṃ bhavataḥ kulanandana /
urukramasya caritaṃ śrotṝṇāmaghamocanam //

All this has been recounted by me to you, O delighter of your lineage— / the life of Urukrama, which delivers its listeners from sin.

28. O good son of Kuru race, I have told thee all this in relation to the work of the most powerful Lord, which removes the sin of those that listen to it.

8.23.28.p1

pāraṃ mahimna uruvikramato gṛṇāno $ yaḥ pārthivāni vimame sa rajāṃsi martyaḥ &

"A mortal who counts the particles of earth can recount the limit of the greatness of him of wide strides;

29. He who presumes to sing exhaustively the glories of the Almighty Lord is like unto a mortal who would reckon all the particles of the earth (dust); therefore the Rishi who has a direct revelation of the Mantra says “No mortal already born or born now (or one that will ever be born) could make approaches to Thy glory.

8.23.29

kiṃ jāyamāna uta jāta upaiti martya % ity āha mantradṛg ṛṣiḥ puruṣasya yasya //

what mortal being born or yet to be born can reach it?"—so declared the seer who saw the hymn concerning that Supreme Person.

8.23.30

ya idaṃ devadevasya hareradbhutakarmaṇaḥ /
avatārānucaritaṃ śṛṇvan yāti parāṃ gatim //

One who hears this account of the incarnation of Hari, the God of gods, / whose deeds are wonderful, attains the supreme destination.

30. He who listens to the history of this Avatar of Hari, the god of gods of most wonderful deeds, attains to the highest goal.

8.23.31

kriyamāṇe karmaṇīdaṃ daive pitrye 'tha mānuṣe /
yatra yatrānukīrtyeta tat teṣāṃ sukṛtaṃ viduḥ //

When a rite is being performed, whether divine, ancestral, or human, / wherever this is recited, the wise know that rite to be perfectly accomplished.

31. If, when any religious observance is performed to propitiate the gods or pitris or men, this account is repeated and sung that would be most auspiciously and completly done.