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.
Nang makita ng Bhagavan na wala nang ibang paraan upang kunin ang lahat kay Bali Maharaja, ginamit Niya ang pakana ng paghingi ng limos at inagaw ang tatlong daigdig. Katawan na lamang ang natira, ngunit hindi pa Siya nasiyahan; dinakip si Bali, iginapos sa mga lubid ni Varuṇa, at itinapon sa yungib ng bundok. Gayunman, kahit naagaw ang lahat, ang dakilang bhakta na si Bali ay nagsalita nang ganito.
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.