Shloka 20
Bali Mahārāja’s Surrender, Prahlāda’s Praise, and the Lord’s Mercy
Sutala and Future Indrahood
श्रीविन्ध्यावलिरुवाच क्रीडार्थमात्मन इदं त्रिजगत् कृतं ते स्वाम्यं तु तत्र कुधियोऽपर ईश कुर्यु: । कर्तु: प्रभोस्तव किमस्यत आवहन्ति त्यक्तह्रियस्त्वदवरोपितकर्तृवादा: ॥ २० ॥
śrī-vindhyāvalir uvāca krīḍārtham ātmana idaṁ tri-jagat kṛtaṁ te svāmyaṁ tu tatra kudhiyo ’para īśa kuryuḥ kartuḥ prabhos tava kim asyata āvahanti tyakta-hriyas tvad-avaropita-kartṛ-vādāḥ
Śrīmatī Vindhyāvalī said: O my Lord, You created these three worlds for the delight of Your own divine pastimes, yet foolish men claim proprietorship for material enjoyment. Shameless unbelievers impose upon themselves a false sense of doership, thinking, “We can give charity and we can enjoy.” You are the independent creator, maintainer, and destroyer—what good could such people ever bring to You?
Bali Mahārāja’s wife, who was most intelligent, supported the arrest of her husband and accused him of having no intelligence because he had claimed proprietorship of the property of the Lord. Such a claim is a sign of demoniac life. Although the demigods, who are officials appointed by the Lord for management, are attached to materialistic enjoyment, they never claim to be proprietors of the universe, for they know that the actual proprietor of everything is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is the qualification of the demigods. But the demons, instead of accepting the exclusive proprietorship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, claim the property of the universe for themselves through demarcations of nationalism. “This part is mine, and that part is yours,” they say. “This part I can give in charity, and this part I can keep for my enjoyment.” These are all demoniac conceptions. This is described in Bhagavad-gītā (16.13): idam adya mayā labdham imaṁ prāpsye manoratham. “Thus far I have acquired so much money and land. Now I have to add more and more. In this way I shall be the greatest proprietor of everything. Who can compete with me?” These are all demoniac conceptions.
FAQs
This verse states that the Lord created the threefold universe for His pastime, and that it is misguided and shameless for others to claim proprietorship or the role of ‘doer’ when the Supreme Lord is the true master and creator.
In the context of Bali Mahārāja’s encounter with Lord Vāmana, Vindhyāvalī emphasizes that all dominion belongs to the Lord; therefore, any claim of independent lordship by conditioned beings is delusion, and Bali’s surrender is aligned with truth.
Recognize that achievements and resources ultimately rest on the Supreme’s sanction; act responsibly but with humility, offering results to God rather than cultivating pride in “I am the doer” or “this is mine.”