Shloka 33

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

Sutala and Future Indrahood

Devanagari script

इन्द्रसेन महाराज याहि भो भद्रमस्तु ते । सुतलं स्वर्गिभि: प्रार्थ्यं ज्ञातिभि: परिवारित: ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

indrasena mahārāja yāhi bho bhadram astu te sutalaṁ svargibhiḥ prārthyaṁ jñātibhiḥ parivāritaḥ

Translation

O Bali Mahārāja (Indrasena), go now; may auspiciousness be yours. Dwell peacefully on Sutala, desired even by the demigods, surrounded by your friends and relatives.

Synonyms

• इन्द्रसेन: O Indrasena
• इन्द्रसेन: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रसेन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• महाराज: O great king
• महाराज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘महान् राजा’; पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• याहि: go
• याहि: Kriya (क्रिया/command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भो: O!
• भो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भो (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बोधन-निपात (vocative particle)

• भद्रम्: good fortune, auspiciousness
• भद्रम्: Karta (कर्ता/predicate-noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘भद्रम् अस्तु’ इति आशीर्वाद-वाक्य

• अस्तु: may it be
• अस्तु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/benedictive sense), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ते: to you; for you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; enclitic form

• सुतलम्: Sutala
• सुतलम्: Karma (कर्म/goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• स्वर्गिभिः: by the dwellers of heaven
• स्वर्गिभिः: Karana (करण/agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• प्रार्थ्यम्: to be sought/desired
• प्रार्थ्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-अर्थ् (धातु) + यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (gerundive/यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying सुतलम्): ‘to be desired/asked for’

• ज्ञातिभिः: by kinsmen
• ज्ञातिभिः: Karana (करण/with/by)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• परिवारितः: surrounded (by)
• परिवारितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-√वृ (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of the addressed person): ‘surrounded’

Purport

Bali Mahārāja was transferred from the heavenly planet to the planet Sutala, which is hundreds of times better than heaven, as indicated by the words svargibhiḥ prārthyam. When the Supreme Personality of Godhead deprives His devotee of material opulences, this does not mean that the Lord puts him into poverty; rather, the Lord promotes him to a higher position. The Supreme Personality of Godhead did not ask Bali Mahārāja to separate from his family; instead, the Lord allowed him to stay with his family members ( jñātibhiḥ parivāritaḥ ).

Characters & Entities

• Indrasena
• Sutala

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Sutala-loka?

This verse describes Sutala as a realm so blessed that even the residents of heaven desire it, indicating extraordinary divine favor associated with Sutala in the Vāmana–Bali narrative.

Why is Sutala said to be desired by the svargīs (heavenly residents)?

Because Sutala is portrayed as exceptionally auspicious—linked with the Lord’s special arrangement and protection—making it more desirable than ordinary heavenly enjoyment.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Seek the Lord’s shelter and blessings over mere status or pleasure; true well-being is measured by divine protection and spiritual fortune, not by worldly elevation.