FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.21.23

भवद्भ‍िर्निर्जिता ह्येते बहुशोऽनुचरा हरे: । दैवेनर्द्धैस्त एवाद्य युधि जित्वा नदन्ति न: ॥ २३ ॥
bhavadbhir nirjitā hy ete
[bhavadbhir nirjitaa hy ete]
bahuśo ’nucarā hareḥ
[bahusho ’nucharaa hareh]
daivenarddhais ta evādya
[daivenarddhais ta evaadya]
yudhi jitvā nadanti naḥ
[yudhi jitvaa nadanti nah]
Word-for-word
bhavadbhiḥ — by all of you demons nirjitāḥ — have been defeated hi — indeed ete — all these soldiers of the demigods bahuśaḥ — in great number anucarāḥ — followers hareḥ — of Lord Viṣṇu daivena — by providence ṛddhaiḥ — whose opulence was increased te — they (the demigods) eva — indeed adya — today yudhi — in the fight jitvā — defeating nadanti — are vibrating in jubilation naḥ — us.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
bhavadbhir nirjitā hy ete
bhavadbhiḥ
by all of you demons
nirjitāḥ
have been defeated
bahuśo ’nucarā hareḥ
daivenarddhais ta evādya
yudhi jitvā nadanti naḥ
hi
indeed
ete
all these soldiers of the demigods
bahuśaḥ
in great number
anucarāḥ
followers
hareḥ
of Lord Viṣṇu
daivena
by providence
ṛddhaiḥ
whose opulence was increased
te
they (the demigods)
eva
indeed
adya
today
yudhi
in the fight
jitvā
defeating
nadanti
are vibrating in jubilation
naḥ
us.
Previously, being empowered by providence, you defeated a great number of such followers of Lord Viṣṇu. But today those same followers, having defeated us, are roaring in jubilation like lions.
Purport

Bhagavad-gītā mentions five causes of defeat or victory. Of these five, daiva (providence) is the most powerful ( na ca daivāt paraṁ balam ). Bali Mahārāja knew the secret of how he had formerly been victorious because providence was in his favor. Now, since that same providence was not in his favor, there was no possibility of his victory. Thus he very intelligently forbade his associates to fight.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The many followers of Viṣṇu who were defeated by you, because you had strength by fate, have now defeated us, and are roaring in jubilation. Seeing that the demons covered with ignorance could not understand philosophy, Bali then gave inspiring instructions that they could accept. Previously the devatās had been defeated by you who had great strength by fate (daivena ṛddhaiḥ).
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Previously, empowered by providence, you defeated many of Viṣṇu's followers; today they roar in jubilation having defeated us. The remembered past validates the present diagnosis. Providence, not skill, was the variable.
Reflection Questions
  • What past success have I attributed to my skill that providence was actually arranging?
  • Where does recognizing that providence is now against me help me act wisely?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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