Shloka 13
Adhyāya 223: Nāradasya Guṇa-kathana
Catalogue of Nārada’s Virtues
ततो ददर्श स बलिं खरवेषेण संवृतम् । यथा<55ख्यातं भगवता शून्यागारकृतालयम्
tato dadarśa sa baliṃ kharaveṣeṇa saṃvṛtam | yathākhyātaṃ bhagavatā śūnyāgārakṛtālayam ||
അതിനുശേഷം ഭഗവാൻ ബ്രഹ്മാവ് പറഞ്ഞതുപോലെ, ശൂന്യമായ ഒരു വീട്ടിൽ വസിച്ചിരുന്ന രാജാവ് ബലിയെ അവൻ കണ്ടു—കഴുതയുടെ വേഷത്തിൽ സ്വയം മറച്ചിരുന്നവനെ.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical value of humility and withdrawal from display: even a powerful king may choose concealment and a deserted dwelling, suggesting that true worth is not dependent on outward status and that restraint and anonymity can serve dharma.
Following the Blessed Lord’s (Brahmā’s) description, the observer encounters King Bali living in an empty house, deliberately hidden by adopting a donkey’s guise, indicating a purposeful concealment and a life apart from public recognition.