SB 8.23.2 — FolioCorpus

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.23.2

श्रीबलिरुवाच अहो प्रणामाय कृत: समुद्यम: प्रपन्नभक्तार्थविधौ समाहित: । यल्ल‍ोकपालैस्त्वदनुग्रहोऽमरै- रलब्धपूर्वोऽपसदेऽसुरेऽर्पित: ॥ २ ॥

śrī-balir uvāca

[shree-balir uvaacha]

aho praṇāmāya kṛtaḥ samudyamaḥ

[aho pranaamaaya kritah samudyamah]

prapanna-bhaktārtha-vidhau samāhitaḥ

[prapanna-bhaktaartha-vidhau samaahitah]

yal loka-pālais tvad-anugraho ’marair

[yal loka-paalais tvad-anugraho ’marair]

alabdha-pūrvo ’pasade ’sure ’rpitaḥ

[alabdha-poorvo ’pasade ’sure ’rpitah]

Word-for-word

śrī-baliḥ uvāca — Bali Mahārāja said aho — alas praṇāmāya — to offer my respectful obeisances kṛtaḥ — I did samudyamaḥ — only an endeavor prapanna-bhakta-artha-vidhau — in the regulative principles observed by pure devotees samāhitaḥ — is capable yat — that loka-pālaiḥ — by the leaders of various planets tvat-anugrahaḥ — Your causeless mercy amaraiḥ — by the demigods alabdha-pūrvaḥ — not achieved previously apasade — unto a fallen person like me asure — belonging to the asura community arpitaḥ — endowed.

Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)

śrī-balir uvāca

śrī-baliḥ uvāca

Bali Mahārāja said

aho praṇāmāya kṛtaḥ samudyamaḥ

aho

alas

praṇāmāya

to offer my respectful obeisances

kṛtaḥ

I did

samudyamaḥ

only an endeavor

prapanna-bhaktārtha-vidhau samāhitaḥ

prapanna-bhakta-artha-vidhau

in the regulative principles observed by pure devotees

samāhitaḥ

is capable

yal loka-pālais tvad-anugraho ’marair

yat

that

loka-pālaiḥ

by the leaders of various planets

tvat-anugrahaḥ

Your causeless mercy

amaraiḥ

by the demigods

alabdha-pūrvo ’pasade ’sure ’rpitaḥ

alabdha-pūrvaḥ

not achieved previously

apasade

unto a fallen person like me

asure

belonging to the asura community

arpitaḥ

endowed.

Bali Mahārāja said: What a wonderful effect there is in even attempting to offer respectful obeisances to You! I merely endeavored to offer You obeisances, but nonetheless the attempt was as successful as those of pure devotees. The causeless mercy You have shown to me, a fallen demon, was never achieved even by the demigods or the leaders of the various planets.

Purport

When Vāmanadeva appeared before Bali Mahārāja, Bali Mahārāja immediately wanted to offer Him respectful obeisances, but he was unable to do so because of the presence of Śukrācārya and other demoniac associates. The Lord is so merciful, however, that although Bali Mahārāja did not actually offer obeisances but only endeavored to do so within his mind, the Supreme Personality of Godhead blessed him with more mercy than even the demigods could ever expect. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (2.40) , svalpam apy asya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt: “Even a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.” The Supreme Personality of Godhead is known as bhāva-grāhī janārdana because He takes only the essence of a devotee’s attitude. If a devotee sincerely surrenders, the Lord, as the Supersoul in everyone’s heart, immediately understands this. Thus even though, externally, a devotee may not render full service, if he is internally sincere and serious the Lord welcomes his service nonetheless. Thus the Lord is known as bhāva-grāhī janārdana because He takes the essence of one’s devotional mentality.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda

Gauḍīya Ācāryas

Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya

Translation

Bali Mahārāja said: Ah! Just my eagerness to offer respects is able to yield results sought by the surrendered devotees. This low demon has received your rare mercy, not received previously even by the devatās. Even having eagerness to offer you respects is able to produce results desired by the surrendered devotees. I have understood this today. My guru said that Viṣṇu has come to take away everything I possess. When I learned this from my guru, I was eager to offer you respects, but did not, out of fear of guru and the demons. But that eagerness has given such result now! What is that? Mercy in the form of getting your foot on my head, which is not attained even by the devatās in sattva-guṇa, was attained by me, a low rascal (apasade) in rajo-guṇa.

Personal Guidance

My mere attempt at obeisances was as successful as pure devotees' acts; the causeless mercy You showed me, a fallen demon, exceeded what demigods receive. The Lord credits the intent. Even the unsucceeded bow is rewarded.

Reflection Questions

What 'attempt' of mine at devotion may have been credited above what I have noticed?
Where do I dismiss my partial efforts when the Lord may have already counted them as whole?

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io