FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.22.33

इन्द्रसेन महाराज याहि भो भद्रमस्तु ते । सुतलं स्वर्गिभि: प्रार्थ्यं ज्ञातिभि: परिवारित: ॥ ३३ ॥
indrasena mahārāja
[indrasena mahaaraaja]
yāhi bho bhadram astu te
[yaahi bho bhadram astu te]
sutalaṁ svargibhiḥ prārthyaṁ
[sutalam svargibhih praarthyam]
jñātibhiḥ parivāritaḥ
[jnaatibhih parivaaritah]
indrasena — O Mahārāja Bali mahārāja — O King yāhi — better go bhoḥ — O King bhadram — all auspiciousness astu — let there be te — unto you sutalam — in the planet known as Sutala svargibhiḥ — by the demigods prārthyam — desirable jñātibhiḥ — by your family members parivāritaḥ — surrounded.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
indrasena mahārāja
indrasena
O Mahārāja Bali
mahārāja
O King
yāhi bho bhadram astu te
yāhi
better go
bhoḥ
O King
bhadram
all auspiciousness
astu
let there be
te
unto you
sutalaṁ svargibhiḥ prārthyaṁ
sutalam
in the planet known as Sutala
svargibhiḥ
by the demigods
prārthyam
desirable
jñātibhiḥ parivāritaḥ
jñātibhiḥ
by your family members
parivāritaḥ
surrounded.
O Bali Mahārāja [Indrasena], now you may go to the planet Sutala, which is desired even by the demigods. Live there peacefully, surrounded by your friends and relatives. All good fortune unto you.

Bali Mahārāja was transferred from the heavenly planet to the planet Sutala, which is hundreds of times better than heaven, as indicated by the words svargibhiḥ prārthyam. When the Supreme Personality of Godhead deprives His devotee of material opulences, this does not mean that the Lord puts him into poverty; rather, the Lord promotes him to a higher position. The Supreme Personality of Godhead did not ask Bali Mahārāja to separate from his family; instead, the Lord allowed him to stay with his family members ( jñātibhiḥ parivāritaḥ ).

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O Bali Mahārāja! Now you may go to the planet Sutala, more desirable than Svarga, with your relatives. Good fortune to you! The Lord was speaking to Brahmā. Now he speaks directly to Bali. The Lord addresses him as a king. His position of king is not lost, because he has attained Sutala which is desired by the devatās but cannot be attained by them.
Go to Sutala, desired even by demigods; live peacefully with friends and relatives. All good fortune. The Lord does not separate Bali from family — he goes with his household. Spiritual elevation does not require family abandonment.
Reflection Questions
  • Where do I imagine elevation requires leaving everyone — when sometimes it means going together?
  • What family in my life might come with me to my 'Sutala'?
📝 My note

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