Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 18
Rāhu, Eclipses, Antarikṣa, and the Seven Subterranean Heavens
Bila-svarga
ततोऽधस्तात्सुतले उदारश्रवा: पुण्यश्लोको विरोचनात्मजो बलिर्भगवता महेन्द्रस्य प्रियं चिकीर्षमाणेनादितेर्लब्धकायो भूत्वा वटुवामनरूपेण पराक्षिप्तलोकत्रयो भगवदनुकम्पयैव पुन: प्रवेशित इन्द्रादिष्वविद्यमानया सुसमृद्धया श्रियाभिजुष्ट: स्वधर्मेणाराधयंस्तमेव भगवन्तमाराधनीयमपगतसाध्वस आस्तेऽधुनापि ॥ १८ ॥
tato ’dhastāt sutale udāra-śravāḥ puṇya-śloko virocanātmajo balir bhagavatā mahendrasya priyaṁ cikīrṣamāṇenāditer labdha-kāyo bhūtvā vaṭu-vāmana-rūpeṇa parākṣipta-loka-trayo bhagavad-anukampayaiva punaḥ praveśita indrādiṣv avidyamānayā susamṛddhayā śriyābhijuṣṭaḥ sva-dharmeṇārādhayaṁs tam eva bhagavantam ārādhanīyam apagata-sādhvasa āste ’dhunāpi.
Unterhalb von Vitala liegt Sutala, wo Bali Mahārāja, der Sohn Virocanas, als überaus frommer König von edlem Ruf gepriesen, noch heute weilt. Zum Wohl Mahendras (Indras) erschien der Herr Viṣṇu als Sohn Aditis in der Gestalt des zwergischen brahmacārī Vāmana und erbat drei Schritte Land, nahm jedoch mit diesen Schritten die drei Welten ein. Erfreut über Balis völlige Hingabe gab der Herr ihm sein Reich zurück und machte ihn reicher als Indra. Bis heute verehrt Bali, furchtlos und seinem Dharma gemäß, denselben anbetungswürdigen Bhagavān durch hingebungsvollen Dienst auf Sutala.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is described as Uttamaśloka, “He who is worshiped by the best of selected Sanskrit verses,” and His devotees such as Bali Mahārāja are also worshiped by puṇya-śloka, verses that increase one’s piety. Bali Mahārāja offered everything to the Lord — his wealth, his kingdom and even his own body ( sarvātma-nivedane baliḥ ). The Lord appeared before Bali Mahārāja as a brāhmaṇa beggar, and Bali Mahārāja gave Him everything he had. However, Bali Mahārāja did not become poor; by donating all his possessions to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he became a successful devotee and got everything back again with the blessings of the Lord. Similarly, those who give contributions to expand the activities of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement and to accomplish its objectives will never be losers; they will get their wealth back with the blessings of Lord Kṛṣṇa. On the other side, those who collect contributions on behalf of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness should be very careful not to use even a farthing of the collection for any purpose other than the transcendental loving service of the Lord.
FAQs
This verse says Bali Mahārāja lives in Sutala, blessed with extraordinary prosperity by the Lord’s mercy, and he continues worshiping the Supreme Lord without fear.
The verse explains the Lord acted to please Indra by checking Bali’s conquest of the three worlds, yet the same Lord compassionately granted Bali a greater, protected residence and enduring divine favor.
Even when life “takes away” our externals, we can remain steady in dharma and devotion; the Bhagavatam highlights that sincere worship and surrender lead to lasting fearlessness and inner prosperity.