Shloka 26

Devanagari script

अथ तार्क्ष्यसुतो ज्ञात्वा विराट्‌प्रभुचिकीर्षितम् । बबन्ध वारुणै: पाशैर्बलिं सूत्येऽहनि क्रतौ ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

atha tārkṣya-suto jñātvā virāṭ prabhu-cikīrṣitam babandha vāruṇaiḥ pāśair baliṁ sūtye ’hani kratau

Translation

Thereafter Garuḍa, king of birds, understanding his Lord’s intent, on the day of soma-pāna after the sacrifice was completed, bound Bali Mahārāja with the ropes of Varuṇa.

Synonyms

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (particle)

• तार्क्ष्य-सुतः: the son of Tārkṣya (Garuḍa)
• तार्क्ष्य-सुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तार्क्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तार्क्ष्यस्य सुतः

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• विराट्-प्रभु-चिकीर्षितम्: the intention/plan of the universal Lord
• विराट्-प्रभु-चिकीर्षितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विराट् (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक) + चिकीर्षित (कृ धातु, सन्-इच्छार्थ, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—विराजः प्रभोः चिकीर्षितम् (to-be-done intention)

• बबन्ध: bound
• बबन्ध: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• वारुणैः: with Varuṇa’s
• वारुणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘पाशैः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• पाशैः: with nooses/bonds
• पाशैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• बलिम्: Bali
• बलिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• सूत्ये: at the Sūtyā rite
• सूत्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• अहनि: on the day
• अहनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• क्रतौ: in the sacrifice
• क्रतौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

Purport

Garuḍa, the constant companion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, knows the confidential part of the Lord’s desire. Bali Mahārāja’s tolerance and devotion were undoubtedly superexcellent. Garuḍa arrested Bali Mahārāja to show the entire universe the greatness of the King’s tolerance.

Characters & Entities

• Bali Mahārāja
• Garuḍa’s son
• Varuṇa
• Vāmana (the Supreme Lord)

FAQs

Why was Bali Maharaja bound with Varuna’s nooses in Srimad Bhagavatam?

Because the Lord’s plan in the Vāmana-līlā required Bali to be restrained at the sacrifice, setting the stage for Bali’s complete surrender and the Lord’s final benediction.

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavata Purana 8.21.26?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating this to Mahārāja Parīkṣit as part of the account of Vāmana’s dealings with Bali.

What is the practical lesson of Bali being bound despite his devotion?

A devotee may face reversals that appear punitive, yet they can be the Lord’s arrangement to deepen surrender, remove false ego, and reveal divine protection.