Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 31
Bali Mahārāja’s Empowerment and Conquest of Indra’s City
Prelude to Vāmana’s Petition
एष विप्रबलोदर्क: सम्प्रत्यूर्जितविक्रम: । तेषामेवापमानेन सानुबन्धो विनङ्क्ष्यति ॥ ३१ ॥
eṣa vipra-balodarkaḥ sampraty ūrjita-vikramaḥ teṣām evāpamānena sānubandho vinaṅkṣyati
Bali Mahārāja, der Sohn Virocanas, ist nun durch die Segnungen der Brāhmaṇas überaus mächtig geworden; doch wenn er sie später beleidigt, wird er samt Freunden und Helfern besiegt und zugrunde gehen.
Bali Mahārāja and Indra were enemies. Therefore, when Bṛhaspati, the spiritual master of the demigods, predicted that Bali Mahārāja would be vanquished when he insulted the brāhmaṇas by whose grace he had become so powerful, Bali Mahārāja’s enemies were naturally anxious to know when that opportune moment would come. To pacify King Indra, Bṛhaspati assured him that the time would certainly come, for Bṛhaspati could see that in the future Bali Mahārāja would defy the orders of Śukrācārya in order to pacify Lord Viṣṇu, Vāmanadeva. Of course, to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one can take all risks. To please Vāmanadeva, Bali Mahārāja risked defying the orders of his spiritual master, Śukrācārya. Because of this, he would lose all his property, yet because of devotional service to the Lord, he would get more than he expected, and in the future, in the eighth manvantara, he would occupy the throne of Indra again.
FAQs
This verse warns that power gained through brāhmaṇical blessings is lost when one insults those same brāhmaṇas; such offense brings destruction along with one’s supporters.
In the narrative of Canto 8, Bali’s rise is tied to brāhmaṇical potency, yet his impending conflict involves disregarding brāhmaṇas; Shukadeva highlights the spiritual danger of such offense.
Honor those who embody wisdom and integrity, and avoid arrogance after success—especially toward teachers and spiritual guides—because disrespect can undo hard-won progress.