agranīḥ kīrti-vardhanaḥ

eṣa dānava-daityānām

agranīḥ kīrti-vardhanaḥ

ajaiṣīd ajayāṁ māyāṁ

sīdann api na muhyati

Famous Bali Mahārāja, foremost among the demons, has already conquered unsurpassable māyā. Though in dire circumstances, he is not bewildered.

“Well, let that be, but what type of mercy of yours did Bali, your devotee, receive when you took away his wealth?” He has conquered māyā. I do not say ‘will conquer” or “is conquering.” He has already conquered māyā previously. What is the question of him having arrogance or disrespect caused by māyā?  In order to destroy māyā I take away wealth and power. Even bereft of wealth, he is not bewildered. It is seen that people who are bewildered by wealth become greatly disturbed and bewildered the moment that disaster strikes.

|| 8.22.29-30 ||

kṣīṇa-rikthaś cyutaḥ sthānāt

kṣipto baddhaś ca śatrubhiḥ

jñātibhiś ca parityakto

yātanām anuyāpitaḥ

guruṇā bhartsitaḥ śapto

jahau satyaṁ na suvrataḥ

chalair ukto mayā dharmo

nāyaṁ tyajati satya-vāk

Although bereft of his riches and position, thrown down and tied up by his enemies, deserted by his relatives and friends, suffering pain and cursed by his guru, Bali Mahārāja, being fixed in his vow, did not give up his truthfulness. I spoke about dharma deceptively, but he did not give up speaking the truth.

Even though I have thrown him into an ocean of danger, he is not bewildered. It goes without saying that he will not give up his convictions. I spoke about dharma deceptively. At first I spoke falsely of adharma as if it were dharma with such words as the following:

 

na hy etasmin kule kaścin niḥsattvaḥ kṛpaṇaḥ pumān

pratyākhyātā pratiśrutya yo vādātā dvijātaye

 

I know that even until now, no one taking birth in your family has been poor-minded or miserly. No one has refused to give charity to brāhmaṇas, nor after promising to give charity has anyone failed to fulfill his promise. SB 8.19.3 

 

Then I spoke of dharma as if it were adharma.

 

vipralabdho dadāmīti tvayāhaṁ cāḍhya-māninā

tad vyalīka-phalaṁ bhuṅkṣva nirayaṁ katicit samāḥ

 

Being falsely proud of your possessions, you promised to give me land, but you could not fulfill your promise. Therefore, because your promise was false, you must live for a few years in hellish life. SB 8.21.34

 

Still, he did not give up truth. In such circumstances, others would be untruthful, according to the maxim “when cheated, cheat.” Though affectionate to my devotee, I have caused him this trouble in order to show the world his fixed devotion and fortitude.

|| 8.22.31 ||