TEXT 18
tato dhastat sutale udara-sravah punya-sloko virocanatmajo balir bhagavata mahendrasya priyam cikirsamanenaditer labdha-kayo bhutva vatu-vamana-rupena paraksipta-loka-trayo bhagavad-anukampayaiva punah pravesita indradisv avidyamanaya susamrddhaya sriyabhijustah sva-dharmenaradhayams tam eva bhagavantam aradhaniyam apagata-sadhvasa aste dhunapi.
SYNONYMS
tatah adhastatbeneath the planet known as Vitala; sutaleon the planet known as Sutala; udara-sravahvery greatly celebrated; punya-slokahvery pious and advanced in spiritual consciousness; virocana-atmajahthe son of Virocana; balihBali Maharaja; bhagavataby the Supreme Personality of Godhead; maha-indrasyaof the King of heaven, Indra; priyamthe welfare; cikirsamanenadesiring to perform; aditehfrom Aditi; labdha-kayahhaving obtained His body; bhutvaappearing; vatubrahmacari; vamana-rupenain the form of a dwarf; paraksiptawrested away; loka-trayahthe three worlds; bhagavat-anukampayaby the causeless mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; evacertainly; punahagain; pravesitahcaused to enter; indra-adisueven among the demigods like the King of heaven; avidyamanayanot existing; susamrddhayamuch enriched by such exalted opulence; sriyaby good fortune; abhijustahbeing blessed; sva-dharmenaby discharging devotional service; aradhayanworshiping; tamHim; evacertainly; bhagavantamthe Supreme Personality of Godhead; aradhaniyamwho is most worshipable; apagata-sadhvasahwithout fear; asteremains; adhuna apieven today.
TRANSLATION
Below the planet Vitala is another planet, known as Sutala, where the great son of Maharaja Virocana, Bali Maharaja, who is celebrated as the most pious king, resides even now. For the welfare of Indra, the King of heaven, Lord Visnu appeared in the form of a dwarf brahmacari as the son of Aditi and tricked Bali Maharaja by begging for only three paces of land but taking all the three worlds. Being very pleased with Bali Maharaja for giving all his possessions, the Lord returned his kingdom and made him richer than the opulent King Indra. Even now, Bali Maharaja engages in devotional service by worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the planet of Sutala.
PURPORT
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is described as Uttamasloka, He who is worshiped by the best of selected Sanskrit verses, and His devotees such as Bali Maharaja are also worshiped by punya-sloka, verses that increase ones piety. Bali Maharaja offered everything to the Lordhis wealth, his kingdom and even his own body (sarvatma-nivedane balih). The Lord appeared before Bali Maharaja as a brahmana beggar, and Bali Maharaja gave Him everything he had. However, Bali Maharaja did not become poor; by donating all his possessions to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he became a successful devotee and got everything back again with the blessings of the Lord. Similarly, those who give contributions to expand the activities of the Krsna consciousness movement and to accomplish its objectives will never be losers; they will get their wealth back with the blessings of Lord Krsna. On the other side, those who collect contributions on behalf of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness should be very careful not to use even a farthing of the collection for any purpose other than the transcendental loving service of the Lord.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/5/24/18 Previous: SB 5.24.17 Next: SB 5.24.19
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