The Bhagavata Purana

by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 780,972 words | ISBN-10: 8120838203 | ISBN-13: 9788120838208

This page describes Bali’s Conquest of the Svarga (Celestial Region) which is chapter 15 of the English translation of the Bhagavata Purana, one of the eighteen major puranas containing roughly 18,000 metrical verses. Topics include ancient Indian history, religion, philosophy, geography, mythology, etc. The text has been interpreted by various schools of philosophy. This is the fifteenth chapter of the Eighth Skandha of the Bhagavatapurana.

Chapter 15 - Bali’s Conquest of the Svarga (Celestial Region)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The King Parīkṣit said:

1. For what purpose did Lord Hari, though himself the Supreme Ruler, beg like a miserable fellow, three paces of land from Bali? Why did he bind him down even though he got his object sought for?

2. This we desire to know thoroughly as it is highly surprising to us that the Lord of sacrifices, (though) Perfect (in all respects within himself), begged like a destitute and (subsequently) bound down (with fetters) the innocent (donor).

Śrī Śuka said:

3. Being deprived of his splendour, wealth as well as his life through being defeated by Indra in a battle, Bali was revived by Śukra and other members of the Bhṛgu clan, Oh king. The noble-minded Bali, with utmost faith, resorted to the Bhṛgus as a disciple, offering them whatever they desired.

4. The Brāhmaṇas of the Bhṛgu clan, endowed as they were with extra-ordinary powers and were pleased with him, consecrated him with the great sacred ablution (called aindra—Pertaining to Indra) with due formalities, (as prescribed in the Bahvṛc Brāhmaṇa), and desirous as he was of conquering the celestial region, made him perform the Viśvajit sacrifice.[1]

5-6. From the sacrificial fire duly worshipped with oblations, there emerged a chariot strengthened with gold plates, horses of the same colour (green) as those of Indra, a banner blazing the emblem of a lion, a celestial bow fastened with plates of gold, a pair of inexhaustible quivers full of arrows, a divine coat of mail. His grandfather (Prahlāda) conferred on him a wreath of never-fading flowers and Śukra (his preceptor), a conch.

7. Thus with all the military equipment procured for him by Brāhmaṇas, and having got the Svastyayana (auspicious rites) performed through them, Bali circumambulated them respectfully, paid obeisance to them and taking his leave of Prahlāda, bowed down to him.

8-9. Ascending into the celestial chariot conferred upon him by the Bhṛgus (Śukra and his clansmen, by performing the sacrifice), the mighty (chariot) warrior Bali, wearing that excellent wreath, put on his armour, armed himself with the bow, the sword and tied up the (inexhaustible) quivers. With his arms radiant with gold armlets and with dazzling ear-rings (of the shape of an alligator) he shone like the fire blazing in its sacrificial place, when he mounted the chariot.

10-11. Accompanied by his retinue and commanders of (other) Daitya legions who were his equals in command, prowess and splendour, and were (as if) drinking the skies and burning the quarters with (their glaring) eyes, and leading the surrounding mighty Daitya army, he marched against the highly prosperous capital of Indra, shaking as it were the heaven and the earth (by its thumping march).

12. The city appeared beautiful with its splendid gardens and parks like Nandana and others, resonant with its warbling pairs of birds and humming intoxicated black-bees.

13. (It looked charming) with the celestial trees whose branches were heavily laden with tender foliage, fruits and blossoms of flowers, with lotus-ponds thereof, full of acquatic birds like swans, cranes, ruddy geese (Cakrāhva), and ducks and young celestials, damsels engaged in watersports with gods therein.

14. It was girt on all sides by the heavenly Gaṅgā (Mandākinī) as its moat. It was surrounded with fortifications of gold, shining like fire and was provided with high towers.

15. Constructed by Viśvakarmā, the entrance and doors of the houses were fitted with panels of gold while the citygates were of crystals and all the roads were well laid down.

16. It appeared beautiful with its assembly halls, quadrangles and streets; it was full of trillions of mansions (or heavenly cars); the quadrangles were paved with precious stones and platforms were studded with diamonds and corals.

17. There young damsels of eternal youth and unfading beauty (ever) appearing sixteen years of age, wearing purest raiment, appeared resplendent like fires ablaze with flames.

18. Breezes wafting the fragrance of wreathes of fresh flowers dropped down from the braids of hair of the heavenly damsels blow through its streets.

19. The beloveds of gods (Heavenly nymphs) pace through the streets, covered with whitish fragrant fumes of the aguru (a kind of sandal-wood) that escape through the gold- windows (of houses).

20. It was covered with pearl-canopies and flag-staffs studded with precious stones, and balconies decorated all around with buntings. It was resonant with notes of peacocks, pigeons, hummings of black-bees and appeared gay and auspicious by the sweet songs of celestial damsels.

21. It was pleasing to the mind with its sounds of mṛdaṅga, conchs, drums and kettle-drums, as also with the sweet rhythmic sound of lutes, murajas, ṛṣṭis (kind of musical instruments) and flutes regulated to the beat of the cymbals, with dances accompanied with orchestral music and songs of demigods (such as Gandharvas, Kinnaras) and had surpassed with its effulgence, the presiding deity of lustre.[2]

22. The impious, wicked, the cruel to other beings, the rogues, the proud, the lustful and the avaricious have no access to it; only those who are free from these defects can reach it.

23. (Bali) the commander-in-chief of that army, laid siege to the capital of gods with his forces and blew his tremendously sounding conch conferred on him by his preceptor, striking terror in the hearts of Indra’s women.

24. Comprehending the full implications of the supreme efforts of Bali, Indra, accompanied by all the legions of gods (approached) his preceptor (Bṛhaspati) and spoke to him as follows:

25. “Worshipful Sir! Tremendous are the (military) preparations of Bali, our old arch-enemy. Me-thinks, they are (now) irresistible. By what energy has he become so overwhelmingly powerful?

26. None is able by any means whatever to approach him or withstand him. He is swallowing the world with his mouth, licking (as it were) the ten quarters, and burning them down by his fiery eyes. He has emerged against us like the fire of dissolution consuming the universe.

27. Be pleased to disclose to me the cause of the irresistibleness of my foe, whereby he derived this energy, mental courage and physical power and prowess and was enabled to make such tremendous efforts.

The Preceptor (Bṛhaspati) Explained:

28. “I know, Oh Indra, the cause of this growth of power of your enemy. It is due to the infusion of spiritual energy in their disciple by those experts in Vedic lore, the Bhṛgus (in exchange of the surrender of all his property to them).

29. With the exception of the Almighty Ruler Hari neither your compeer nor you can stand before him (for confrontation) like human beings before the god of death.

30. Therefore, all of you should now quit the celestial region and go in hiding, biding your favourable time which would bring in the decline of your enemy.

31. With the spiritual power of the Brāhmaṇas, he is getting stronger still and is now of irresistible prowess. (In due course) by insulting those very Brāhmaṇas, he will meet destruction along with his kith and kin.”

32. Having thus received a wise counsel after mature deliberation from their preceptor who viewed (the reality of the situation in the proper perspective) gods, being capable of assuming any form they like, vacated the celestial region.

33. When the gods disappeared, Bali, the son of Virocana established himself in the capital of gods and brought under control all the three worlds.

34. Bhṛgus who were affectionate to their disciple who had (now) conquered the universe, and who was devoted to them, made him perform one hundred horse sacrifices (to stabilise his Indra-hood).

35. By virtue of his greatness in the performance of one hundred horse-sacrifices he diffused his reputation, already known all over the three worlds, in all quarters and shone like the moon, the lord of stars.

36. Considering himself as one who had accomplished all his desires, the noble-minded Bali enjoyed the highly prosperous royal fortune blessed upon him by Brāhmaṇas.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

This order of ‘consecration’ (abhiṣeka) and performance of sacrifice is given by G.S. In the Viśvajit sacrifice the sacrificer has to give all wealth (after separating the share of the eldest son and land).—Kane’s History of Dharma Śāstra II. ii. 1212, Fn. 2644.

[2]:

v.l. The presiding deities of the sun and other planets.

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