satyaṁ bhagavatā proktaṁ

satyaṁ bhagavatā proktaṁ

dharmo 'yaṁ gṛhamedhinām

arthaṁ kāmaṁ yaśo vṛttiṁ

yo na bādheta karhicit

Bali Mahārāja said: As you have already stated, the principle of religion that does not hinder one's economic development, sense gratification, fame and means of livelihood is the real duty of the householder.

One will obstruct dharma by disobeying the guru, but one will obstruct bhakti by disobeying the Lord, most worthy of worship, whom one recognizes as such.

|| 8.20.3 ||

sa cāhaṁ vitta-lobhena

pratyācakṣe kathaṁ dvijam

pratiśrutya dadāmīti

prāhrādiḥ kitavo yathā

How can I, grandson of Prahlāda, like a cheater, withdraw my promise because of greed for money when I have already said that I shall give this land? How can I behave like an ordinary cheater, especially toward a brāhmaṇa?

I am the grandson of Prahlāda. My nature is to be favorable to the Lord. This is the hidden indication. Prahlāda had already planted the seed of bhakti in his heart by his mercy. Now, he would achieve perfection by attaining prema by the mercy of Vāmanadeva. It is said: kṛpā-siddhā yajña-patnī vairocani śukādayaḥ: the wives of the brāhmaṇas in Vraja, Bali and Śukadeva achieved perfection by mercy. 

|| 8.20.4 ||

na hy asatyāt paro 'dharma

iti hovāca bhūr iyam

sarvaṁ soḍhum alaṁ manye

ṛte 'līka-paraṁ naram

The earth said, “There is nothing more sinful than untruthfulness.” I think I can bear any heavy thing except a person who is a liar.

|| 8.20.5 ||

nāhaṁ bibhemi nirayān

nādhanyād asukhārṇavāt

na sthāna-cyavanān mṛtyor

yathā vipra-pralambhanāt

I do not fear hell, poverty, an ocean of distress, fall from my position or even death itself as much as I fear cheating a brāhmaṇa.

Adhanyāt means “from poverty.”

|| 8.20.6 ||

yad yad dhāsyati loke 'smin