श्रीमद्भागवतमहापुराणम् अष्टम: स्कन्ध: त्रयोविंश: अध्याय: श्री शुक उवाच - Shree Shuka said - इत्युक्तवन्तं पुरुषं पुरातनं महानुभावोऽखिलसाधुसंमत: ।
बद्धाञ्जलिर्वाष्पकलाकुलेक्षणो भक्त्युद्गलो गद्गदया गिराब्रवीत् ॥१॥
इति-उक्तवन्तम् thus, to the so saying
पुरुषम् पुरातनम् Person Ancient महानुभाव:- the magnanimous (Bali) अखिल-साधु-संमत: by all the sages esteemed बद्ध-अञ्जलि:- with folded hands वाष्प-कला-आकुल-ईक्षण: teardrops overwhelmed eyes, भक्ति-उद्गल: with devotion filled गद्गदया गिरा-अब्रवीत् choked voice said Thus, to the so saying Ancient Person, the magnanimous Bali, esteemed by the sages, with folded hands, eyes overwhelmed with tear drops, and with devotion filled, choked voice said,….


बलि:-उवाच - Bali said - अहो प्रणामाय कृत: समुद्यम: प्रपन्नभक्तार्थविधौ समाहित: ।
यल्लोकपालैस्त्वदनुग्रहोऽमरैरलब्धपूर्वोऽपसदेऽसुरेऽर्पित: ॥२॥
अहो प्रणामाय Oh! For bowing
कृत: समुद्यम: making sincere effort प्रपन्न-भक्ति-अर्थ- for the surrendered in devotion's result विधौ समाहित: intent to secure (for me) यत्-लोकपालै:- which by the quarters' guardians त्वत्-अनुग्रह:-अमरै:- Your grace by the gods अलब्ध-पूर्व:- unattained before अपसदे-असुरे-अर्पित: to the undeserving Asura is vouchsafed Oh! Just by the sincere effort of bowing to Your feet, the result of devotion which is for the devotionally surrendered, that result is intent to secure for me, which is unattained before by the guardians of the quarters, or by the gods, that is vouchsafed for this undeserving Asura, me.


श्री शुक उवाच - Shree Shuka said - इत्युक्त्वा हरिमानम्य ब्रह्माणं सभवं तत: ।
विवेश सुतलं प्रीतो बलिर्मुक्त: सहासुरै: ॥३॥
इति-उक्त्वा हरिम्-आनम्य thus saying, to Hari bowing
ब्रह्माणम् सभवम् तत: to Brahmaa with Shankara, then, विवेश सुतलम् प्रीत: entered Sutala, delighted बलि:-मुक्त: सह-असुरै: Bali, free, with the Asuras Having said thus, Bali, freed of bondage, bowed to Shree Hari, to Brahmaa and to Shankara, and with delight entered Sutala along with the Asuras.


एवमिन्द्राय भगवान् प्रत्यनीय त्रिविष्टपम् ।
पूरयित्वादिते: काममशासत् सकलं जगत् ॥४॥
एवम्-इन्द्राय भगवान् in this manner, to Indra, The Lord
प्रत्यनीय त्रिविष्टपम् restored the heaven पूरयित्वा-अदिते: कामम्- fulfilling Aditi's desire अशासत् सकलम् जगत् ruled on the whole universe In this manner, The Lord restored the heaven to Indra, and having fulfilled Aditi's desire, ruled over the whole universe.


लब्ध प्रसादं निर्मुक्तं पौत्रं वंशधरं बलिम् ।
निशाम्य भक्तिप्रवण: प्रह्लाद इदमब्रवीत् ॥५॥
लब्ध-प्रसादम् निर्मुक्तम् receiving the grace, free of bondage,
पौत्रम् वंशधरम् बलिम् grandson, the forwarder of lineage, Bali, निशाम्य भक्ति-प्रवण: seeing, in devotion the expert, प्रह्लाद: इदम्-अब्रवीत् Prahlaada, this said Seeing his grandson Bali, the forwarder of the lineage, free of bondage, and the recipient of Lord's grace, Prahlaada, the expert in devotion, said thus,…..


प्रह्लाद उवाच - Prahlaada said - नेमं विरिञ्चो लभते प्रसादं न श्रीर्न शर्व: किमुतापरे ते ।
यन्नोऽसुराणामसि दुर्गपालो विश्वाभिवन्द्यैरपि वन्दिताङ्घ्रि: ॥६॥
न-इमम् विरिञ्च: लभते not this, Brahmaa, receives
प्रसादम् न श्री:-न शर्व: grace, not Shree, not Shankara, किम्-उत-अपरे ते what of others, Yours यत्-न:-असुराणाम्-असि which to us Asuras (that) (You) are दुर्गपाल: विश्व-अभिवन्द्यै:- the fort governor, by the universe adorable अपि वन्दित-अङ्घ्रि: also, adored feet This sort of grace, is not received even by the adorable of the universe, Brahmaa, Shree and Shiva, what then of the others? In that, of us, the Asuras, You, of adored feet, are the fort governor.


यत्पादपद्ममकरन्दनिषेवणेन ब्रह्मादय: शरणदाश्नुवते विभूती: ।
कस्माद् वयं कुसृतय: खलयोनयस्ते दाक्षिण्यदृष्टिपदवीं भवत: प्रणीता: ॥७॥
यत्-पाद-पद्म-मकरन्द- Whose feet lotuses' honey
निषेवणेन ब्रह्मा-आदय: by imbuing, Brahmaa and others शरणद-अश्नुवते विभूती: O Shelter provider! (Lord), enjoy opulence (power) कस्माद् वयम् कुसृतय: how then, we, of evil ways खल-योनय:-ते दाक्षिण्य of wicked race, of Your gracious O Shelter Provider Lord! Brahmaa and others, enjoy opulence and power by virtue of their being addicted to the honey of Your lotus feet. How, then, we, of evil ways and of a wicked race, are made the object of Your gracious look, by You ?


चित्रं तवेहितमहोऽमितयोगमाया-लीलाविसृष्टभुवनस्य विशारदस्य ।
सर्वात्मन: समदृशो विषम: स्वभावो भक्तिप्रियो यदसि कल्पतरुस्वभाव: ॥८॥
चित्रम् तव-ईहितम्-अहो- strange, Your sportings, Oh!
अमित-योग-माया-लीला- By invincible creative energy, sportingly विसृष्ट भुवनस्य विशारदस्य released of the worlds omniscient सर्व-आत्मन: समदृश: of all the very Self, looking at all with the same eye विषम: स्वभाव: भक्ति-प्रिय: contrary nature, (because) of devotees are fond of यत्-असि कल्पतरु-स्वभाव: because Are of the Kalpataru nature Your sportings are strange. Oh! By Your invincible creative energy (Yoga Maayaa)You sportingly release this world. You are the very Self of all, omniscient, looking at everything with the same eye, yet, Your nature is contrary, because You are fond of devotees and like the Kalpataru, the wish-yielding tree, You fulfil their desires.


श्री भगवान्-उवाच - The Lord said - वत्स प्रह्लाद भद्रं ते प्रयाहि सुतलालयम् ।
मोदमान: स्वपौत्रेण ज्ञातिनां सुखमावह ॥९॥
वत्स प्रह्लाद भद्रम् ते 'Son Prahlaada! good be to you
प्रयाहि सुतल-आलयम् proceed to the Sutala abode मोदमान: स्व-पौत्रेण rejoice with your grandson ज्ञातिनाम् सुखम्-आवह the kinsfolk delight bring' "Son Prahlaada! May all be good to you! Proceed to the Sutala abode, rejoice with your grandson and bring delight to your kinsfolk."


नित्यं द्रष्टासि मां तत्र गदापाणिमवस्थितम् ।
मद्दर्शनमहाह्लादध्वस्तकर्मनिबन्धन: ॥१०॥
नित्यम् द्रष्टासि माम् तत्र always will see Me there
गदा-पाणिम्-अवस्थितम् mace in hand stationed मत्-दर्शन-महा-आह्लाद- by My sight great joy (inducing) ध्वस्त-कर्म-निबन्धन: shattered all actions bondages There, you will always see Me stationed, mace in hand. By the great joy induced by My sight, all the bondages of your past actions will be shattered.


श्री शुक उवाच - Shree Shuka said - आज्ञां भगवतो राजन् प्रह्लादो बलिना सह ।
बाढमित्यमलप्रज्ञो मूर्ध्न्याधाय कृताञ्जलि: ॥११॥
आज्ञा भगवत: राजन्- order of The Lord, O King!
प्रह्लाद: बलिना सह Prahlaada Bali along with बाढम्-इति-अमल-प्रज्ञ: 'Very well' thus of untainted intellect मूर्ध्नि-आधाय कृत-अञ्जलि: on head bearing, with folded hands O King! The command of The Lord, Prahlaada of untainted intellect, with folded hands took on his head, along with Bali, 'Very well' thus …


परिक्रम्यादिपुरुषं सर्वासुरचमूपति: ।
प्रणतस्तदनुज्ञात: प्रविवेश महाबिलम् ॥१२॥
परिक्रम्य-आदि-पुरुषम् circumambulating the Primary Person
सर्व-असुर-चमू-पति: of all the Asura armies, the general प्रणत:-तद्-अनुज्ञात: bowing, by Him permitted प्रविवेश महाबिलम् entered subterranean world Prahlaada, the general of all Asura armies, circumambulated The Primary Person, bowed down to Him, and with His permission, entered the subterranean world.


अथाहोशनसं राजन् हरिर्नारायणोऽन्तिके ।
आसीनमृत्विजां मध्ये सदसि ब्रह्मवादिनाम् ॥१३॥
अथ-आह-उशनसम् राजन् then, said to Ushanas, (Shukraachaaryaa), O King!
हरि:-नारायण:-अन्तिके आसीनम्- Shree Hari, Naaraayana, to close by sitting ऋत्विजाम् मध्ये in the priests midst सदसि ब्रह्म-वादिनाम् in the assembly of the Veda exponents Then, Lord Naaraayana, Shree Hari said to Shukraachaaryaa, who was sitting close by, in the midst of the assembly of the Vedic exponent priests.


ब्रह्मन् संतनु शिष्यस्य कर्मच्छिद्रं वितन्वत: ।
यत् तत् कर्मसु वैषम्यं ब्रह्मदृष्टं समं भवेत् ॥१४॥
ब्रह्मन् संतनु शिष्यस्य 'O Holy Braahmana! Complete, of your disciple
कर्म-च्छिद्रम् वितन्वत: ritual lacking, while performing यत् तत् कर्मसु वैषम्यम् because, that in the rituals, the mistakes ब्रह्म-दृष्टम् समम् भवेत् by Braahmana's noticing, corrected becomes 'O Holy Braahmana! Complete the rituals performed by your disciple, if they are lacking in any way, because any mistakes in the rituals are rectified by the noticing of the Braahmanas.'


श्री शुक्र उवाच - Shree Shukra said - कुतस्तत्कर्मवैषम्यं यस्य कर्मेश्वरो भवान् ।
यज्ञेशो यज्ञपुरुष: सर्वभावेन पूजित: ॥१५॥
कुत:-तत्-कर्म-वैषम्यम् where is his ritual's defect
यस्य कर्म-ईश्वर: भवान् whose of actions The Lord, You, यज्ञेश: यज्ञ-पुरुष: of sacrifices The Lord, of sacrifices The deity सर्व-भावेन पूजित: by all means and devotion is worshipped Where can there be any defects in the performance of his rituals, by whom, You The Lord of actions, The Lord of sacrifices, The deity of sacrifices, was duly worshipped by all means and with full devotion.


मन्त्रतस्तन्त्रतश्छिद्रं देशकालार्हवस्तुत: ।
सर्वं करोति निश्छिद्रं नामसंकीर्तनं तव ॥१६॥
मन्त्रत:-तन्त्रत:-छिद्रम् by way of the mantras, the procedure, defect
देश-काल-अर्ह-वस्तुत: सर्वम् of place, time, of the priests and material, all करोति निश्छिद्रम् is made defect less नाम संकीर्तनं तव by the names chanting Your Any defect in the chanting of the mantras, the procedure of the sacrifice, or of place, time, the priests, and material, all is rendered defect less by the chanting of Your name.


तथापि वदतो भूमन् करिष्याम्यनुशासनम् ।
एतच्छ्रेय: परं पुंसां यत् तवाज्ञानुपालनम् ॥१७॥
तथा-अपि वदत: भूमन् then even, as said by You, O Infinite Lord!
करिष्यामि-अनुशासनम् will do as directed (by You) एतत्-श्रेय: परम् पुंसाम् यत् this is beneficial most, for people that तव-आज्ञा-अनुपालनम् Your command to obey Even then, O Infinite Lord! I will do as directed by You. To obey Your command is of the highest benefit for the people.


श्री शुक उवाच - Shree Shuka said - अभिनन्द्य हरेराज्ञामुशना भगवानिति ।
यज्ञच्छिद्रं समाधत्त बलेर्विप्रर्षिभि: सह ॥१८॥
अभिनन्द्य हरे:-आज्ञाम्- accepting Lord Hari's orders
उशना भगवान्-इति Ushanaa, the glorious, thus, यज्ञ-च्छिद्रम् समाधत्त of the sacrifice the mistakes rectified बले:-विप्र-ऋषिभि: सह of Bali, the Braahmana sages with The glorious Ushanaa, Shukraachaaryaa, thus accepted the commands of Lord Shree Hari, and along with the other Braahmana sages rectified the defects of Bali's sacrifice.


एवं बलेर्महीं राजन् भिक्षित्वा वामनो हरि: ।
ददौ भ्रात्रे महेन्द्राय त्रिदिवं यत् परैर्हृतम् ॥१९॥
एवम् बले:-महीम् राजन् thus, Bali's land, O King!
भिक्षित्वा वामन: हरि: by begging, the Dwarf Lord Shree Hari ददौ भ्रात्रे महेन्द्राय gave to brother, the mighty Indra त्रिदिवम् यत् परै:-हृतम् the heaven which the enemies had usurped O King! In this manner, The Dwarf Lord Shree Hari, took away Bali's land by begging it, and gave the heaven to His brother, the mighty Indra, which was usurped by the enemies.


प्रजापतिपतिर्ब्रह्मा देवर्षिपितृभूमिपै: ।
दक्षभृग्वङ्गिरोमुख्यै: कुमारेण भवेन च ॥२०॥
प्रजापति-पति:-ब्रह्मा of the Prajaapatis, the lord, Brahmaa
देवर्षि-पितृ-भूमिपै: the god sages, the manes, the Manus दक्ष-भृगु-अङ्गिर:-मुख्यै: Daksha, Bhrigu, Angiraa, the leaders कुमारेण भवेन च with the Sanat kumara, and Shiva Brahmaa, the lord of the Prajaapatis, the god sages, the manes, the Manus, Daksha, Bhrigu, Angiraa, the leaders, with the Sanat kumara, and Shiva,….


कश्यपस्यादिते: प्रीत्यै सर्वभूतभवाय च ।
लोकानां लोकपालानामकरोद् वामनं पतिम् ॥२१॥
कश्यपस्य-अदिते: प्रीत्यै for Kashyapa's and Aditi's pleasure
सर्व-भूत-भवाय च for all creations welfare लोकानाम् लोक-पालानाम्- of the worlds, the quarters' guardians, अकरोत्-वामनम् पतिम् made The Dwarf the Lord For the pleasure of Kashyapa and Aditi, and for the welfare of all the created beings, they made The Dwarf the Lord of all the guardians of the quarters.


वेदानां सर्वदेवानां धर्मस्य यशस: श्रिय: ।
मङ्गलानां व्रतानां च कल्पं स्वर्गापवर्गयो: ॥२२॥
वेदानाम् सर्व-देवानाम् of the Vedas, of all the gods
धर्मस्य यशस: श्रिय: of righteousness, of fame, wealth मङ्गलानाम् व्रतानाम् च blessings and sacred vows कल्पम् स्वर्ग-अपवर्गयो: made, of heaven and of final beatitude They made The Dwarf the Lord of the Vedas, of all the gods, of righteousness, of fame, of wealth, of blessings and sacred vows, of heavens and of final beatitude.


उपेन्द्रं कल्पयाञ्चक्रे पतिं सर्वविभूतये ।
तदा सर्वाणि भूतानि भृशं मुमुदिरे नृप ॥२३॥
उपेन्द्रम् कल्पयाम्-चक्रे younger brother of Indra, to the position, made
पतिम् सर्व-विभूतये the Lord of all powers तदा सर्वाणि भूतानि then, all the created beings भृशम् मुमुदिरे नृप very much rejoiced, O Ruler of men! O Ruler of men! They put Him in the position of the younger brother of Indra, and made Him the Lord of all powers. At that time, all the created beings rejoiced very much.


ततस्त्विन्द्र: पुरस्कृत्य देवयानेन वामनम् ।
लोकपालैर्दिवं निन्ये ब्रह्मणा चानुमोदित: ॥२४॥
तत:-तु-इन्द्र: पुरस्कृत्य then, indeed, Indra, placing Him in front
देव-यानेन वामनम् by the celestial car, Vaamana लोकपालै:-दिवम् निन्ये with the quarters' guardians to heaven took ब्रह्मणा च-अनुमोदित: by Brahmaa and permitted Then, Indra with the guardians of the quarters, placed Vaamana in front, and with the permission of Brahmaa, took Him to the heaven in the celestial car.


प्राप्य त्रिभुवनं चेन्द्र उपेन्द्रभुज पालित: ।
श्रिया परमया जुष्टो मुमुदे गतसाध्वस: ॥२५॥
प्राप्य त्रिभुवनम् च-इन्द्र obtaining the three worlds', and Indra
उपेन्द्र भुज पालित: by Upendra (Vaamana) arms protected श्रिया परमया जुष्ट: with glory supreme invested मुमुदे गत-साध्वस: rejoiced devoid of fear And Indra obtained the sovereignty of the three worlds, was protected by the arms of Upendra, Vaamana, was invested with supreme glory, and devoid of fear, rejoiced.


ब्रह्मा शर्व: कुमारश्च भृग्वाद्या मुनयो नृप ।
पितर: सर्वभूतानि सिद्धा वैमानिकाश्च ये ॥२६॥
ब्रह्मा शर्व: कुमार:-च Brahmaa, Shiva, Sanatkumaaras,
भृगु-आद्या: मुनय: नृप and Bhrigu and others, the sages, O King! पितर: सर्व-भूतानि the manes, all created beings सिद्धा: वैमानिका:-च हि the Siddhas, in Ariel cars and indeed O King! Brahmaa, Shiva, Sanatkumaaras, and Bhrigu and others the sages, the manes, all created beings, and the Siddhas, in Ariel cars, indeed,…


सुमहत् कर्म तद् विष्णोर्गायन्त: परमाद्भुतम् ।
धिष्ण्यानि स्वानि ते जग्मुरदितिं च शशंसिरे ॥२७॥
सुमहत् कर्म तत् विष्णो:- the great deed that of Vishnu,
गायन्त: परम-अद्भुतम् praising, highly wonderful धिष्ण्यानि स्वानि ते जग्मु:- to realms own they went अदितिम् च शशंसिरे Aditi and extolled They all sang the praises of that great and very wonderful deed of Vishnu, and went back to their own realms, as they extolled Aditi.


सर्वमेतन्मयाऽऽख्यातं भवत: कुलनन्दन ।
उरुक्रमस्य चरितम् श्रोतृणामघमोचनम् ॥२८॥
सर्वम्-एतत्-मया-आख्यातम् all this, by me is told
भवत: कुलनन्दन to you, O Delighter of your race! उरुक्रमस्य चरितम् of the wide strides (Vishnu's) story श्रोतृणाम्-अघ-मोचनम् of those hearing it, sins releasing O Delighter of your race! Of the wide strides', Lord Vishnu's all this story I have told to you. This destroys the sins of those who hear it.


पारं महिम्न उरु विक्रमतो गृणानो य: पार्थिवानि विममे स रजांसि मर्त्य: ।
किं जायमान उत जात उपैति मर्त्य इत्याह मन्त्रदृगृषि: पुरुषस्य यस्य ॥२९॥
पारम् महिम्न: उरु विक्रमत: extent of the prowess of The wide strides'
गृणान: य: पार्थिवानि विममे estimate who of the earth to count स: रजांसि मर्त्य: he the dust particles, mortal किम् जायमान: उत जात: who will be born, or is born, उपैति मर्त्य: इति-आह is capable a mortal, thus said मन्त्र-दृक्-ऋषि: Mantra seer sage (Vashishtha) पुरुषस्य यस्य of Person's Whose To claim to know the extent of the wide strides' Vishnu's prowess, glory, is like a mortal having claimed to count the dust particles of the globe. Which person, that is born, or will be born is capable of ascertaining the glory of The Perfect Person, thus said the Mantra seer sage Vashishtha.


य इदं देवदेवस्य हरेरद्भुतकर्मण: ।
अवतारानुचरितं शृण्वन् याति परां गतिम् ॥३०॥
य: इदम् देव-देवस्य who (so ever), this of The Lord of the gods
हरे:-अद्भुत-कर्मण: Shree Hari's wonderful deeds' अवतार-अनुचरितम् descent accounts शृण्वन् याति पराम् गतिम् hearing attains the highest state Who ever hears, this wonderful account of the wonderful deeds and of the descent of The Lord of the gods', Shree Hari, attains the highest state.


क्रियमाणे कर्माणीदं दैवे पित्र्येऽथ मानुषे ।
यत्र यत्रानुकीर्त्येत तत् तेषां सुकृतं विदु: ॥३१॥
क्रियमाणे कर्माणि-इदम् दैवे while doing rituals this, for the gods,
पित्र्ये-अथ मानुषे for the manes, then for human beings यत्र यत्र-अनुकीर्त्येत where all is repeatedly recited तत् तेषाम् सुकृतम् विदु: that for them, good done will be, is declared The wise declare that, while performing rituals intended for the gods, for the manes or for the human beings, or where ever, when this is repeatedly recited, that ritual will be well performed.


श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां संहितायां अष्टमे स्कन्धे वामन-अवतार चरिते त्रयोविंश: अध्याय: ॥२३॥
Thus ends the twenty-third discourse, comprised in the story of the descent of the divine Dwarf, in Book Eight of the great and glorious Bhaagavata-Puraana.