Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 23
Rāhu, Eclipses, Antarikṣa, and the Seven Subterranean Heavens
Bila-svarga
यत्तद्भगवतानधिगतान्योपायेन याच्ञाच्छलेनापहृतस्वशरीरावशेषितलोकत्रयो वरुणपाशैश्च सम्प्रतिमुक्तो गिरिदर्यां चापविद्ध इति होवाच ॥ २३ ॥
yat tad bhagavatānadhigatānyopāyena yācñā-cchalenāpahṛta-sva-śarīrāvaśeṣita-loka-trayo varuṇa-pāśaiś ca sampratimukto giri-daryāṁ cāpaviddha iti hovāca.
Seeing no other way to take everything from Bali Mahārāja, the Bhagavān used the ruse of begging and seized the three worlds. Though only Bali’s body remained, the Lord was not satisfied: He arrested him, bound him with Varuṇa’s ropes, and cast him into a mountain cave. Yet, though stripped of all and thrown into the cave, the great devotee Bali spoke as follows.
FAQs
This verse explains that the Lord used the pretext of begging to take everything from Bali—even his own body—yet Bali’s devotion made him spiritually accomplished, and the Lord ultimately protected him.
Because the Lord’s request for charity was a divine device to reclaim the three worlds and simultaneously reveal Bali Maharaja’s extraordinary surrender and devotion.
It teaches that real success is devotion and surrender to God’s will; even when material security is lost, bhakti remains one’s true wealth and protection.