Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 18
Rāhu, Eclipses, Antarikṣa, and the Seven Subterranean Heavens
Bila-svarga
ततोऽधस्तात्सुतले उदारश्रवा: पुण्यश्लोको विरोचनात्मजो बलिर्भगवता महेन्द्रस्य प्रियं चिकीर्षमाणेनादितेर्लब्धकायो भूत्वा वटुवामनरूपेण पराक्षिप्तलोकत्रयो भगवदनुकम्पयैव पुन: प्रवेशित इन्द्रादिष्वविद्यमानया सुसमृद्धया श्रियाभिजुष्ट: स्वधर्मेणाराधयंस्तमेव भगवन्तमाराधनीयमपगतसाध्वस आस्तेऽधुनापि ॥ १८ ॥
tato ’dhastāt sutale udāra-śravāḥ puṇya-śloko virocanātmajo balir bhagavatā mahendrasya priyaṁ cikīrṣamāṇenāditer labdha-kāyo bhūtvā vaṭu-vāmana-rūpeṇa parākṣipta-loka-trayo bhagavad-anukampayaiva punaḥ praveśita indrādiṣv avidyamānayā susamṛddhayā śriyābhijuṣṭaḥ sva-dharmeṇārādhayaṁs tam eva bhagavantam ārādhanīyam apagata-sādhvasa āste ’dhunāpi.
在毗多罗之下是苏多罗（Sutala）界；彼处维罗遮那之子、以至善与盛名著称的巴利大王至今仍居住。为成就天帝因陀罗之利益，毗湿奴以阿底提之子降生，现矮童梵行者伐摩那之相，乞求三步之地，却以三步量取三界。主因巴利尽舍一切而大悦，遂以慈悲使其再入苏多罗，并赐予胜过因陀罗的丰盛吉祥与富贵。如今巴利仍在苏多罗无畏地以奉爱（bhakti）礼敬那位最应礼敬的至上人格神。
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is described as Uttamaśloka, “He who is worshiped by the best of selected Sanskrit verses,” and His devotees such as Bali Mahārāja are also worshiped by puṇya-śloka, verses that increase one’s piety. Bali Mahārāja offered everything to the Lord — his wealth, his kingdom and even his own body ( sarvātma-nivedane baliḥ ). The Lord appeared before Bali Mahārāja as a brāhmaṇa beggar, and Bali Mahārāja gave Him everything he had. However, Bali Mahārāja did not become poor; by donating all his possessions to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he became a successful devotee and got everything back again with the blessings of the Lord. Similarly, those who give contributions to expand the activities of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement and to accomplish its objectives will never be losers; they will get their wealth back with the blessings of Lord Kṛṣṇa. On the other side, those who collect contributions on behalf of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness should be very careful not to use even a farthing of the collection for any purpose other than the transcendental loving service of the Lord.
FAQs
This verse says Bali Mahārāja lives in Sutala, blessed with extraordinary prosperity by the Lord’s mercy, and he continues worshiping the Supreme Lord without fear.
The verse explains the Lord acted to please Indra by checking Bali’s conquest of the three worlds, yet the same Lord compassionately granted Bali a greater, protected residence and enduring divine favor.
Even when life “takes away” our externals, we can remain steady in dharma and devotion; the Bhagavatam highlights that sincere worship and surrender lead to lasting fearlessness and inner prosperity.