॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
॥ पञ्चदशोऽद्ध्ययाः - १५ ॥
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Discourse XV
Conquest of heaven by Bali (Preamble)
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राजोवाच ।
बलेः पदत्रयं भूमेः कस्माद्धरिरयाचत ।
भूत्वेश्वरः कृपणवल्लब्धार्थोऽपि बबन्ध तम् ॥ १॥
एतद्वेदितुमिच्छामो महत्कौतूहलं हि नः ।
यज्ञेश्वरस्य पूर्णस्य बन्धनं चाप्यनागसः ॥ २॥
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The king (Parikṣit) submitted: (Himself) being the almighty Lord, wherefore did Śrī Hari ask, like a miserable person, three paces of land of the demon Bali? (And) why did He bind him even though He had attained the object sought for (by Him)? (1)
This we desire to know (from you); for the very fact that the Lord of sacrifices, who is perfect (in Himself), should have asked something of Bali and then bound the innocent demon is a great wonder to us. (2) (1-2)
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श्रीशुक उवाच ।
पराजितश्रीरसुभिश्च हापितो
हीन्द्रेण राजन् भृगुभिः स जीवितः ।
सर्वात्मना तानभजद्भृगून् बलिः
शिष्यो महात्मार्थनिवेदनेन ॥ ३॥
तं ब्राह्मणा भृगवः प्रीयमाणा
अयाजयन् विश्वजिता त्रिणाकम् ।
जिगीषमाणं विधिनाभिषिच्य
महाभिषेकेण महानुभावाः ॥ ४॥
ततो रथः काञ्चनपट्टनद्धो
हयाश्च हर्यश्वतुरङ्गवर्णाः ।
ध्वजश्च सिंहेन विराजमानो
हुताशनादास हविर्भिरिष्टात् ॥ ५॥
धनुश्च दिव्यं पुरटोपनद्धं
तूणावरिक्तौ कवचं च दिव्यम् ।
पितामहस्तस्य ददौ च माला-
मम्लानपुष्पां जलजं च शुक्रः ॥ ६॥
एवं स विप्रार्जितयोधनार्थः
तैः कल्पितस्वस्त्ययनोऽथ विप्रान् ।
प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य कृतप्रणामः
प्रह्लादमामन्त्र्य नमश्चकार ॥ ७॥
अथारुह्य रथं दिव्यं भृगुदत्तं महारथः ।
सुस्रग्धरोऽथ सन्नह्य धन्वी खड्गी धृतेषुधिः ॥ ८॥
हेमाङ्गदलसद्बाहुः स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलः ।
रराज रथमारूढो धिष्ण्यस्थ इव हव्यवाट् ॥ ९॥
तुल्यैश्वर्यबलश्रीभिः स्वयूथैर्दैत्ययूथपैः ।
पिबद्भिरिव खं दृग्भिर्दहद्भिः परिधीनिव ॥ १०॥
वृतो विकर्षन् महतीमासुरीं ध्वजिनीं विभुः ।
ययाविन्द्रपुरीं स्वृद्धां कम्पयन्निव रोदसी ॥ ११॥
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Śrī Śuka replied: Since Bali, who had been worsted (in battle) and (thus) divested of (his royal) splendour (nay,) even deprived of (his) life by Indra, O Parikṣit, was brought back to life by the Bhṛgus (Śukrācārya and other descendants of the sage Bhṛgu), that high-souled demon, their disciple, served the Bhṛgus with all his being by offering (them) all that they desired. (3)
Having consecrated him with a grand ablution (appropriate to Indra) conducted with due ceremony (as laid down in the Bahvrca Brāhmaṇa of the Ṛgveda), those Brāhmaṇas of the Bhṛgu race, (who were all) possessed of extraordinary power and favourably disposed (towards their disciple), helped him propitiate the Lord by means of a Viśwajit sacrifice (in the course of which one is required to give away all one's possessions), anxious as he was to conquer (the dominion of) heaven. (4)
Thereupon arose from the fire, worshipped by means of sacrificial offerings, a chariot covered all over with plates of gold as well as horses of the same colour as those of Indra (viz., green) and an ensign adorned with the emblem of a lion, also an ethereal bow plated with gold, a pair of quivers containing an inexhaustible stock of arrows and an ethereal coat of mail (too). Again, his grandfather (Prahrāda) gave him a wreath of never-fading flowers and Śukra (his preceptor), a conch. (5-6)
Thus equipped with the necessaries of war procured (for him) by the Brāhmaṇas (the Bhṛgus) and having the (necessary) auspicious rites performed (for him) by them, Bali forthwith went round the Brāhmaṇas keeping them (always) to his right (as a mark of respect); and, having bowed low to them, he asked leave of Prahrāda and saluted him. (7)
Presently mounting the ethereal chariot bestowed (on him through the sacrifice) by the Bhṛgus, Bali (the great car-warrior) wore the excellent garland (offered to him by Prahrāda); and putting on the armour, he then armed himself with a bow and sword and (further) equipped himself with a quiver. (8)
Mounted on the chariot with His arms resplendent with gold armlets, and adorned with radiant alligator-shaped ear-rings, he shone like a fire burning in the sacrificial pit. (9)
Surrounded by his own retinue in the person of Daitya generals—generals who were equal to him in wealth, strength and splendour and were drinking in the sky and burning the quarters as it were with their eyes—and leading a huge army of the Asuras, the powerful Bali marched against the most prosperous capital of Indra (in heaven), shaking as it were earth and heaven (both). (10-11) (3-11)
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रम्यामुपवनोद्यानैः श्रीमद्भिर्नन्दनादिभिः ।
कूजद्विहङ्गमिथुनैर्गायन्मत्तमधुव्रतैः ॥ १२॥
प्रवालफलपुष्पोरुभारशाखामरद्रुमैः ।
हंससारसचक्राह्वकारण्डवकुलाकुलाः ।
नलिन्यो यत्र क्रीडन्ति प्रमदाः सुरसेविताः ॥ १३॥
आकाशगङ्गया देव्या वृतां परिखभूतया ।
प्राकारेणाग्निवर्णेन साट्टालेनोन्नतेन च ॥ १४॥
रुक्मपट्टकपाटैश्च द्वारैः स्फटिकगोपुरैः ।
जुष्टां विभक्तप्रपथां विश्वकर्मविनिर्मिताम् ॥ १५॥
सभाचत्वररथ्याढ्यां विमानैर्न्यर्बुदैर्वृताम् ।
शृङ्गाटकैर्मणिमयैर्वज्रविद्रुमवेदिभिः ॥ १६॥
यत्र नित्यवयोरूपाः श्यामा विरजवाससः ।
भ्राजन्ते रूपवन्नार्यो ह्यर्चिर्भिरिव वह्नयः ॥ १७॥
सुरस्त्रीकेशविभ्रष्टनवसौगन्धिकस्रजाम् ।
यत्रामोदमुपादाय मार्ग आवाति मारुतः ॥ १८॥
हेमजालाक्षनिर्गच्छद्धूमेनागुरुगन्धिना ।
पाण्डुरेण प्रतिच्छन्नमार्गे यान्ति सुरप्रियाः ॥ १९॥
मुक्तावितानैर्मणिहेमकेतुभि-
र्नानापताकावलभीभिरावृताम् ।
शिखण्डिपारावतभृङ्गनादितां
वैमानिकस्त्रीकलगीतमङ्गलाम् ॥ २०॥
मृदङ्गशङ्खानकदुन्दुभिस्वनैः
सतालवीणामुरजर्ष्टिवेणुभिः ।
नृत्यैः सवाद्यैरुपदेवगीतकै-
र्मनोरमां स्वप्रभया जितप्रभाम् ॥ २१॥
यां न व्रजन्त्यधर्मिष्ठाः खला भूतद्रुहः शठाः ।
मानिनः कामिनो लुब्धा एभिर्हीना व्रजन्ति यत् ॥ २२॥
तां देवधानीं स वरूथिनीपति-
र्बहिः समन्ताद्रुरुधे पृतन्यया ।
आचार्यदत्तं जलजं महास्वनं
दध्मौ प्रयुञ्जन् भयमिन्द्रयोषिताम् ॥ २३॥
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The city looked charming with (its) splendid orchards and gardens, such as Nandana, crowded with warbling pairs of birds and black bees humming in intoxication, and full of celestial trees whose boughs were overloaded with leaves, fruits and flowers. (In those gardens) there were (a number of) lotus ponds—abounding with swans, cranes, Cakrawākas (ruddy geese) and Kāraṇḍavas (ducks)—in which sport celestial women accompanied by gods. (12-13)
It is hemmed in by the worshipful heavenly Gaṅgā (Mandākinī) by way of a moat, as well as by a high fortification wall of gold furnished with watch-towers (here and there). (14)
Built by Viśwakarmā (the architect of heaven), it is provided with entrances (of houses) whose doors are plated with gold, and with city gates made of crystal, and has its roads well-arranged. (15)
It is rich in public halls, quadrangles and streets and is full of numberless mansions as well as of cross roads paved with gems and containing platforms of diamonds and corals at the centre. (16)
Lovely women of everlasting youth and unfading beauty, clad in spotless raiment and decked with jewels, shine there as fires with flames. (17)
Through every pathway in that city blow breezes wafting the fragrance of fresh wreaths of white water-lilies dropped from the locks of celestial ladies. (18)
Celestial nymphs there walk through paths covered with yellowish fume escaping through air-holes of gold and bearing the fragrance of (burning) aloe-wood. (19)
It is shaded (here and there) with canopies of pearls, flags with staffs of gems and gold and balconies with smaller flags of various colours fixed in them; is resonant with the noise of peacocks, pigeons and black bees and wears a gala appearance due to the sweet songs of celestial ladies. (20)
(Nay,) it delights the mind of the people by the sound of clay tomtoms, conchs, drums and kettledrums; by (the musical sound of) lutes, wooden tomtoms, Rṣṭis (another musical instrument) and flutes accompanied with (that of) cymbals, as well as by dances and the songs to the accompaniment of musical instruments of demigods (Gandharvas and others); and outshines the deity presiding over splendour by its brilliance. (21)
Those who are extremely unrighteous, wicked, fraudulent, proud, lustful and greedy and are enemies of created beings cannot enter it: (only) those who are free from these defects find access to it.(22)
Bali, the (supreme) commander of his forces, besieged the aforesaid city of the gods on all sides by his army from without and blew his sonorous conch given (to him) by his preceptor (Śukra), infusing fear into the ladies (of the household) of Indra. (23) (12-23)
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मघवांस्तमभिप्रेत्य बलेः परममुद्यमम् ।
सर्वदेवगणोपेतो गुरुमेतदुवाच ह ॥ २४॥
भगवन्नुद्यमो भूयान् बलेर्नः पूर्ववैरिणः ।
अविषह्यमिमं मन्ये केनासीत्तेजसोर्जितः ॥ २५॥
नैनं कश्चित्कुतो वापि प्रतिव्योढुमधीश्वरः ।
पिबन्निव मुखेनेदं लिहन्निव दिशो दश ।
दहन्निव दिशो दृग्भिः संवर्ताग्निरिवोत्थितः ॥ २६॥
ब्रूहि कारणमेतस्य दुर्धर्षत्वस्य मद्रिपोः ।
ओजः सहो बलं तेजो यत एतत्समुद्यमः ॥ २७॥
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Perceiving it to be the supreme effort of Bali, Maghavān (Indra), accompanied by all the heavenly hosts, approached the sage Bṛhaspati (his preceptor) and spoke as follows:— (24)
"The undertaking of Bali, our old enemy, is great, O worshipful one ! (To tell you the truth,) I account him irresistible; by what power has he become so strong? (25)
(In fact,) none is able on any account whatsoever to beat him back. As though drinking in this (universe) with his mouth and licking the ten directions (with his tongue) and burning the (four) quarters with his (fire-shot) eyes, he has sprung (upon us) like the fire of final dissolution.(26)
(Pray,) point out (to me) the cause of such formidableness of my foe, from which have proceeded the strength of his organs, mind and body as well as his glory, whence this thorough effort (on his part) has been possible. (27) (24-27)
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गुरुरुवाच ।
जानामि मघवन् शत्रोरुन्नतेरस्य कारणम् ।
शिष्यायोपभृतं तेजो भृगुभिर्ब्रह्मवादिभिः ॥ २८॥
(ओजस्विनं बलिं जेतुं न समर्थोऽस्ति कश्चन ।
विजेष्यति न कोऽप्येनं ब्रह्मतेजःसमेधितम् ॥)
भवद्विधो भवान् वापि वर्जयित्वेश्वरं हरिं
नास्य शक्तः पुरः स्थातुं कृतान्तस्य यथा जनाः ॥ २९॥
तस्मान्निलयमुत्सृज्य यूयं सर्वे त्रिविष्टपम् ।
यात कालं प्रतीक्षन्तो यतः शत्रोर्विपर्ययः ॥ ३०॥
एष विप्रबलोदर्कः सम्प्रत्यूर्जितविक्रमः ।
तेषामेवापमानेन सानुबन्धो विनङ्क्ष्यति ॥ ३१॥
एवं सुमन्त्रितार्थास्ते गुरुणार्थानुदर्शिना ।
हित्वा त्रिविष्टपं जग्मुर्गीर्वाणाः कामरूपिणः ॥ ३२॥
देवेष्वथ निलीनेषु बलिर्वैरोचनः पुरीम् ।
देवधानीमधिष्ठाय वशं निन्ये जगत्त्रयम् ॥ ३३॥
तं विश्वजयिनं शिष्यं भृगवः शिष्यवत्सलाः ।
शतेन हयमेधानामनुव्रतमयाजयन् ॥ ३४॥
ततस्तदनुभावेन भुवनत्रयविश्रुताम् ।
कीर्तिं दिक्षु वितन्वानः स रेज उडुराडिव ॥ ३५॥
बुभुजे च श्रियं स्वृद्धां द्विजदेवोपलम्भिताम् ।
कृतकृत्यमिवात्मानं मन्यमानो महामनाः ॥ ३६॥
इति श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां
संहितायामष्टमस्कन्धे पञ्चदशोऽध्यायः ॥ १५॥
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The preceptor (the sage Bṛhaspati) replied: I know, O Indra, the cause of the rise of yonder enemy of yours. (Surely) by the Bhṛgus (Śukrācārya and the other scions of the sage Bhṛgu), who are (all) exponents of the Vedas, (their own spiritual) energy has been infused into their disciple (in return for his having surrendered his all to the Bhṛgus). (28)
Barring (of course) the almighty Śrī Hari, none like you nor even you can stand before him any more than created beings can stand before Death.(29)
Therefore, quitting heaven, go you all out of sight, awaiting a (favourable) time which may bring a reverse (of fortune) for your enemy. (30)
Rising more and more by the (spiritual) strength of the Brāhmaṇas, he is at the height of power today. By insulting those very Brāhmaṇas (the Bhṛgus) he will perish with (all) his wealth and so on.(31)
Having thus been offered a wise counsel about their (course of) conduct by the preceptor (the sage Bṛhaspati), who could foresee things in their reality, the said gods went out of paradise, capable as they were of assuming any shape at will. (32)
The gods having disappeared, Bali, the son of Virocana, forthwith occupied the city of Amarāvatī (the city of the gods) and brought under subjection all the three worlds (heaven, earth and the intermediate region). (33)
Full of affection for their disciples, the Bhṛgus got their aforesaid disciple (Bali), who had (now) conquered the universe and was (fully) devoted to them, to propitiate the Lord by means of a hundred horse-sacrifices (in order to stabilize his dominion). (34)
Diffusing virtue of those sacrifices in (all) the quarters (even beyond the three worlds) his renown, already well-known all over the three worlds, Bali now shone like the moon (the lord of the stars). (35)
And, considering himself as having accomplished all his objects as it were, the high-minded Bali enjoyed the overflowing wealth (most prosperous kingdom) bestowed on him by the Brāhmaṇas (the adored among the twice-born). (36)
Thus ends the fifteenth discourse, in Book Eight of the great and glorious
Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, otherwise known as the
Paramahamsa-Sarhhitā (28-36)
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