Bhagavata Purana — Skandha 8 — Chapter 15
SB 8 15.1
श्रीराजोवाच बलेः पदत्रयं भूमेः कस्माद्धरिरयाचत भूतेश्वरः कृपणवल् लब्धार्थो ऽपि बबन्ध तम्
śrīrājovāca baleḥ padatrayaṃ bhūmeḥ kasmāddharirayācata bhūteśvaraḥ kṛpaṇaval labdhārtho 'pi babandha tam
The king said: Why did Hari beg three paces of ground from Bali, and why, though he is the lord of all beings, did he — like a needy man — bind him even after his purpose was gained?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.2
एतद्वेदितुमिच्छामो महत् कौतूहलं हि नः यज्ञेश्वरस्य पूर्णस्य बन्धनं चाप्य् अनागसः
etadveditumicchāmo mahat kautūhalaṃ hi naḥ yajñeśvarasya pūrṇasya bandhanaṃ cāpy anāgasaḥ
This we wish to understand, for our curiosity is great: the binding of a guiltless one by the Lord of sacrifice, who is complete (in himself).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.3
श्रीशुक उवाच पराजितश्रीरसुभिश्च हापितो हीन्द्रेण राजन् भृगुभिः स जीवितः सर्वात्मना तान् अभजद्भृगून् बलिः शिष्यो महात्मार्थनिवेदनेन
śrīśuka uvāca parājitaśrīrasubhiśca hāpito hīndreṇa rājan bhṛgubhiḥ sa jīvitaḥ sarvātmanā tān abhajadbhṛgūn baliḥ śiṣyo mahātmārthanivedanena
Śrī Śuka said: O King, when his fortune had been vanquished and his life-breaths taken from him by Indra, Bali was restored to life by the Bhṛgus; and that great soul served those Bhṛgus with his whole being as a disciple, by dedicating (all) his wealth (to them).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.4
तं ब्राह्मणा भृगवः प्रीयमाणा अयाजयन् विश्वजिता त्रिणाकम् जिगीषमाणं विधिनाभिषिच्य महाभिषेकेण महानुभावाः
taṃ brāhmaṇā bhṛgavaḥ prīyamāṇā ayājayan viśvajitā triṇākam jigīṣamāṇaṃ vidhinābhiṣicya mahābhiṣekeṇa mahānubhāvāḥ
The Bhṛgu brahmins, greatly powerful and pleased with him, consecrated him by rule with the great abhiṣeka and had him perform the Viśvajit sacrifice, as he sought to conquer heaven.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.5
ततो रथः काञ्चनपट्टनद्धो हयाश्च हर्यश्वतुरङ्गवर्णाः ध्वजश्च सिंहेन विराजमानो हुताशनादास हविर्भिरिष्टात्
tato rathaḥ kāñcanapaṭṭanaddho hayāśca haryaśvaturaṅgavarṇāḥ dhvajaśca siṃhena virājamāno hutāśanādāsa havirbhiriṣṭāt
Then, out of the fire that had been offered oblations, there arose a chariot bound with plates of gold, horses of the colour of Indra's green steeds, and a banner shining with a lion (emblem).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.6
धनुश्च दिव्यं पुरटोपनद्धं तूणावरिक्तौ कवचं च दिव्यम् पितामहस्तस्य ददौ च मालाम् अम्लानपुष्पां जलजं च शुक्रः
dhanuśca divyaṃ puraṭopanaddhaṃ tūṇāvariktau kavacaṃ ca divyam pitāmahastasya dadau ca mālām amlānapuṣpāṃ jalajaṃ ca śukraḥ
And (there arose) a divine bow overlaid with gold, two quivers never emptied, and divine armour; and the Grandfather gave him a garland of unfading flowers, and Śukra a conch.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.7
एवं स विप्रार्जितयोधनार्थस् तैः कल्पितस्वस्त्ययनो ऽथ विप्रान् प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य कृतप्रणामः प्रह्रादमामन्त्र्य नमश्चकार
evaṃ sa viprārjitayodhanārthas taiḥ kalpitasvastyayano 'tha viprān pradakṣiṇīkṛtya kṛtapraṇāmaḥ prahrādamāmantrya namaścakāra
Thus, having obtained the means of battle from the brahmins, and having had the rite of blessing performed by them, he circumambulated the brahmins, made obeisance, and taking leave of Prahlāda bowed to him.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.8
अथारुह्य रथं दिव्यं भृगुदत्तं महारथः सुस्रग्धरो ऽथ सन्नह्य धन्वी खड्गी धृतेषुधिः
athāruhya rathaṃ divyaṃ bhṛgudattaṃ mahārathaḥ susragdharo 'tha sannahya dhanvī khaḍgī dhṛteṣudhiḥ
Then the great chariot-warrior, wearing a fine garland, mounted the divine chariot given by the Bhṛgus, and, girding on his armour, took up bow and sword, with quiver fastened on.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.9
हेमाङ्गदलसद्बाहुः स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलः रराज रथमारूढो धिष्ण्यस्थ इव हव्यवाट्
hemāṅgadalasadbāhuḥ sphuranmakarakuṇḍalaḥ rarāja rathamārūḍho dhiṣṇyastha iva havyavāṭ
His arms gleaming with golden armlets, his makara earrings flashing, mounted on the chariot he shone like the fire-bearer set on the altar.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.10
तुल्यैश्वर्यबलश्रीभिः स्वयूथैर्दैत्ययूथपैः पिबद्भिरिव खं दृग्भिर्दहद्भिः परिधीन् इव
tulyaiśvaryabalaśrībhiḥ svayūthairdaityayūthapaiḥ pibadbhiriva khaṃ dṛgbhirdahadbhiḥ paridhīn iva
(Surrounded) by the Daitya chiefs of his own troop, equal to him in dominion, strength and splendour, who seemed to drink up the sky with their eyes and to burn up the horizons —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.11
वृतो विकर्षन् महतीमासुरीं ध्वजिनीं विभुः ययाविन्द्रपुरीं स्वृद्धां कम्पयन्निव रोदसी
vṛto vikarṣan mahatīmāsurīṃ dhvajinīṃ vibhuḥ yayāvindrapurīṃ svṛddhāṃ kampayanniva rodasī
— encircled (by them), the mighty one, drawing along the great host of the demons with its banners, marched upon the prosperous city of Indra, as if making heaven and earth tremble.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.12
रम्यामुपवनोद्यानैः श्रीमद्भिर्नन्दनादिभिः कूजद्विहङ्गमिथुनैर्गायन्मत्तमधुव्रतैः
ramyāmupavanodyānaiḥ śrīmadbhirnandanādibhiḥ kūjadvihaṅgamithunairgāyanmattamadhuvrataiḥ
(That city was) lovely with splendid parks and gardens, Nandana and the rest, with pairs of birds calling and intoxicated bees humming their song.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.13
प्रवालफलपुष्पोरु भारशाखामरद्रुमैः हंससारसचक्राह्व कारण्डवकुलाकुलाः नलिन्यो यत्र क्रीडन्ति प्रमदाः सुरसेविताः
pravālaphalapuṣporu bhāraśākhāmaradrumaiḥ haṃsasārasacakrāhva kāraṇḍavakulākulāḥ nalinyo yatra krīḍanti pramadāḥ surasevitāḥ
There, amid celestial trees whose branches were heavy with a great load of shoots, fruits and blossoms, there are lotus-ponds crowded with swans, cranes, cakravākas and kāraṇḍavas, where women attended by the gods sport.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.14
आकाशगङ्गया देव्या वृतां परिखभूतया प्राकारेणाग्निवर्णेन साट्टालेनोन्नतेन च
ākāśagaṅgayā devyā vṛtāṃ parikhabhūtayā prākāreṇāgnivarṇena sāṭṭālenonnatena ca
(The city was) surrounded by the divine celestial Ganges serving as a moat, and by a lofty rampart of the colour of fire, provided with watchtowers.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.15
रुक्मपट्टकपाटैश्च द्वारैः स्फटिकगोपुरैः जुष्टां विभक्तप्रपथां विश्वकर्मविनिर्मिताम्
rukmapaṭṭakapāṭaiśca dvāraiḥ sphaṭikagopuraiḥ juṣṭāṃ vibhaktaprapathāṃ viśvakarmavinirmitām
It was furnished with gates whose doors were plated with gold and with crystal gateway-towers, its main roads laid out in divisions, and it was built by Viśvakarman.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.16
सभाचत्वररथ्याढ्यां विमानैर्न्यर्बुदैर्युताम् शृङ्गाटकैर्मणिमयैर्वज्रविद्रुमवेदिभिः
sabhācatvararathyāḍhyāṃ vimānairnyarbudairyutām śṛṅgāṭakairmaṇimayairvajravidrumavedibhiḥ
It was rich in assembly halls, courtyards and streets, filled with ten million aerial cars, and with crossroads made of jewels having platforms of diamond and coral.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.17
यत्र नित्यवयोरूपाः श्यामा विरजवाससः भ्राजन्ते रूपवन्नार्यो ह्य् अर्चिर्भिरिव वह्नयः
yatra nityavayorūpāḥ śyāmā virajavāsasaḥ bhrājante rūpavannāryo hy arcirbhiriva vahnayaḥ
There, women of unfading youth and beauty, dark-complexioned, dressed in spotless garments, shine forth — the shapely ladies, like fires with their flames.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.18
सुरस्त्रीकेशविभ्रष्ट नवसौगन्धिकस्रजाम् यत्रामोदमुपादाय मार्ग आवाति मारुतः
surastrīkeśavibhraṣṭa navasaugandhikasrajām yatrāmodamupādāya mārga āvāti mārutaḥ
There the breeze blows along the streets, taking up the fragrance of the garlands of fresh saugandhika flowers fallen from the hair of the women of the gods.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.19
हेमजालाक्षनिर्गच्छद् धूमेनागुरुगन्धिना पाण्डुरेण प्रतिच्छन्न मार्गे यान्ति सुरप्रियाः
hemajālākṣanirgacchad dhūmenāgurugandhinā pāṇḍureṇa praticchanna mārge yānti surapriyāḥ
Screened by the pale smoke, scented with aguru, that issues from the lattice-windows of gold, the beloved women of the gods walk along the streets.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.20
मुक्तावितानैर्मणिहेमकेतुभिर् नानापताकावलभीभिरावृताम् शिखण्डिपारावतभृङ्गनादितां वैमानिकस्त्रीकलगीतमङ्गलाम्
muktāvitānairmaṇihemaketubhir nānāpatākāvalabhībhirāvṛtām śikhaṇḍipārāvatabhṛṅganāditāṃ vaimānikastrīkalagītamaṅgalām
(The city was) covered with canopies of pearls, with banners of jewels and gold, with turrets bearing many flags, resounding with peacocks, pigeons and bees, its auspicious sweet songs sung by the women of the celestial cars.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.21
मृदङ्गशङ्खानकदुन्दुभिस्वनैः सतालवीणामुरजेष्टवेणुभिः नृत्यैः सवाद्यैरुपदेवगीतकैर् मनोरमां स्वप्रभया जितप्रभाम्
mṛdaṅgaśaṅkhānakadundubhisvanaiḥ satālavīṇāmurajeṣṭaveṇubhiḥ nṛtyaiḥ savādyairupadevagītakair manoramāṃ svaprabhayā jitaprabhām
(A city) delightful with the sounds of mṛdaṅgas, conches, kettledrums and dundubhis, with cymbals, vīṇās, murajas and sweet flutes, with dances, with instrumental music and with the songs of the demigods — a city that by its own radiance surpassed (all other) radiance.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.22
यां न व्रजन्त्य् अधर्मिष्ठाः खला भूतद्रुहः शठाः मानिनः कामिनो लुब्धा एभिर्हीना व्रजन्ति यत्
yāṃ na vrajanty adharmiṣṭhāḥ khalā bhūtadruhaḥ śaṭhāḥ māninaḥ kāmino lubdhā ebhirhīnā vrajanti yat
To which the utterly unrighteous do not go — the malicious, those who injure living beings, the deceitful, the arrogant, the lustful, the greedy; those free of these go there.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.23
तां देवधानीं स वरूथिनीपतिर् बहिः समन्ताद्रुरुधे पृतन्यया आचार्यदत्तं जलजं महास्वनं दध्मौ प्रयुञ्जन् भयमिन्द्रयोषिताम्
tāṃ devadhānīṃ sa varūthinīpatir bahiḥ samantādrurudhe pṛtanyayā ācāryadattaṃ jalajaṃ mahāsvanaṃ dadhmau prayuñjan bhayamindrayoṣitām
That city of the gods the lord of the army besieged all around on the outside with his troops, and he blew the loud-sounding conch given by his teacher, striking fear into Indra's women.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.24
मघवांस्तमभिप्रेत्य बलेः परममुद्यमम् सर्वदेवगणोपेतो गुरुमेतदुवाच ह
maghavāṃstamabhipretya baleḥ paramamudyamam sarvadevagaṇopeto gurumetaduvāca ha
Maghavan, observing that supreme exertion of Bali, accompanied by all the hosts of gods, said this to his teacher:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.25
भगवन्नुद्यमो भूयान् बलेर्नः पूर्ववैरिणः अविषह्यमिमं मन्ये केनासीत् तेजसोर्जितः
bhagavannudyamo bhūyān balernaḥ pūrvavairiṇaḥ aviṣahyamimaṃ manye kenāsīt tejasorjitaḥ
"Lord, great is the exertion of Bali, our old enemy. I think him unassailable. By what power has he become so strengthened?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.26
नैनं कश्चित् कुतो वापि प्रतिव्योढुमधीश्वरः पिबन्निव मुखेनेदं लिहन्निव दिशो दश दहन्निव दिशो दृग्भिः संवर्ताग्निरिवोत्थितः
nainaṃ kaścit kuto vāpi prativyoḍhumadhīśvaraḥ pibanniva mukhenedaṃ lihanniva diśo daśa dahanniva diśo dṛgbhiḥ saṃvartāgnirivotthitaḥ
"No one anywhere is master enough to withstand him. He seems to be drinking up this (world) with his mouth, licking the ten directions, burning the directions with his glances, risen up like the fire of universal dissolution."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.27
ब्रूहि कारणमेतस्य दुर्धर्षत्वस्य मद्रिपोः ओजः सहो बलं तेजो यत एतत् समुद्यमः
brūhi kāraṇametasya durdharṣatvasya madripoḥ ojaḥ saho balaṃ tejo yata etat samudyamaḥ
"Tell (me) the cause of this invincibility of my foe — the vigour, the endurance, the strength, the energy from which this exertion (comes)."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.28
श्रीगुरुरुवाच जानामि मघवन् छत्रोरुन्नतेरस्य कारणम् शिष्यायोपभृतं तेजो भृगुभिर्ब्रह्मवादिभिः
śrīgururuvāca jānāmi maghavan chatrorunnaterasya kāraṇam śiṣyāyopabhṛtaṃ tejo bhṛgubhirbrahmavādibhiḥ
The teacher said: I know, Maghavan, the cause of this rise of your enemy: the power conferred upon their disciple by the Bhṛgus, the speakers of Brahman.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.29
ओजस्विनं बलिं जेतुं न समर्थो ऽस्ति कश्चन भवद्विधो भवान् वापि वर्जयित्वेश्वरं हरिम्
ojasvinaṃ baliṃ jetuṃ na samartho 'sti kaścana bhavadvidho bhavān vāpi varjayitveśvaraṃ harim
No one is able to conquer the mighty Bali — neither one like you nor you yourself — except the Lord Hari.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.30
विजेष्यति न को ऽप्य् एनं ब्रह्मतेजःसमेधितम् नास्य शक्तः पुरः स्थातुं कृतान्तस्य यथा जनाः
vijeṣyati na ko 'py enaṃ brahmatejaḥsamedhitam nāsya śaktaḥ puraḥ sthātuṃ kṛtāntasya yathā janāḥ
No one will vanquish him, kindled as he is by brahminical power; none is able to stand before him, as people (cannot stand) before Death.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.31
तस्मान् निलयमुत्सृज्य यूयं सर्वे त्रिविष्टपम् यात कालं प्रतीक्षन्तो यतः शत्रोर्विपर्ययः
tasmān nilayamutsṛjya yūyaṃ sarve triviṣṭapam yāta kālaṃ pratīkṣanto yataḥ śatrorviparyayaḥ
Therefore all of you, abandoning your abode, leave heaven and go, awaiting the time from which the enemy's reversal (will come).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.32
एष विप्रबलोदर्कः सम्प्रत्य् ऊर्जितविक्रमः तेषामेवापमानेन सानुबन्धो विनङ्क्ष्यति
eṣa viprabalodarkaḥ sampraty ūrjitavikramaḥ teṣāmevāpamānena sānubandho vinaṅkṣyati
He, whose future outcome rests on the brahmins' power, is at present of surpassing valour; but by an offence to those very ones he will perish together with his followers.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.33
एवं सुमन्त्रितार्थास्ते गुरुणार्थानुदर्शिना हित्वा त्रिविष्टपं जग्मुर्गीर्वाणाः कामरूपिणः
evaṃ sumantritārthāste guruṇārthānudarśinā hitvā triviṣṭapaṃ jagmurgīrvāṇāḥ kāmarūpiṇaḥ
Thus well advised in the matter by their teacher, who saw the true aim, the gods, who take any form at will, left heaven and departed.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.34
देवेष्वथ निलीनेषु बलिर्वैरोचनः पुरीम् देवधानीमधिष्ठाय वशं निन्ये जगत्त्रयम्
deveṣvatha nilīneṣu balirvairocanaḥ purīm devadhānīmadhiṣṭhāya vaśaṃ ninye jagattrayam
Then, when the gods had gone into hiding, Bali the son of Virocana, occupying the city Devadhānī, brought the three worlds under his sway.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.35
तं विश्वजयिनं शिष्यं भृगवः शिष्यवत्सलाः शतेन हयमेधानामनुव्रतमयाजयन्
taṃ viśvajayinaṃ śiṣyaṃ bhṛgavaḥ śiṣyavatsalāḥ śatena hayamedhānāmanuvratamayājayan
The Bhṛgus, fond of their disciple, had that disciple, the conqueror of the universe, faithful to his vows, perform a hundred horse sacrifices.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.36
ततस्तदनुभावेन भुवनत्रयविश्रुताम् कीर्तिं दिक्षुवितन्वानः स रेज उडुराड् इव
tatastadanubhāvena bhuvanatrayaviśrutām kīrtiṃ dikṣuvitanvānaḥ sa reja uḍurāḍ iva
Then, by that power, spreading in all directions a fame renowned throughout the three worlds, he shone like the king of stars (the moon).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 15.37
बुभुजे च श्रियं स्वृद्धां द्विजदेवोपलम्भिताम् कृतकृत्यमिवात्मानं मन्यमानो महामनाः
bubhuje ca śriyaṃ svṛddhāṃ dvijadevopalambhitām kṛtakṛtyamivātmānaṃ manyamāno mahāmanāḥ
And he enjoyed abundant prosperity, obtained through the twice-born and the gods, thinking himself, high-minded as he was, to be as one whose task is accomplished.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition