FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.21.26

अथ तार्क्ष्यसुतो ज्ञात्वा विराट्‌प्रभुचिकीर्षितम् । बबन्ध वारुणै: पाशैर्बलिं सूत्येऽहनि क्रतौ ॥ २६ ॥
atha tārkṣya-suto jñātvā
[atha taarkshya-suto jnaatvaa]
virāṭ prabhu-cikīrṣitam
[viraat prabhu-chikeershitam]
babandha vāruṇaiḥ pāśair
[babandha vaarunaih paashair]
baliṁ sūtye ’hani kratau
[balim sootye ’hani kratau]
atha — thereafter tārkṣya-sutaḥ — Garuḍa jñātvā — knowing virāṭ — the king of birds prabhu-cikīrṣitam — the desire of Lord Viṣṇu as Vāmanadeva babandha — arrested vāruṇaiḥ — belonging to Varuṇa pāśaiḥ — by the ropes balim — Bali sūtye — when soma-rasa is taken ahani — on the day kratau — at the time of sacrifice.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
atha tārkṣya-suto jñātvā
atha
thereafter
tārkṣya-sutaḥ
Garuḍa
jñātvā
knowing
virāṭ prabhu-cikīrṣitam
virāṭ
the king of birds
prabhu-cikīrṣitam
the desire of Lord Viṣṇu as Vāmanadeva
babandha vāruṇaiḥ pāśair
babandha
arrested
vāruṇaiḥ
belonging to Varuṇa
pāśaiḥ
by the ropes
baliṁ sūtye ’hani kratau
balim
Bali
sūtye
when soma-rasa is taken
ahani
on the day
kratau
at the time of sacrifice.
Thereafter, on the day of soma-pāna, after the sacrifice was finished, Garuḍa, king of the birds, understanding the desire of his master, arrested Bali Mahārāja with the ropes of Varuṇa.

Garuḍa, the constant companion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, knows the confidential part of the Lord’s desire. Bali Mahārāja’s tolerance and devotion were undoubtedly superexcellent. Garuḍa arrested Bali Mahārāja to show the entire universe the greatness of the King’s tolerance.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Thereafter, on the day of pressing soma, after the sacrifice was finished, Garuḍa, king of the birds, understanding the desire of his master, bound Bali Mahārāja with the ropes of Varuṇa. Virāṭ means “king of the birds.” Garuḍa understood the Lord’s intentions. “Having accepted all of Bali’s possessions, my master now desires to accept Bali’s very self. Unable to pay his debt, the Lord will become Bali’s door keeper. In order to broadcast to the world the Lord’s dependence on his devotee and the excellence of his devotee, I will show everyone Bali’s indestructible fortitude by punishing him.” Thus Garuḍa bound him up. Sūtye ahani means “on the day of pressing soma.”
On soma-pāna day, after sacrifice, Garuḍa understood his master's desire and arrested Bali with Varuṇa's ropes. The arrest is meant to display Bali's tolerance to the universe. Sometimes binding is broadcasting.
Reflection Questions
  • Where might my own 'arrest' be designed to show others my tolerance, not to punish me?
  • What public bind of mine is actually the Lord's curated display?
📝 My note

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