SB 8.20.12

TEXT 12

TEXT

यद्यप्यसावधर्मेण मां बध्नीयादनागसम् ।
तथाप्येनं न हिंसिष्ये भीतं ब्रह्मतनुं रिपुम् ॥ १२ ॥

yadyapy asav adharmena

mam badhniyad anagasam

tathapy enam na himsisye

bhitam brahma-tanum ripum

yadyapi-although; asau-Lord Visnu; adharmena-crookedly, without reference to the straight way; mam-me; badhniyat-kills; anagasam-although I am not sinful; tathapi-still; enam-against Him; na-not; himsisye-I shall take any retaliation; bhitam-because He is afraid; brahma-tanum-having assumed the form of a brahmana-brahmacari; ripum-even though He is my enemy.

TRANSLATION

Although He is Visnu Himself, out of fear He has covered Himself in the form of a brahmana to come to me begging. Under the circumstances, because He has assumed the form of a brahmana, even if He irreligiously arrests me or even kills me, I shall not retaliate, although He is my enemy.

PURPORT

If Lord Visnu as He is had come to Bali Maharaja and asked him to do something, Bali Maharaja certainly would not have refused His request. But to enjoy a little humor between Himself and His devotee, the Lord covered Himself as a brahmana-brahmacari and thus came to Bali Maharaja to beg for only three feet of land.