Shloka 22

Bali Mahārāja’s Surrender, Prahlāda’s Praise, and the Lord’s Mercy

Sutala and Future Indrahood

Devanagari script

कृत्‍स्‍ना तेऽनेन दत्ता भूर्लोका: कर्मार्जिताश्च ये । निवेदितं च सर्वस्वमात्माविक्लवया धिया ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

kṛtsnā te ’nena dattā bhūr lokāḥ karmārjitāś ca ye niveditaṁ ca sarvasvam ātmāviklavayā dhiyā

Translation

Er hat Dir bereits die ganze Erde, die durch fromme Werke erworbenen Welten und sein gesamtes Besitztum dargebracht; mit unbeirrtem Geist hat er sogar seinen eigenen Körper hingegeben.

Synonyms

• कृत्स्ना: entire
• कृत्स्ना: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत्स्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th/Dative) एकवचन (ते = तुभ्यम्)

• अनेन: by him/with this (person)
• अनेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• दत्ता: given
• दत्ता: Kriya (क्रिया; participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘given’

• भूः: the earth
• भूः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; with ‘dattā’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• लोकाः: worlds
• लोकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; coordinated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• कर्म-अर्जिताः: earned by deeds
• कर्म-अर्जिताः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of ‘lokāḥ’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्मन् + अर्जित (कृदन्त; √अर्ज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (कर्मणा अर्जिताः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ये: which
• ये: Anuyogi (अनुयोगी/Relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• निवेदितम्: offered
• निवेदितम्: Kriya (क्रिया; participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-विद्/नि-वेद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘offered/submitted’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सर्वस्वम्: all possessions; everything
• सर्वस्वम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; of ‘niveditam’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वस्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आत्म-अविक्लवया: with unshaken (self-possessed)
• आत्म-अविक्लवया: Karana (करण/Instrument; qualifier of ‘dhiyā’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मन् + अविक्लव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (अविक्लवा धिः यस्याः—‘with an unshaken mind’)

• धिया: by (his) understanding/mind
• धिया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Bali Mahārāja
• Vāmana (Lord Viṣṇu)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about offering everything to God (sarvasva nivedanam)?

This verse praises Bali Mahārāja for offering not only his earned realms but his entire self to Lord Vāmana with an unshaken mind—showing that true devotion culminates in complete surrender.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe Bali Mahārāja’s mind as ‘unagitated’ (aviklava)?

Because despite losing his possessions and status, Bali remained steady in dharma and devotion, treating the Lord’s demand as an opportunity to surrender rather than a cause for fear or regret.

How can I apply Bali Mahārāja’s surrender in modern life?

Practice offering the results of your work to the Lord, reduce possessiveness, keep integrity under pressure, and cultivate steadiness in faith when circumstances strip away comfort or control.