FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.22.1

श्रीशुक उवाच एवं विप्रकृतो राजन् बलिर्भगवतासुर: । भिद्यमानोऽप्यभिन्नात्मा प्रत्याहाविक्लवं वच: ॥ १ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca
[shree-shuka uvaacha]
evaṁ viprakṛto rājan
[evam viprakrito raajan]
balir bhagavatāsuraḥ
[balir bhagavataasurah]
bhidyamāno ’py abhinnātmā
[bhidyamaano ’py abhinnaatmaa]
pratyāhāviklavaṁ vacaḥ
[pratyaahaaviklavam vachah]
Word-for-word
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said evam — thus, as aforementioned viprakṛtaḥ — having been put into difficulty rājan — O King baliḥ — Mahārāja Bali bhagavatā — by the Personality of Godhead Vāmanadeva asuraḥ — the King of the asuras bhidyamānaḥ api — although situated in this uncomfortable position abhinna-ātmā — without being disturbed in body or mind pratyāha — replied aviklavam — undisturbed vacaḥ — the following words.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
śrī-śuka uvāca
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca
Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
evaṁ viprakṛto rājan
evam
thus, as aforementioned
viprakṛtaḥ
having been put into difficulty
rājan
O King
balir bhagavatāsuraḥ
baliḥ
Mahārāja Bali
bhagavatā
by the Personality of Godhead Vāmanadeva
asuraḥ
the King of the asuras
bhidyamāno ’py abhinnātmā
bhidyamānaḥ api
although situated in this uncomfortable position
abhinna-ātmā
without being disturbed in body or mind
pratyāhāviklavaṁ vacaḥ
pratyāha
replied
aviklavam
undisturbed
vacaḥ
the following words.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King, although the Supreme Personality of Godhead was superficially seen to have acted mischievously toward Bali Mahārāja, Bali Mahārāja was fixed in his determination. Considering himself not to have fulfilled his promise, he spoke as follows.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King! Although mistreated and made to break his promise by the Lord, Bali Mahārāja, with undisturbed mind, spoke the following steady words. In the Twenty-second Chapter, Bali, Prahlāda, Vindyāvali and Brahmā praise the Lord, and the merciful Lord gives benedictions to Bali. Because the Lord deceptively bound up Bali, he remains constantly as his door keeper, tied by the ropes of prema. By normal standards, Bali had been mistreated (viprakṛtaḥ) and was made to deviate from truth (bhidyamānaḥ).
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Though the Lord appeared to act mischievously, Bali was fixed in his determination. Surface mischief and underlying mercy can coexist. The devotee's response is not to read appearances but to hold position.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I reading divine action as mischief when it might be hidden mercy?
  • What 'determination' would let me hold steady regardless of surface appearances?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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