FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.22.5

त्वं नूनमसुराणां न: परोक्ष: परमो गुरु: । यो नोऽनेकमदान्धानां विभ्रंशं चक्षुरादिशत् ॥ ५ ॥
tvaṁ nūnam asurāṇāṁ naḥ
[tvam noonam asuraanaam nah]
parokṣaḥ paramo guruḥ
[parokshah paramo guruh]
yo no ’neka-madāndhānāṁ
[yo no ’neka-madaandhaanaam]
vibhraṁśaṁ cakṣur ādiśat
[vibhramsham chakshur aadishat]
Word-for-word
tvam — Your Lordship nūnam — indeed asurāṇām — of the demons naḥ — as we are parokṣaḥ — indirect paramaḥ — the supreme guruḥ — spiritual master yaḥ — Your Lordship naḥ — of us aneka — many mada-andhānām — blinded by material opulences vibhraṁśam — destroying our false prestige cakṣuḥ — the eye of knowledge ādiśat — gave.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tvaṁ nūnam asurāṇāṁ naḥ
tvam
Your Lordship
nūnam
indeed
asurāṇām
of the demons
naḥ
as we are
parokṣaḥ paramo guruḥ
parokṣaḥ
indirect
paramaḥ
the supreme
guruḥ
spiritual master
yaḥ
Your Lordship
yo no ’neka-madāndhānāṁ
naḥ
of us
aneka
many
mada-andhānām
blinded by material opulences
vibhraṁśaṁ cakṣur ādiśat
vibhraṁśam
destroying our false prestige
cakṣuḥ
the eye of knowledge
ādiśat
gave.
Since Your Lordship is indirectly the greatest well-wisher of us demons, You act for our best welfare by posing as if our enemy. Because demons like us always aspire for a position of false prestige, by chastising us You give us the eyes by which to see the right path.
Purport

Bali Mahārāja considered the Supreme Personality of Godhead a better friend to the demons than to the demigods. In the material world, the more one gets material possessions, the more he becomes blind to spiritual life. The demigods are devotees of the Lord for the sake of material possessions, but although the demons apparently do not have the Supreme Personality of Godhead on their side, He always acts as their well-wisher by depriving them of their positions of false prestige. By false prestige one is misguided, so the Supreme Lord takes away their position of false prestige as a special favor.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Since you are indirectly the greatest benefactor of us demons, you give us the eye for destroying our blindness arising from pride. “But I am famous for helping the devatās and not the demons.” You are the indirect benefactor (guru) of the demons since you pose as their enemy. Indirect benefit is greater than direct benefit. Thus you are the supreme (parama) benefactor for us. You are not the supreme benefactor for the devatās since giving them power and wealth that they desire is not really beneficial. You give us real benefit. You give us eyes of knowledge whereas the devatās are blinded. The third person verb instead of second person is poetic license.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
You are indirectly the demons' best well-wisher, acting as our enemy for our welfare. By stripping our false prestige, You give us the eyes to see the right path. Apparent opposition can be the deepest service.
Reflection Questions
  • Whose 'enemy posture' in my life is actually friendship aimed at my false prestige?
  • What removed possession or position has given me clearer sight?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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