FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.22.28

एष दानवदैत्यानामग्रणी: कीर्तिवर्धन: । अजैषीदजयां मायां सीदन्नपि न मुह्यति ॥ २८ ॥
eṣa dānava-daityānām
[esha daanava-daityaanaam]
agranīḥ kīrti-vardhanaḥ
[agraneeh keerti-vardhanah]
ajaiṣīd ajayāṁ māyāṁ
[ajaisheed ajayaam maayaam]
sīdann api na muhyati
[seedann api na muhyati]
Word-for-word
eṣaḥ — this Bali Mahārāja dānava-daityānām — among the demons and unbelievers agranīḥ — the foremost devotee kīrti-vardhanaḥ — the most famous ajaiṣīt — has already surpassed ajayām — the insurmountable māyām — material energy sīdan — being bereft (of all material opulences) api — although na — not muhyati — is bewildered.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
eṣa dānava-daityānām
eṣaḥ
this Bali Mahārāja
dānava-daityānām
among the demons and unbelievers
agranīḥ kīrti-vardhanaḥ
agranīḥ
the foremost devotee
kīrti-vardhanaḥ
the most famous
ajaiṣīd ajayāṁ māyāṁ
ajaiṣīt
has already surpassed
ajayām
the insurmountable
māyām
material energy
sīdann api na muhyati
sīdan
being bereft (of all material opulences)
api
although
na
not
muhyati
is bewildered.
Bali Mahārāja 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 sīdann 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 Mahārāja passed all such examinations, as explained in the following verses.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Famous Bali Mahārāja, foremost among the demons, has already conquered unsurpassable māyā. Though in dire circumstances, he is not bewildered. “Well, let that be, but what type of mercy of yours did Bali, your devotee, receive when you took away his wealth?” He has conquered māyā. I do not say ‘will conquer” or “is conquering.” He has already conquered māyā previously. What is the question of him having arrogance or disrespect caused by māyā? In order to destroy māyā I take away wealth and power. Even bereft of wealth, he is not bewildered. It is seen that people who are bewildered by wealth become greatly disturbed and bewildered the moment that disaster strikes.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Bali has become famous among demons and nonbelievers, for stripped of opulences he is fixed in devotional service. Adversity revealed his actual stage. Tested devotion is recognized devotion.
Reflection Questions
  • What recent adversity has revealed (or hidden) my actual spiritual stage?
  • Where am I still untested, and do I want testing or its avoidance?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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