rule



 
 

Canto 8

Mahâmantra 4

 


Chapter 23: The Demigods Regain the Heavenly Places

(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'After [Bali] the great and exalted soul who carried the approval of all the saints, thus was addressed by the Original, Oldest Person, he spoke full of devotion with folded hands, with tears in his eyes and a faltering voice. (2) S'rî Bali said: 'Oh, just the attempt to offer my obeisances suffices for a result like that of surrendered devotees. What You out of Your causeless mercy have granted a fallen Asura like me, nobody among the demigods and the leaders of the world has achieved before.'

(3) S'rî S'uka said: 'After having said this to the Lord, Bali offered Him and also Lord Brahmâ and Lord S'iva his obeisances. Thereupon he, being released and satisfied, entered Sutala together with his associates. (4) By fulfilling Aditi's desire and by giving back to king Indra his supremacy over the heavenly worlds, the Lord thus exercised His authority over the entire universe [see 8.16: 11-17]. (5) Prahlâda, who had heard how his descendant, his grandson Bali, had achieved His mercy and was released from his fetters, then full of devotion addressed [the Supreme Personality] as follows. (6) S'rî Prahlâda said: 'With this benediction, which could not be achieved by Lord Brahmâ, by the Goddess of Fortune or by Lord S'iva - not even mentioning others -, You for us Asuras have become the Protector Against All Misery, the One whose feet are worshiped by the most respected personalities of the universe! (7) Oh Shelter of All, Lord Brahmâ and others enjoy Your grace by tasting the honey of serving Your lotus feet. How could we, people of a bad conduct and a bad birth, achieve the position that is granted when one follows the path of Your merciful glance? (8) Oh how wonderful all the activities of Your unlimited spiritual potency are! In Your pastimes, oh Lord who created all the worlds, oh Soul of all souls expert in every field, You are equal towards everyone. Not to discriminate characterizes Your love, a love in which You for Your devotees are like a desire tree [since You are unto the people what they are unto You, see B.G. 9: 29].'

(9) The Supreme Lord said: 'My son Prahlâda, I wish you all the best, please go to the place Sutala and bring, with a spirit of joy, happiness to your grandson, relatives and friends! (10) Situated there you will always have the vision of Me holding the club [the conch, the lotus and the discus]. The great delight of seeing Me in that form, will cut the bonds of karma.'

(11-12) S'rî S'uka said: 'Prahlâda accepted, with his clear mind consenting, with folded hands the order of the Supreme Lord, oh King. After he, the Master of all the leading Asuras, next had circumambulated the Original Person and offered his obeisances, he together with Bali with His permission entered the lower world Sutala. (13) Lord Nârâyana then said to S'ukrâcârya, who in the assembly of transcendentalists sat close to Him in a group of priests [brahma, hotâ, udgâtâ and adhvaryu]: (14) 'Oh brahmin, please describe the karmic imperfections of your disciple Bali who performed the sacrifices, for these karmic faults [see 8.20: 15] will be neutralized under the supervision of the brahmins.'

(15) S'rî S'ukra said: 'What would be wrong with him who in all respects was of worship for You who are the Master of all fruitive action, You the Controller and Enjoyer of all sacrifices [see also 4.31: 14, 1.2: 13 and B.G. 5: 25]? (16) As for the time and place, the person, the paraphernalia, [the practice of] the mantras and following the principles, faults can be made, but these are all nullified by regularly chanting Your glories in congregation [*]. (17) Still I have to do what You have told me,  oh Supreme One, for it is the most auspicious and supreme thing for each person to fold his hands in obedience to Your command.'

(18) S'rî S'uka said: 'Us'anâ [S'ukrâcârya, see 4.1: 45] the mightiest [sage] thus offering his obeisances to the authority of the Lord, set himself together with the best brahmins the task of compensating for the imperfect sacrifice that Bali made for the Lord. (19) Oh King, the Lord who as Vâmana this way from Bali had begged the land, delivered the places of the gods that had been seized by the others to His godbrother, the great Indra. (20-21) For the pleasure of Kas'yapa and Aditi [the parents of Vâmana] and for the well-being of all living beings and worlds, the master of the founding fathers Lord Brahmâ, together with the gods, the saints, the forefathers, the Manus, Daksha, Bhrigu, Angirâ, all the great leaders, Lord S'iva and his son [Kârttikeya], made Lord Vâmana the supreme leader of all the authorities in the world. (22-23) When they made Upendra the master for all purposes, [the protector] of  the Veda, the master of all gods, of all religion, of all fame, of all opulence, of all auspiciousness and of all vows, regarding Him the greatest expert in elevating to a higher life, that, oh ruler of man, made all living beings extremely happy. (24) Indra together with the leaders of the world thereafter, with the permission of Lord Brahmâ, then kept Lord Vâmana in front on the divine path leading to the kingdom of heaven. (25) Under the protection of Vâmanadeva Indra regained his rule over the three worlds and the pleasure of being blessed by its supreme wealth and had nothing to fear anymore [from the Asuras]. (26-27) Oh King, Lord Brahmâ, Lord S'iva and his son, the sages headed by Bhrigu, the munis, the forefathers and all the living beings, the perfected souls and the space travelers [the vimâna people] and such, glorified all the supremely wonderful, praiseworthy deeds of Lord Vishnu, also praised Aditi, and then left for each their own world.

(28) Oh pleasure of the dynasty, to hear about all these activities of Lord Urukrama [the Lord 'of the great steps'] I have described to you, wipes away all consequences of sin. (29) The great saint [Vasishthha Muni] stated in his mantras that no mortal human being, subject to death or destined to be reborn, can measure the glories of Lord Urukrama, just as no one is capable of counting the number of atoms of the earth [see also B.G. 10: 42 and **]. (30) Anyone who hears about and keeps listening to the stories about this God of gods, Lord Hari, all of whose works performed in His incarnations are equally wonderful, will attain the supreme destination. (31) When one engages in this [telling and listening] during the performance of whatever ritual, whether one is engaged for the gods, the ancestors or one's fellow man [at a marriage ceremony for instance], that ceremony will with these [descriptions] be well-performed.' 

 

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Third revised edition, loaded September 24, 2019.

 

 

 

Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:

Text 1

S'rî S'uka said: 'After [Bali] the great and exalted soul who carried the approval of all the saints, thus was addressed by the Original, Oldest Person, he spoke full of devotion with folded hands, with tears in his eyes and a faltering voice.
 S'rî S'uka said: 'After the great and exalted soul [of Bali], who carried the approval of all the saints, thus was addressed by the Original, Oldest Person, spoke he full of devotion with folded hands, with tears in his eyes and a faltering voice. (Vedabase)

 

Text 2

S'rî Bali said: 'Oh, just the attempt to offer my obeisances suffices for a result like that of surrendered devotees. What You out of Your causeless mercy have granted a fallen Asura like me, nobody among the demigods and the leaders of the world has achieved before.'

S'rî Bali said: 'How wonderful it is that, in just attempting to offer my respect to the regulative principles as observed by pure devotees, it for a fallen Asura like me, endowed with Your causeless mercy, has become possible what before today could not be achieved by the godly or the leaders of the world!' (Vedabase)


Text 3

S'rî S'uka said: 'After having said this to the Lord, Bali offered Him and also Lord Brahmâ and Lord S'iva his obeisances. Thereupon he, being released and satisfied, entered Sutala together with his associates.

S'rî S'uka said: 'Having said this to the Lord offered he Him, Lord Brahmâ and Lord S'iva his obeisances and entered Bali released and that way satisfied with his associates next Sutala. (Vedabase)

 

Text 4

By fulfilling Aditi's desire and by giving back to king Indra his supremacy over the heavenly worlds, the Lord thus exercised His authority over the entire universe [see 8.16: 11-17].

And so did the Supreme Lord who, fulfilling Aditi's desire, had given back to king Indra his supremacy over the heavenly worlds, [see 8.16: 11-17] rule the entire Universe. (Vedabase)

Text 5

Prahlâda, who had heard how his descendant, his grandson Bali, had achieved His mercy and was released from his fetters, then full of devotion addressed [the Supreme Personality] as follows.

Prahlâda who in his ecstatic devotion had overheard how his descendant, his grandson Bali, had achieved His mercy and was released from the bondage, then addressed as follows [the Supreme Personality]. (Vedabase)
  

Text 6

S'rî Prahlâda said: 'With this benediction, which could not be achieved by Lord Brahmâ, by the Goddess of Fortune or by Lord S'iva - not even mentioning others -, You for us Asuras have become the Protector Against All Misery, the One whose feet are worshiped by the most respected personalities of the universe!

S'rî Prahlâda said: 'With this benediction, which could not be achieved by Lord Brahmâ, by the Goddess of Fortune or by Lord S'iva - not to mention others -, have You for us Asuras become the Protector Against All Misery, the One whose feet are worshiped by those who are revered throughout the universe! (Vedabase)

 

Text 7

Oh Shelter of All, Lord Brahmâ and others enjoy Your grace by tasting the honey of serving Your lotus feet. How could we, people of a bad conduct and a bad birth, achieve the position that is granted when one follows the path of Your merciful glance?

Lord Brahmâ and others, o Shelter of All, enjoy Your grace by the taste of the honey of serving the lotus of Your feet; how could we, guilty escapists born from envy, achieve the position that is granted by the merciful glance of Your Lordship? (Vedabase)


Text 8

Oh, how wonderful all the activities of Your unlimited spiritual potency are! In Your pastimes, oh Lord who created all the worlds, oh Soul of all souls expert in every field, You are equal towards everyone. Not to discriminate characterizes Your love, a love in which You for Your devotees are like a desire tree [since You are unto the people what they are unto You, see B.G. 9: 29].'

O how wonderful are all the activities of Your unlimited spiritual potency: in Your pastimes are You, expanding in service, the One who created all the worlds, o Lord pervading all and equal to all; to be undivided is the nature of Your love for the devotees as You are by nature the desire tree [see B.G. 9: 29].' (Vedabase)

 

Text 9

The Supreme Lord said: 'My son Prahlâda, I wish you all the best, please go to the place Sutala and bring, with a spirit of joy, happiness to your grandson, relatives and friends!

The Supreme Lord said: 'My son Prahlâda, all good to you, please go and enjoy the place Sutala and rejoice there in happiness with your grandson, relatives and friends! (Vedabase)

 

Text 10

Situated there you will always have the vision of Me holding the club [the conch, the lotus and the discus]. The great delight of seeing Me in that form, will cut the bonds of karma.'

Situated there will you have the constant vision of Me holding the club and seeing Me thus will the bondage of fruitive action by the great delight be vanquished.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 11-12

S'rî S'uka said: 'Prahlâda accepted, with his clear mind consenting, with folded hands the order of the Supreme Lord, oh King. After he, the Master of all the leading Asuras, next had circumambulated the Original Person and offered his obeisances, he together with Bali with His permission entered the lower world Sutala.

S'rî S'uka said: 'Prahlâda, clear of intelligence, accepted with folded hands in consent the order of the Supreme Lord, o King, and after he, the Master of all the leading Asuras, had circumambulated the Original Person and offered his obeisances, entered he together with Bali with His permission the great place Sutala. (Vedabase)

  

Text 13

Lord Nârâyana then said to S'ukrâcârya, who in the assembly of transcendentalists sat close to Him in a group of priests [brahma, hotâ, udgâtâ and adhvaryu]:
The Lord thereafter said to S'ukrâcârya who in the assembly of brahmin followers sat close to Him, Nârâyana, in a group of priests [brahma, hotâ, udgâtâ and adhvaryu]: (Vedabase)

 

Text 14

'Oh brahmin, please describe the karmic imperfections of your disciple Bali who performed the sacrifices, for these karmic faults [see 8.20: 15] will be neutralized under the supervision of the brahmins.'

'O brahmin, please describe the karmic flaws of your disciple Bali who performs the sacrifices, for those karmic troubles [see 8.20: 15] will be neutralized under the supervison of the brahmins.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 15

S'rî S'ukra said: 'What would be wrong with him who in all respects was of worship for You who are the Master of all fruitive action, You the Controller and Enjoyer of all sacrifices [see also 4.31: 14, 1.2: 13 and B.G. 5: 25]?

S'rî S'ukra said: 'What would be the wrong of him who in all respects was of worship unto Your Lordship who art the master of all fruitive action; You are the Controller and Enjoyer of all sacrifices [see also 4.31: 14, 1.2: 13 and B.G. 5: 25]. (Vedabase)


Text 16

As for the time and place, the person, the paraphernalia, [the practice of] the mantras and following the principles, faults can be made, but these are all nullified by regularly chanting Your glories in congregation [*].

To the time and place, the recipient and the paraphernalia there can be weaknesses with the mantras and following the principles, but it is all made faultless by regularly with one another repeating [in song and lecture] the glories of Your Lordship [*].  (Vedabase)


Text 17

Still I have to do what You have told me, oh Supreme One, for it is the most auspicious and supreme thing for each person to fold his hands in obedience to Your command.'

O Supreme One, because You ordered him was Bali without faults though and must I follow to Your order as it is the most auspicious and supreme for each person to fold one's hands to Your regular order.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 18

S'rî S'uka said: 'Us'anâ [S'ukrâcârya, see 4.1: 45], the mightiest [sage] thus offering his obeisances to the authority of the Lord, set himself together with the best brahmins the task of compensating for the imperfect sacrifice that Bali made for the Lord.

S'rî S'uka said: 'Thus to the order of the Lord offering his obeisances set Usanâ [S'ukrâcârya, see 4.1: 45] the mightiest himself together with the best of the brahmins to the task of compensating for the limp sacrifice that Bali made to the Lord.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 19

Oh King, the Lord who as Vâmana this way from Bali had begged the land, delivered the places of the gods that had been seized by the others to His godbrother, the great Indra.
O King, this way from Bali having begged the land delivered the Lord as Vâmana to His godbrother the great Indra the places of the gods that had been taken by the others. (Vedabase)

 

Text 20-21

For the pleasure of Kas'yapa and Aditi [the parents of Vâmana] and for the well-being of all living beings and worlds, the master of the founding fathers Lord Brahmâ, together with the gods, the saints, the forefathers, the Manus, Daksha, Bhrigu, Angirâ, all the great leaders, Lord S'iva and his son [Kârttikeya], made Lord Vâmana the supreme leader of all the authorities in the world.

The master of the founding fathers Lord Brahmâ, together with the godly, the saints, the forefathers, each and all of his sons ['Lord S'iva and Kârttikeya'], the Manus and all the great leaders like Daksha, Brighu and Angirâ, accepted for the pleasure of Kas'yapa and Aditi [as the parents of Vâmana] and for the good of all living beings and worlds, Lord Vâmana as the supreme leader of all local authorities. (Vedabase)

 

Text 22-23

When they made Upendra the master for all purposes, [the protector] of  the Veda, the master of all gods, of all religion, of all fame, of all opulence, of all auspiciousness and of all vows, regarding Him the greatest expert in elevating to a higher life, that, oh ruler of man, made all living beings extremely happy.

Of the Veda, of all gods, of all religion, of all fame, of all opulence, of all auspiciousness, of all vows being the ones most expert in elevating to the higher life paved they in that time the way for Upendra as the master for all purposes and that made all living beings extremely happy, o ruler of man. (Vedabase)

 

Text 24

Indra together with the leaders of the world thereafter, with the permission of Lord Brahmâ, then kept Lord Vâmana in front on the divine path leading to the kingdom of heaven.

Indra thereafter with all the local leaders putting no one but Lord Vâmana in front to travel the high path of the divine ['the heavenly vehicle'] thus took, approved by Lord Brahmâ, with Him to the heavenly world. (Vedabase)


Text 25

Under the protection of Vâmanadeva Indra regained his rule over the three worlds and the pleasure of being blessed by its supreme wealth and had nothing to fear anymore [from the Asuras].

Upon regaining the three worlds enjoyed Indra thus under the protection of Vâmanadeva the opulence and supremacy he was used to and had he nothing to fear from the Asuras. (Vedabase)


Text 26-27

Oh King, Lord Brahmâ, Lord S'iva and his son, the sages headed by Bhrigu, the munis, the forefathers and all the living beings, the perfected souls and the space travelers [the vimâna people] and such, glorified all the supremely wonderful, praiseworthy deeds of Lord Vishnu, also praised Aditi, and then left for each their own world.

Brahmâ, each and all of his sons, Brighu and the others, the munis, o King and the forefathers, all living beings, the perfected and the angels ['who travel the sky'] and such, glorified all together the uncommon and wonderful, praiseworthy deeds of Lord Vishnu and Aditi as well and then left for each their own world. (Vedabase)

 

Text 28

Oh pleasure of the dynasty, to hear about all these activities of Lord Urukrama [the Lord 'of the great steps'] I have described to you, wipes away all consequences of sin.

Hearing, o pleasure of the dynasty, of all these activities of Lord Urukrama [the Lord 'of the great steps'] that I described to you, wipes away all consequences of sin. (Vedabase)

 

Text 29

The great saint [Vasishthha Muni] stated in his mantras that no mortal human being, subject to death or destined to be reborn, can measure the glories of Lord Urukrama, just as no one is capable of counting the number of atoms of the earth [see also B.G. 10: 42 and **].

To the measure of the glories of Him so great in His steps may a person try to count all the atoms of the planet earth; no mortal bound to be born again, nor a mortal of rebirth, is capable of that so stated the great saint [Vasishthha Muni] it in his mantras concerning the Original Person [here Lord Râma, see also B.G. 10: 42 and **]? (Vedabase)

Text 30

Anyone who hears about and keeps listening to the stories about this God of gods, Lord Hari, all of whose works performed in His incarnations are equally wonderful, will attain the supreme destination.

Anyone who hears about and keeps listening to the stories about this God worshiped by the gods, this Lord Hari whose works throughout all His incarnations are equally wonderful, will attain the supreme destination. (Vedabase)

  

Text 31

When one engages in this [telling and listening] during the performance of whatever ritual, whether one is engaged for the gods, the ancestors or one's fellow man [at a marriage ceremony for instance], that ceremony will with these [descriptions] be well-performed.' 

Anyone who does this should, in his engagement of service to the gods, the forefathers or else the contentment of human togetherness, know that wherever and whenever these descriptions are met, that will bring all happiness one can find in the world.' (Vedabase)


*: Often quoted in this context is what S'rî Caitanya Mahâprabhu has recommended:

harer nâma harer nâma
harer nâmaiva kevalam
kalau nâsty eva nâsty eva
nâsty eva gatir anyathâ

"In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is chanting the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way." (Brihan-nâradîya Purâna 38.126)
Also often quoted
is here a part of verse 11.5: 32: 'In the age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Krishna.'

**: Vasishthha Muni has given a mantra about Lord Vishnu: 'na te vishnor jâyamâno na jâto mahimnah pâram anantam âpa': 'No one can estimate the extent of the uncommonly glorious activities of Lord Vishnu'.

 

 

 

Creative Commons License
The text and audio are offered under the conditions of the
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
The picture is of a contemporary painting titled:
"Radha Krishna Bless Chaitanya and Nityananda Mahaprabhu".
Source:
Exoticindia.com. Used with permission.
Production:
Filognostic Association of  The Order of Time


  

 

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