SB 8.22.28

TEXT 28

TEXT

एष दानवदैत्यानाम् अग्रनीः कीर्तिवर्धनः ।
अजैषीदजयां मायां सीदन्नपि न मुह्यति ॥ २८ ॥

esa danava-daityanam

agranih kirti-vardhanah

ajaisid ajayam mayam

sidann api na muhyati

esah-this Bali Maharaja; danava-daityanam-among the demons and unbelievers; agranih-the foremost devotee; kirti-vardhanah-the most famous; ajaisit-has already surpassed; ajayam-the insurmountable; mayam-material energy; sidan-being bereft (of all material opulences); api-although; na-not; muhyati-is bewildered.

TRANSLATION

Bali Maharaja has become the most famous among the demons and nonbelievers, for in spite of being bereft of all material opulences, he is fixed in his devotional service.

PURPORT

In this verse, the words sidann api na muhyati are very important. A devotee is sometimes put into adversity while executing devotional service. In adversity, everyone laments and becomes aggrieved, but by the grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, a devotee, even in the worst condition, can understand that he is going through a severe examination by the Personality of Godhead. Bali Maharaja passed all such examinations, as explained in the following verses.