Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 21
Bali Mahārāja’s Surrender, Prahlāda’s Praise, and the Lord’s Mercy
Sutala and Future Indrahood
श्रीब्रह्मोवाच भूतभावन भूतेश देवदेव जगन्मय । मुञ्चैनं हृतसर्वस्वं नायमर्हति निग्रहम् ॥ २१ ॥
śrī-brahmovāca bhūta-bhāvana bhūteśa deva-deva jaganmaya muñcainaṁ hṛta-sarvasvaṁ nāyam arhati nigraham
梵天说道：噢，众生的护念者、众生之主、诸天之天、遍满宇宙的至上人格神！你已夺去此人的一切，这惩罚已足够；如今请释放他吧，他不应再受更重的惩治。
When Lord Brahmā saw that Prahlāda Mahārāja and Vindhyāvali had already approached the Lord to ask mercy for Bali Mahārāja, he joined them and recommended Bali Mahārāja’s release on the grounds of worldly calculations.
FAQs
In this verse Brahmā appeals to the Lord to release Bali because he has already lost everything—highlighting that once a soul has been brought to humility and surrender, further harsh punishment is not the Lord’s intention.
Brahmā recognizes Bali’s ordeal—his entire kingdom and wealth were taken—and petitions the all-compassionate Lord that Bali should not be further chastised, implying Bali’s sincerity and the Lord’s merciful nature.
When someone has genuinely learned from a mistake and become humble, choose compassion over continued punishment—correct firmly when needed, but do not prolong resentment once the lesson is learned.