Bhagavatapurana 8.21
English (machine translation) 8.21
- Language
- English
8.21.1
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—
8.21.2
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.
8.21.3
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
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.
8.21.5
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.
8.21.6
With waters, respectful gifts, garlands, divine fragrant pastes, / with incense, lamps, fragrant parched grains, unbroken rice, fruits, and sprouts,
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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,
8.21.8
Jāmbavān, the king of bears, swift as thought, / proclaimed the victory and the great festival in all directions with the beats of drums.
8.21.9
Seeing the entire earth taken away under the pretext of begging for three paces, / the Asuras, intensely angered, spoke to their consecrated master:
8.21.10
"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.
8.21.11
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!
8.21.12
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.
8.21.13
Therefore, killing Him is our dharma, and service to our master!" / Thinking thus, the Asura followers of Bali took up their weapons.
8.21.14
All of them, with tridents and spears in hand, / rushed forward enraged to kill Vāmana, even against Bali’s wishes, O King.
8.21.15
Seeing those commanders of the Diti-born host charging, O king, / Viṣṇu’s attendants laughed aloud and blocked them with weapons raised.
8.21.16
Nanda, Sunanda, then Jaya, Vijaya, Prabala, Bala, / Kumuda, Kumudākṣa, Viṣvaksena, the king of birds [Garuḍa],
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Jayanta, Śrutadeva, Puṣpadanta, and Sātvata— / all possessing the strength of ten thousand elephants—struck down the Asura army.
8.21.18
Seeing his own men being slain by the Puruṣa's attendants, / Bali restrained his agitated warriors, remembering the curse of Śukra:
8.21.19
"O Vipracitti, O Rāhu, O Nemi, hear my word! / Do not fight; turn back! This time is not favorable to us.
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That Lord who governs all beings to bring about joy and sorrow— / no man, O Daityas, is able to overcome Him by human prowess.
8.21.21
He who was formerly for our prosperity and for the adversity of the sky-dwellers, / that very Lord is today acting to the reverse.
8.21.22
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.
8.21.23
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
We shall conquer them if destiny becomes favorable; / therefore await the time that is suited for our success."
8.21.25
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.
8.21.26
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.
8.21.27
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.
8.21.28
To him bound by the ropes of Varuṇa, his fortune lost, / his intellect steady, his renown sublime, the Lord Vāmana spoke, O King:
8.21.29
"Three paces of earth were granted to Me by you, O Asura; / by two paces the entire earth was traversed. Provide the third!
8.21.30
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.
8.21.31
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.
8.21.32
Dwelling in hell is prescribed for one who does not give what was promised; / therefore, enter hell, as also approved by your teacher.
8.21.33
In vain is his desire, heaven is far from him, he falls downward— / who deceives a petitioner by not giving what was promised.
8.21.34
Proud of your wealth, you deceived Me saying 'I give'; / enjoy the fruit of that falsehood: hell for some years."
Translations (1)
- The Srimad Bhagavatam — S. Subba Rau 1928, English
Linked texts (1)
- Bhāgavatapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit