Shloka 15
Bali Mahārāja Upholds Truth; Vāmana Reveals the Universal Form and Takes the Two Steps
दृढं पण्डितमान्यज्ञ: स्तब्धोऽस्यस्मदुपेक्षया । मच्छासनातिगो यस्त्वमचिराद्भ्रश्यसे श्रिय: ॥ १५ ॥
dṛḍhaṁ paṇḍita-māny ajñaḥ stabdho ’sy asmad-upekṣayā mac-chāsanātigo yas tvam acirād bhraśyase śriyaḥ
แม้เจ้าไร้ความรู้ ก็กลับสำคัญตนว่าเป็นบัณฑิต และหยิ่งผยองเพราะเมินเฉยต่อเรา ผู้ใดล่วงละเมิดคำสั่งของเรา ผู้นั้นจักสูญสิ้นศรีและความรุ่งเรืองในไม่ช้า
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura says that Bali Mahārāja was not paṇḍita-mānī, or one who falsely assumes himself learned; rather, he was paṇḍita-mānya-jñaḥ, one who is so learned that all other learned persons worship him. And because he was so learned, he could disobey the order of his so-called spiritual master. He had no fear of any condition of material existence. Anyone cared for by Lord Viṣṇu does not need to care about anyone else. Thus Bali Mahārāja could never be bereft of all opulences. The opulences offered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead are not to be compared to the opulences obtained by karma-kāṇḍa. In other words, if a devotee becomes very opulent, it is to be understood that his opulence is a gift of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such opulence will never be vanquished, whereas the opulence achieved by one’s fruitive activity may be vanquished at any moment.
FAQs
This verse warns that arrogance—especially the pride of thinking oneself learned and ignoring higher authority—leads to an imminent fall from śrī (prosperity and fortune).
In the narrative of Canto 8, Indra’s neglect and overstepping of divine order is rebuked by the Lord, who cautions him that disobedience and conceit result in the loss of his opulence.
Avoid intellectual pride and dismissiveness; stay accountable to dharma and guidance from scripture and saintly counsel—humility preserves both inner stability and outer success.