Bhagavata Purana — Skandha 8 — Chapter 20
SB 8 20.1
श्रीशुक उवाच बलिरेवं गृहपतिः कुलाचार्येण भाषितः तूष्णीं भूत्वा क्षणं राजन्नुवाचावहितो गुरुम्
śrīśuka uvāca balirevaṃ gṛhapatiḥ kulācāryeṇa bhāṣitaḥ tūṣṇīṃ bhūtvā kṣaṇaṃ rājannuvācāvahito gurum
Śrī Śuka said: Bali, the householder, thus addressed by his family preceptor, fell silent for a moment, O King, and then attentively spoke to his teacher.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 20.2
श्रीबलिरुवाच सत्यं भगवता प्रोक्तं धर्मो ऽयं गृहमेधिनाम् अर्थं कामं यशो वृत्तिं यो न बाधेत कर्हिचित्
śrībaliruvāca satyaṃ bhagavatā proktaṃ dharmo 'yaṃ gṛhamedhinām arthaṃ kāmaṃ yaśo vṛttiṃ yo na bādheta karhicit
Śrī Bali said: What you, sir, have said is true — this is the duty of householders, that one should never obstruct wealth, pleasure, reputation and livelihood.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 20.3
स चाहं वित्तलोभेन प्रत्याचक्षे कथं द्विजम् प्रतिश्रुत्य ददामीति प्राह्रादिः कितवो यथा
sa cāhaṃ vittalobhena pratyācakṣe kathaṃ dvijam pratiśrutya dadāmīti prāhrādiḥ kitavo yathā
And I, who am a descendant of Prahlāda — how, out of greed for wealth, should I refuse a brahmin, having promised "I will give," like a cheat?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 20.4
न ह्य् असत्यात् परो ऽधर्म इति होवाच भूरियम् सर्वं सोढुमलं मन्ये ऋते ऽलीकपरं नरम्
na hy asatyāt paro 'dharma iti hovāca bhūriyam sarvaṃ soḍhumalaṃ manye ṛte 'līkaparaṃ naram
"For there is no irreligion greater than untruth" — so said this Earth: "I think myself able to bear everything, except a man devoted to falsehood."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 20.5
नाहं बिभेमि निरयान् नाधन्यादसुखार्णवात् न स्थानच्यवनान् मृत्योर्यथा विप्रप्रलम्भनात्
nāhaṃ bibhemi nirayān nādhanyādasukhārṇavāt na sthānacyavanān mṛtyoryathā viprapralambhanāt
I do not fear hell, nor poverty, that ocean of misery, nor falling from my position, nor death, as much as I fear cheating a brahmin.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 20.6
यद्यद्धास्यति लोके ऽस्मिन् सम्परेतं धनादिकम् तस्य त्यागे निमित्तं किं विप्रस्तुष्येन् न तेन चेत्
yadyaddhāsyati loke 'smin samparetaṃ dhanādikam tasya tyāge nimittaṃ kiṃ viprastuṣyen na tena cet
Whatever wealth and the like one will leave behind in this world once dead — what better occasion is there for giving it up, if a brahmin is not gratified by it?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SB 8 20.7
श्रेयः कुर्वन्ति भूतानां साधवो दुस्त्यजासुभिः दध्यङ्शिबिप्रभृतयः को विकल्पो धरादिषु
śreyaḥ kurvanti bhūtānāṃ sādhavo dustyajāsubhiḥ dadhyaṅśibiprabhṛtayaḥ ko vikalpo dharādiṣu
Good men do what is best for living beings even at the cost of lives hard to give up — Dadhyañc, Śibi and the rest; what doubt then can there be about land and such things?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 20.8
यैरियं बुभुजे ब्रह्मन् दैत्येन्द्रैरनिवर्तिभिः तेषां कालो ऽग्रसील् लोकान् न यशो ऽधिगतं भुवि
yairiyaṃ bubhuje brahman daityendrairanivartibhiḥ teṣāṃ kālo 'grasīl lokān na yaśo 'dhigataṃ bhuvi
O brahmin, those lords of the Daityas who enjoyed this (earth) and never turned back in battle — Time devoured them and their worlds, but not the fame they won on earth.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 20.9
सुलभा युधि विप्रर्षे ह्य् अनिवृत्तास्तनुत्यजः न तथा तीर्थ आयाते श्रद्धया ये धनत्यजः
sulabhā yudhi viprarṣe hy anivṛttāstanutyajaḥ na tathā tīrtha āyāte śraddhayā ye dhanatyajaḥ
O sage among brahmins, men who give up their bodies in battle without retreating are easy to find; not so those who give up wealth with faith when a worthy (guest) has arrived.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 20.10
मनस्विनः कारुणिकस्य शोभनं यदर्थिकामोपनयेन दुर्गतिः कुतः पुनर्ब्रह्मविदां भवादृशां ततो वटोरस्य ददामि वाञ्छितम्
manasvinaḥ kāruṇikasya śobhanaṃ yadarthikāmopanayena durgatiḥ kutaḥ punarbrahmavidāṃ bhavādṛśāṃ tato vaṭorasya dadāmi vāñchitam
For a high-minded and compassionate man it is glorious (to give); how could there be misfortune from bestowing on one who asks what he desires? How much less from knowers of Brahman such as yourself. Therefore I give this boy what he wishes.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 20.11
यजन्ति यज्ञं क्रतुभिर्यमादृता भवन्त आम्नायविधानकोविदाः स एव विष्णुर्वरदो ऽस्तु वा परो दास्याम्य् अमुष्मै क्षितिमीप्सितां मुने
yajanti yajñaṃ kratubhiryamādṛtā bhavanta āmnāyavidhānakovidāḥ sa eva viṣṇurvarado 'stu vā paro dāsyāmy amuṣmai kṣitimīpsitāṃ mune
You, sirs, skilled in the ordinances of the Veda, worship with rites the Sacrifice, whom you hold in honour. Whether he be that very Viṣṇu, the giver of boons, or someone else, I shall give this one the land he wants, O sage.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SB 8 20.12
यद्यप्य् असावधर्मेण मां बध्नीयादनागसम् तथाप्य् एनं न हिंसिष्ये भीतं ब्रह्मतनुं रिपुम्
yadyapy asāvadharmeṇa māṃ badhnīyādanāgasam tathāpy enaṃ na hiṃsiṣye bhītaṃ brahmatanuṃ ripum
Even if he should unrighteously bind me, who am guiltless, still I will not harm this enemy, frightened and wearing the body of a brahmin.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 20.13
एष वा उत्तमश्लोको न जिहासति यद्यशः हत्वा मैनां हरेद्युद्धे शयीत निहतो मया
eṣa vā uttamaśloko na jihāsati yadyaśaḥ hatvā maināṃ haredyuddhe śayīta nihato mayā
Or else this is the one of highest renown, who does not wish to give up his fame; then let him kill me and take this (earth) — or let him lie slain by me in battle.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SB 8 20.14
श्रीशुक उवाच एवमश्रद्धितं शिष्यमनादेशकरं गुरुः शशाप दैवप्रहितः सत्यसन्धं मनस्विनम्
śrīśuka uvāca evamaśraddhitaṃ śiṣyamanādeśakaraṃ guruḥ śaśāpa daivaprahitaḥ satyasandhaṃ manasvinam
Śrī Śuka said: Thus the teacher cursed his disciple, who was unbelieving and did not carry out his instruction — the high-minded man true to his word — being impelled by fate.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 20.15
दृढं पण्डितमान्य् अज्ञः स्तब्धो ऽस्य् अस्मदुपेक्षया मच्छासनातिगो यस्त्वमचिराद्भ्रश्यसे श्रियः
dṛḍhaṃ paṇḍitamāny ajñaḥ stabdho 'sy asmadupekṣayā macchāsanātigo yastvamacirādbhraśyase śriyaḥ
Ignorant, thinking yourself thoroughly learned, you have grown stiff with pride through our indulgence; you who transgress my command shall soon fall from your fortune.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 20.16
एवं शप्तः स्वगुरुणा सत्यान् न चलितो महान् वामनाय ददावेनामर्चित्वोदकपूर्वकम्
evaṃ śaptaḥ svaguruṇā satyān na calito mahān vāmanāya dadāvenāmarcitvodakapūrvakam
Cursed thus by his own preceptor, that great one did not swerve from truth, and having honoured him, gave this (earth) to Vāmana with a prior offering of water.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 20.17
विन्ध्यावलिस्तदागत्य पत्नी जालकमालिनी आनिन्ये कलशं हैममवनेजन्यपां भृतम्
vindhyāvalistadāgatya patnī jālakamālinī āninye kalaśaṃ haimamavanejanyapāṃ bhṛtam
Then Vindhyāvali, his wife, wearing a net of pearls, came and brought a golden pot filled with water for the washing (of the feet).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 20.18
यजमानः स्वयं तस्य श्रीमत् पादयुगं मुदा अवनिज्यावहन् मूर्ध्नि तदपो विश्वपावनीः
yajamānaḥ svayaṃ tasya śrīmat pādayugaṃ mudā avanijyāvahan mūrdhni tadapo viśvapāvanīḥ
The sacrificer himself joyfully washed his beautiful pair of feet and bore upon his head that water, which purifies the whole world.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 20.19
तदासुरेन्द्रं दिवि देवतागणा गन्धर्वविद्याधरसिद्धचारणाः तत् कर्म सर्वे ऽपि गृणन्त आर्जवं प्रसूनवर्षैर्ववृषुर्मुदान्विताः
tadāsurendraṃ divi devatāgaṇā gandharvavidyādharasiddhacāraṇāḥ tat karma sarve 'pi gṛṇanta ārjavaṃ prasūnavarṣairvavṛṣurmudānvitāḥ
Then in the sky the hosts of gods, the Gandharvas, Vidyādharas, Siddhas and Cāraṇas, all of them praising that straightforward deed of the lord of the asuras, filled with joy rained down showers of blossoms.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 20.20
नेदुर्मुहुर्दुन्दुभयः सहस्रशो गन्धर्वकिम्पूरुषकिन्नरा जगुः मनस्विनानेन कृतं सुदुष्करं विद्वान् अदाद्यद्रिपवे जगत्त्रयम्
nedurmuhurdundubhayaḥ sahasraśo gandharvakimpūruṣakinnarā jaguḥ manasvinānena kṛtaṃ suduṣkaraṃ vidvān adādyadripave jagattrayam
Kettledrums sounded again and again by the thousands; Gandharvas, Kimpuruṣas and Kinnaras sang: "A most difficult thing has been done by this high-minded one, who, knowing (who He was), gave the three worlds to his enemy!"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 20.21
तद्वामनं रूपमवर्धताद्भुतं हरेरनन्तस्य गुणत्रयात्मकम् भूः खं दिशो द्यौर्विवराः पयोधयस् तिर्यङ्नृदेवा ऋषयो यदासत
tadvāmanaṃ rūpamavardhatādbhutaṃ hareranantasya guṇatrayātmakam bhūḥ khaṃ diśo dyaurvivarāḥ payodhayas tiryaṅnṛdevā ṛṣayo yadāsata
Then that wondrous dwarf form of Hari, the infinite one, grew — consisting of the three qualities — in which earth, space, the directions, heaven, the cavities, the oceans, beasts, men, gods and sages were contained.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 20.22
काये बलिस्तस्य महाविभूतेः सहर्त्विगाचार्यसदस्य एतत् ददर्श विश्वं त्रिगुणं गुणात्मके भूतेन्द्रियार्थाशयजीवयुक्तम्
kāye balistasya mahāvibhūteḥ sahartvigācāryasadasya etat dadarśa viśvaṃ triguṇaṃ guṇātmake bhūtendriyārthāśayajīvayuktam
In the body of him of great majesty, Bali, together with the priests, the teacher and the assembly, saw this: the universe made of the three qualities within the one who embodies those qualities, joined with the elements, the senses, their objects, the mind and living beings.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 20.23
रसामचष्टाङ्घ्रितले ऽथ पादयोर् महीं महीध्रान् पुरुषस्य जङ्घयोः पतत्त्रिणो जानुनि विश्वमूर्तेर् ऊर्वोर्गणं मारुतमिन्द्रसेनः
rasāmacaṣṭāṅghritale 'tha pādayor mahīṃ mahīdhrān puruṣasya jaṅghayoḥ patattriṇo jānuni viśvamūrter ūrvorgaṇaṃ mārutamindrasenaḥ
On the soles of his feet the commander of Indra's army beheld the nether world; on the feet, the earth; on the shanks of the Person, the mountains; on the knee of him of universal form, the birds; on the thighs, the host of the Maruts.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 20.24
सन्ध्यां विभोर्वाससि गुह्य ऐक्षत् प्रजापतीन् जघने आत्ममुख्यान् नाभ्यां नभः कुक्षिषु सप्तसिन्धून् उरुक्रमस्योरसि चर्क्षमालाम्
sandhyāṃ vibhorvāsasi guhya aikṣat prajāpatīn jaghane ātmamukhyān nābhyāṃ nabhaḥ kukṣiṣu saptasindhūn urukramasyorasi carkṣamālām
He saw twilight in the mighty one's garment, in the private part the Prajāpatis, in the loins the foremost among the self-born(?), in the navel the sky, in the flanks the seven seas, on the chest of the wide-strider the cluster of stars.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SB 8 20.25
हृद्य् अङ्ग धर्मं स्तनयोर्मुरारेर् ऋतं च सत्यं च मनस्य् अथेन्दुम् श्रियं च वक्षस्य् अरविन्दहस्तां कण्ठे च सामानि समस्तरेफान्
hṛdy aṅga dharmaṃ stanayormurārer ṛtaṃ ca satyaṃ ca manasy athendum śriyaṃ ca vakṣasy aravindahastāṃ kaṇṭhe ca sāmāni samastarephān
In the heart, dear one, dharma; in the two breasts of Murāri, right order and truth; in the mind, the moon; on the chest, Śrī with a lotus in her hand; and in the throat, the Sāman chants with all their notes.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 20.26
इन्द्रप्रधानान् अमरान् भुजेषु तत्कर्णयोः ककुभो द्यौश्च मूर्ध्नि केशेषु मेघान् छ्वसनं नासिकायाम् अक्ष्णोश्च सूर्यं वदने च वह्निम्
indrapradhānān amarān bhujeṣu tatkarṇayoḥ kakubho dyauśca mūrdhni keśeṣu meghān chvasanaṃ nāsikāyām akṣṇośca sūryaṃ vadane ca vahnim
In his arms the immortals with Indra foremost, in his ears the quarters, in his head the heavens, in his hair the clouds, in his nostrils the wind, in his eyes the sun, and in his mouth the fire.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 20.27
वाण्यां च छन्दांसि रसे जलेशं भ्रुवोर्निषेधं च विधिं च पक्ष्मसु अहश्च रात्रिं च परस्य पुंसो मन्युं ललाटे ऽधर एव लोभम्
vāṇyāṃ ca chandāṃsi rase jaleśaṃ bhruvorniṣedhaṃ ca vidhiṃ ca pakṣmasu ahaśca rātriṃ ca parasya puṃso manyuṃ lalāṭe 'dhara eva lobham
In his speech the metres, in his sense of taste the lord of waters, in his brows prohibition and injunction, in his eyelashes day and night, in the forehead of the Supreme Person wrath, and in the lower lip greed itself.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 20.28
स्पर्शे च कामं नृप रेतसाम्भः पृष्ठे त्वधर्मं क्रमणेषु यज्ञम् छायासु मृत्युं हसिते च मायां तनूरुहेष्वोषधिजातयश्च
sparśe ca kāmaṃ nṛpa retasāmbhaḥ pṛṣṭhe tvadharmaṃ kramaṇeṣu yajñam chāyāsu mṛtyuṃ hasite ca māyāṃ tanūruheṣvoṣadhijātayaśca
In his touch desire, O king; in his semen the waters; on his back unrighteousness; in his strides sacrifice; in his shadows death; in his laughter illusion; and in his bodily hairs the kinds of plants.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 20.29
नदीश्च नाडीषु शिला नखेषु बुद्धावजं देवगणान् ऋषींश्च प्राणेषु गात्रे स्थिरजङ्गमानि सर्वाणि भूतानि ददर्श वीरः
nadīśca nāḍīṣu śilā nakheṣu buddhāvajaṃ devagaṇān ṛṣīṃśca prāṇeṣu gātre sthirajaṅgamāni sarvāṇi bhūtāni dadarśa vīraḥ
And rivers in his veins, stones in his nails, in his intellect the unborn one, the hosts of gods and the sages in his vital airs, and in his body all beings, moving and unmoving — this the hero saw.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 20.30
सर्वात्मनीदं भुवनं निरीक्ष्य सर्वे ऽसुराः कश्मलमापुरङ्ग सुदर्शनं चक्रमसह्यतेजो धनुश्च शार्ङ्गं स्तनयित्नुघोषम्
sarvātmanīdaṃ bhuvanaṃ nirīkṣya sarve 'surāḥ kaśmalamāpuraṅga sudarśanaṃ cakramasahyatejo dhanuśca śārṅgaṃ stanayitnughoṣam
Beholding this whole world in the Self of all, all the asuras fell into despair, dear one — (seeing also) the Sudarśana disc of unbearable brilliance, and the Śārṅga bow whose sound was thunder,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 20.31
पर्जन्यघोषो जलजः पाञ्चजन्यः कौमोदकी विष्णुगदा तरस्विनी विद्याधरो ऽसिः शतचन्द्रयुक्तस् तूणोत्तमावक्षयसायकौ च
parjanyaghoṣo jalajaḥ pāñcajanyaḥ kaumodakī viṣṇugadā tarasvinī vidyādharo 'siḥ śatacandrayuktas tūṇottamāvakṣayasāyakau ca
the water-born conch Pāñcajanya, roaring like a raincloud, Viṣṇu's swift mace Kaumodakī, the sword Vidyādhara with its hundred-moon shield, and the two excellent quivers with inexhaustible arrows.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 20.32
सुनन्दमुख्या उपतस्थुरीशं पार्षदमुख्याः सहलोकपालाः स्फुरत्किरीटाङ्गदमीनकुण्डलः श्रीवत्सरत्नोत्तममेखलाम्बरैः
sunandamukhyā upatasthurīśaṃ pārṣadamukhyāḥ sahalokapālāḥ sphuratkirīṭāṅgadamīnakuṇḍalaḥ śrīvatsaratnottamamekhalāmbaraiḥ
Sunanda and the other chief attendants, together with the guardians of the worlds, waited upon the Lord, whose crown, armlets and fish-shaped earrings flashed, with the Śrīvatsa mark, the best of jewels, girdle and garments —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 20.33
मधुव्रतस्रग्वनमालयावृतो रराज राजन् भगवान् उरुक्रमः क्षितिं पदैकेन बलेर्विचक्रमे नभः शरीरेण दिशश्च बाहुभिः
madhuvratasragvanamālayāvṛto rarāja rājan bhagavān urukramaḥ kṣitiṃ padaikena balervicakrame nabhaḥ śarīreṇa diśaśca bāhubhiḥ
encircled by a garland of forest flowers frequented by bees, the Lord Urukrama shone, O king. With a single step he strode over Bali's earth, with his body the sky, and with his arms the directions.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 8 20.34
पदं द्वितीयं क्रमतस्त्रिविष्टपं न वै तृतीयाय तदीयमण्वपि उरुक्रमस्याङ्घ्रिरुपर्य् उपर्य् अथो महर्जनाभ्यां तपसः परं गतः
padaṃ dvitīyaṃ kramatastriviṣṭapaṃ na vai tṛtīyāya tadīyamaṇvapi urukramasyāṅghrirupary upary atho maharjanābhyāṃ tapasaḥ paraṃ gataḥ
As he strode the second step, it took heaven; not even an atom of what belonged to him (Bali) was left for a third. The foot of the wide-strider went higher and higher, past Mahar and Jana, beyond Tapas.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition