FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.19.14

पिता प्रह्लादपुत्रस्ते तद्विद्वान्द्विजवत्सल: । स्वमायुर्द्विजलिङ्गेभ्यो देवेभ्योऽदात् स याचित: ॥ १४ ॥
pitā prahrāda-putras te
[pitaa prahraada-putras te]
tad-vidvān dvija-vatsalaḥ
[tad-vidvaan dvija-vatsalah]
svam āyur dvija-liṅgebhyo
[svam aayur dvija-lingebhyo]
devebhyo ’dāt sa yācitaḥ
[devebhyo ’daat sa yaachitah]
Word-for-word
pitā — father prahrāda-putraḥ — the son of Mahārāja Prahlāda te — your tat-vidvān — although it was known to him dvija-vatsalaḥ — still, because of his affinity for brāhmaṇas svam — his own āyuḥ — duration of life dvija-liṅgebhyaḥ — who were dressed like brāhmaṇas devebhyaḥ — unto the demigods adāt — delivered saḥ — he yācitaḥ — being so requested.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
pitā prahrāda-putras te
pitā
father
prahrāda-putraḥ
the son of Mahārāja Prahlāda
te
your
tad-vidvān dvija-vatsalaḥ
tat-vidvān
although it was known to him
dvija-vatsalaḥ
still, because of his affinity for brāhmaṇas
svam āyur dvija-liṅgebhyo
svam
his own
āyuḥ
duration of life
dvija-liṅgebhyaḥ
who were dressed like brāhmaṇas
devebhyo ’dāt sa yācitaḥ
devebhyaḥ
unto the demigods
adāt
delivered
saḥ
he
yācitaḥ
being so requested.
Your father, Virocana, the son of Mahārāja Prahlāda, was very affectionate toward brāhmaṇas. Although he knew very well that it was the demigods who had come to him in the dress of brāhmaṇas, at their request he delivered to them the duration of his life.
Purport

Mahārāja Virocana, Bali’s father, was so pleased with the brāhmaṇa community that even though he knew that those approaching him for charity were the demigods in the dress of brāhmaṇas, he nonetheless agreed to give it.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Your father, Virocana, the son of Mahārāja Prahlāda, was very affectionate toward brāhmaṇas. Although he knew very well that it was the devatās who had come to him in the dress of brāhmaṇas, at their request he delivered to them the duration of his life. Your father, Virocana, the son of Prahlāda, though knowing they were enemies, gave the devatās dressed as brāhmaṇas his life, because he was affectionate to brāhmaṇas. Though he knew they were enemies he gave his life to them because they were dressed like brāhmaṇas.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Your father Virocana, son of Prahlāda, was so affectionate to brāhmaṇas that even knowing the demigods came disguised, he gave them his lifespan. Generosity does not always check identification. Sometimes it gives anyway.
Reflection Questions
  • Where does my insistence on knowing exactly who I'm helping block generosity?
  • Can I imagine giving even to a 'disguised' deserver, like Virocana did?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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