Lord Vamanadeva
Lord Vämanadeva, the Dwarf Incarnation
Srimad Bhagavatam 8the Canto 18th Chapter Summary
This
chapter describes how Lord Vämanadeva appeared and how He went to the
sacrificial arena of Mahäräja Bali, who received Him well and fulfilled
His desire by offering Him benedictions.
Lord Vämanadeva appeared in
this world from the womb of Aditi completely equipped with conchshell,
disc, club and lotus. His bodily hue was blackish, and He was dressed
in yellow garments. Lord Viñëu appeared at an auspicious moment on
Çravaëa-dvädaçé when the Abhijit star had arisen. At that time, in all
the three worlds (including the higher planetary system, outer space
and this earth), all the demigods, the cows, the brähmaëas and even the
seasons were happy because of God’s appearance. Therefore this
auspicious day is called Vijayä. When the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, who has a sac-cid-änanda body, appeared as the son of Kaçyapa
and Aditi, both of His parents were very astonished. After His
appearance, the Lord assumed the form of a dwarf (Vämana). All the
great sages expressed their jubilation, and with Kaçyapa Muni before
them they performed the birthday ceremony of Lord Vämana. At the time
of Lord Vämanadeva’s sacred thread ceremony, He was honored by the
sun-god, Båhaspati, the goddess presiding over the planet earth, the
deity of the heavenly planets, His mother, Lord Brahmä, Kuvera, the
seven åñis and others. Lord Vämanadeva then visited the sacrificial
arena on the northern side of the Narmadä River, at the field known as
Bhågukaccha, where brähmaëas of the Bhågu dynasty were performing
yajïas. Wearing a belt made of muïja straw, an upper garment of
deerskin and a sacred thread and carrying in His hands a daëòa, an
umbrella and a waterpot (kamaëòalu), Lord Vämanadeva appeared in the
sacrificial arena of Mahäräja Bali. Because of His transcendentally
effulgent presence, all the priests were diminished in their prowess,
and thus they all stood from their seats and offered prayers to Lord
Vämanadeva. Even Lord Çiva accepts on his head the Ganges water
generated from the toe of Lord Vämanadeva. Therefore, after washing the
Lord’s feet, Bali Mahäräja immediately accepted the water from the
Lord’s feet on his head and felt that he and his predecessors had
certainly been glorified. Then Bali Mahäräja inquired of Lord
Vämanadeva’s welfare and requested the Lord to ask him for money,
jewels or anything He might desire.
Lord Vämanadeva Begs Charity from Bali Mahäräja
Srimad Bhagavatam 8th Canto 19th Chapter Summary
This
Nineteenth Chapter describes how Lord Vämanadeva asked for three paces
of land in charity, how Bali Mahäräja agreed to His proposal, and how
Çukräcärya forbade Bali Mahäräja to fulfill Lord Vämanadeva’s request.
When
Bali Mahäräja, thinking Vämanadeva to be the son of a brähmaëa, told
Him to ask for anything He liked, Lord Vämanadeva praised Hiraëyakaçipu
and Hiraëyäkña for their heroic activities, and after thus praising the
family in which Bali Mahäräja had been born, He begged the King for
three paces of land. Bali Mahäräja agreed to give this land in charity,
since this was very insignificant, but Çukräcärya, who could understand
that Vämanadeva was Viñëu, the friend of the demigods, forbade Bali
Mahäräja to give this land. Çukräcärya advised Bali Mahäräja to
withdraw his promise. He explained that in subduing others, in joking,
in responding to danger, in acting for the welfare of others, and so
on, one could refuse to fulfill one’s promise, and there would be no
fault. By this philosophy, Çukräcärya tried to dissuade Bali Mahäräja
from giving land to Lord Vämanadeva.
Bali Mahäräja Surrenders the Universe
Srimad Bhagavatam 8th Canto 20th Chapter Summary
The
summary of this Twentieth Chapter is as follows. Despite his knowledge
that Lord Vämanadeva was cheating him, Bali Mahäräja gave everything to
the Lord in charity, and thus the Lord extended His body and assumed a
gigantic form as Lord Viñëu.
After hearing the instructive advice of
Çukräcärya, Bali Mahäräja became contemplative. Because it is the duty
of a householder to maintain the principles of religion, economic
development and sense gratification, Bali Mahäräja thought it improper
to withdraw his promise to the brahmacäré. To lie or fail to honor a
promise given to a brahmacäré is never proper, for lying is the most
sinful activity. Everyone should be afraid of the sinful reactions to
lying, for mother earth cannot even bear the weight of a sinful liar.
The spreading of a kingdom or empire is temporary; if there is no
benefit for the general public, such expansion has no value.
Previously, all the great kings and emperors expanded their kingdoms
with a regard for the welfare of the people in general. Indeed, while
engaged in such activities for the benefit of the general public,
eminent men sometimes even sacrificed their lives. It is said that one
who is glorious in his activities is always living and never dies.
Therefore, fame should be the aim of life, and even if one becomes
poverty-stricken for the sake of a good reputation, that is not a loss.
Bali Mahäräja thought that even if this brahmacäré, Vämanadeva, were
Lord Viñëu, if the Lord accepted his charity and then again arrested
him, Bali Mahäräja would not envy Him. Considering all these points,
Bali Mahäräja finally gave in charity everything he possessed.
Lord
Vämanadeva then immediately extended Himself into a universal body. By
the mercy of Lord Vämanadeva, Bali Mahäräja could see that the Lord is
all-pervading and that everything rests in His body. Bali Mahäräja
could see Lord Vämanadeva as the supreme Viñëu, wearing a helmet,
yellow garments, the mark of Çrévatsa, the Kaustubha jewel, a flower
garland, and ornaments decorating His entire body. The Lord gradually
covered the entire surface of the world, and by extending His body He
covered the entire sky. With His hands He covered all directions, and
with His second footstep He covered the entire upper planetary system.
Therefore there was no vacant place where He could take His third
footstep.
Bali Mahäräja Arrested by the Lord
Srimad Bhagavatam 8th Canto 21st Chapter Summary
This
chapter describes how Lord Viñëu, desiring to advertise the glories of
Bali Mahäräja, arrested him for not fulfilling his promise in regard to
the Lord’s third step.
With the second step the Supreme Personality
of Godhead reached the topmost planet of the universe, Brahmaloka,
which He diminished in beauty by the effulgence of His toenails. Thus
Lord Brahmä, accompanied by great sages like Maréci and the
predominating deities of all the higher planets, offered humble prayers
and worship to the Lord. They washed the Lord’s feet and worshiped Him
with all paraphernalia. Åkñaräja, Jämbavän, played his bugle to vibrate
the glories of the Lord. When Bali Mahäräja was deprived of all his
possessions, the demons were very angry. Although Bali Mahäräja warned
them not to do so, they took up weapons against Lord Viñëu. All of them
were defeated, however, by Lord Viñëu’s eternal associates, and, in
accordance with Bali Mahäräja’s order, they all entered the lower
planets of the universe. Understanding Lord Viñëu’s purpose, Garuòa,
the carrier of Lord Viñëu, immediately arrested Bali Mahäräja with the
ropes of Varuëa. When Bali Mahäräja was thus reduced to a helpless
position, Lord Viñëu asked him for the third step of land. Because Lord
Viñëu appreciated Bali Mahäräja’s determination and integrity, when
Bali Mahäräja was unable to fulfill his promise, Lord Viñëu ascertained
that the place for him would be the planet Sutala, which is better than
the planets of heaven.
Bali Mahäräja Surrenders His Life
Srimad Bhagavatam 8th Canto 22nd Chapter Summary
The
summary of this Twenty-second Chapter is as follows. The Supreme
Personality of Godhead was pleased by the behavior of Bali Mahäräja.
Thus the Lord placed him on the planet Sutala, and there, after
bestowing benedictions upon him, the Lord agreed to become his doorman.
Bali
Mahäräja was extremely truthful. Being unable to keep his promise, he
was very much afraid, for he knew that one who has deviated from
truthfulness is insignificant in the eyes of society. An exalted person
can suffer the consequences of hellish life, but he is very much afraid
of being defamed for deviation from the truth. Bali Mahäräja agreed
with great pleasure to accept the punishment awarded him by the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. In Bali Mahäräja’s dynasty there were many
asuras who because of their enmity toward Viñëu had achieved a
destination more exalted than that of many mystic yogés. Bali Mahäräja
specifically remembered the determination of Prahläda Mahäräja in
devotional service. Considering all these points, he decided to give
his head in charity as the place for Viñëu’s third step. Bali Mahäräja
also considered how great personalities give up their family
relationships and material possessions to satisfy the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. Indeed, they sometimes even sacrifice their
lives for the satisfaction of the Lord, just to become His personal
servants. Accordingly, by following in the footsteps of previous
äcäryas and devotees, Bali Mahäräja perceived himself successful.
While
Bali Mahäräja, having been arrested by the ropes of Varuëa, was
offering prayers to the Lord, his grandfather Prahläda Mahäräja
appeared there and described how the Supreme Personality of Godhead had
delivered Bali Mahäräja by taking his possessions in a tricky way.
While Prahläda Mahäräja was present, Lord Brahmä and Bali’s wife,
Vindhyävali, described the supremacy of the Supreme Lord. Since Bali
Mahäräja had given everything to the Lord, they prayed for his release.
The Lord then described how a nondevotee’s possession of wealth is a
danger whereas a devotee’s opulence is a benediction from the Lord.
Then, being pleased with Bali Mahäräja, the Supreme Lord offered His
disc to protect Bali Mahäräja and promised to remain with him.
The Demigods Regain the Heavenly Planets
Srimad Bhagavatam 8th Canto 23rd Chapter Summary
This
chapter describes how Bali Mahäräja, along with his grandfather
Prahläda Mahäräja, entered the planet Sutala and how the Supreme
Personality of Godhead allowed Indra to reenter the heavenly planet.
The
great soul Bali Mahäräja experienced that the highest gain in life is
to attain devotional service under the shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet
in full surrender. Being fixed in this conclusion, his heart full of
ecstatic devotion and his eyes full of tears, he offered obeisances to
the Personality of Godhead and then, with his associates, entered the
planet known as Sutala. Thus the Supreme Personality of Godhead
satisfied the desire of Aditi and reinstalled Lord Indra. Prahläda
Mahäräja, being aware of Bali’s release from arrest, then described the
transcendental pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in this
material world. Prahläda Mahäräja praised the Supreme Lord for creating
the material world, for being equal to everyone and for being extremely
liberal to the devotees, just like a desire tree. Indeed, Prahläda
Mahäräja said that the Lord is kind not only to His devotees but also
to the demons. In this way he described the unlimited causeless mercy
of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then, with folded hands, he
offered his respectful obeisances unto the Lord, and after
circumambulating the Lord he also entered the planet Sutala in
accordance with the Lord’s order. The Lord then ordered Çukräcärya to
describe Bali Mahäräja’s faults and discrepancies in executing the
sacrificial ceremony. Çukräcärya became free from fruitive actions by
chanting the holy name of the Lord, and he explained how chanting can
diminish all the faults of the conditioned soul. He then completed Bali
Mahäräja’s sacrificial ceremony. All the great saintly persons accepted
Lord Vämanadeva as the benefactor of Lord Indra because He had returned
Indra to his heavenly planet. They accepted the Supreme personality of
Godhead as the maintainer of all the affairs of the universe. Being
very happy, Indra, along with his associates, placed Vämanadeva before
him and reentered the heavenly planet in their airplane. Having seen
the wonderful activities of Lord Viñëu in the sacrificial arena of Bali
Mahäräja, all the demigods, saintly persons, Pitäs, Bhütas and Siddhas
glorified the Lord again and again. The chapter concludes by saying
that the most auspicious function of the conditioned soul is to chant
and hear about the glorious activities of Lord Viñëu.
SB 8.23.1
çré-çuka uväca
ity uktavantaà puruñaà purätanaà
mahänubhävo ’khila-sädhu-sammataù
baddhäïjalir bäñpa-kaläkulekñaëo
bhakty-utkalo gadgadayä giräbravét
TRANSLATION
Çukadeva
Gosvämé said: When the supreme, ancient, eternal Personality of Godhead
had thus spoken to Bali Mahäräja, who is universally accepted as a pure
devotee of the Lord and therefore a great soul, Bali Mahäräja, his eyes
filled with tears, his hands folded and his voice faltering in
devotional ecstasy, responded as follows.
SB 8.23.2
çré-balir uväca
aho praëämäya kåtaù samudyamaù
prapanna-bhaktärtha-vidhau samähitaù
yal loka-pälais tvad-anugraho ’marair
alabdha-pürvo ’pasade ’sure ’rpitaù
TRANSLATION
Bali
Mahäräja said: What a wonderful effect there is in even attempting to
offer respectful obeisances to You! I merely endeavored to offer You
obeisances, but nonetheless the attempt was as successful as those of
pure devotees. The causeless mercy You have shown to me, a fallen
demon, was never achieved even by the demigods or the leaders of the
various planets.
PURPORT
When Vämanadeva appeared before Bali
Mahäräja, Bali Mahäräja immediately wanted to offer Him respectful
obeisances, but he was unable to do so because of the presence of
Çukräcärya and other demoniac associates. The Lord is so merciful,
however, that although Bali Mahäräja did not actually offer obeisances
but only endeavored to do so within his mind, the Supreme Personality
of Godhead blessed him with more mercy than even the demigods could
ever expect. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gétä (2.40), svalpam apy asya
dharmasya träyate mahato bhayät: “Even a little advancement on this
path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.” The Supreme
Personality of Godhead is known as bhäva-grähé janärdana because He
takes only the essence of a devotee’s attitude. If a devotee sincerely
surrenders, the Lord, as the Supersoul in everyone’s heart, immediately
understands this. Thus even though, externally, a devotee may not
render full service, if he is internally sincere and serious the Lord
welcomes his service nonetheless. Thus the Lord is known as bhäva-grähé
janärdana because He takes the essence of one’s devotional mentality.
SB 8.23.15
çré-çukra uväca
kutas tat-karma-vaiñamyaà
yasya karmeçvaro bhavän
yajïeço yajïa-puruñaù
sarva-bhävena püjitaù
TRANSLATION
Çukräcärya
said: My Lord, You are the enjoyer and lawgiver in all performances of
sacrifice, and You are the yajïa-puruña, the person to whom all
sacrifices are offered. If one has fully satisfied You, where is the
chance of discrepancies or faults in his performances of sacrifice?
PURPORT
In
Bhagavad-gétä (5.29) the Lord says, bhoktäraà yajïa-tapasäà
sarva-loka-maheçvaram: the Lord, the supreme proprietor, is the actual
person to he satisfied by the performance of yajïas. The Viñëu puräëa
(3.8.9) says:
varëäçramäcäravatä
puruñeëa paraù pumän
viñëur ärädhyate panthä
nanyat tat-toña-käraëam
All
the Vedic ritualistic sacrifices are performed for the purpose of
satisfying Lord Viñëu, the yajïa-puruña. The divisions of
society—brähmaëa, kñatriya, vaiçya, çüdra, brahmacarya, gåhastha,
vänaprastha and sannyäsa—are all meant to satisfy the Supreme Lord,
Viñëu. To act according to this principle of the varëäçrama institution
is called varëäçramäcaraëa. In Çrémad-Bhägavatam (1.2.13), Süta Gosvämé
says:
ataù pumbhir dvija-çreñöhä
varëäçrama-vibhägaçaù
svanuñöhitasya dharmasya
saàsiddhir hari-toñaëam
“O
best among the twice-born, it is therefore concluded that the highest
perfection one can achieve by discharging his prescribed duties
according to caste divisions and orders of life is to please the
Personality of Godhead.” Everything is meant to satisfy the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. Therefore, since Bali Mahäräja had satisfied
the Lord, he had no faults, and Çukräcärya admitted that cursing him
was not good.
SB 8.23.16
mantratas tantrataç chidraà
deça-kälärha-vastutaù
sarvaà karoti niçchidram
anusaìkértanaà tava
TRANSLATION
There
may be discrepancies in pronouncing the mantras and observing the
regulative principles, and, moreover, there may be discrepancies in
regard to time, place, person and paraphernalia. But when Your
Lordship’s holy name is chanted, everything becomes faultless.
PURPORT
Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu has recommended:
harer näma harer näma
harer nämaiva kevalam
kalau nästy eva nästy eva
nästy eva gatir anyathä
“In
this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is
chanting the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no
other way. There is no other way.” (Båhan-näradéya Puräëa 38.126) In
this age of Kali, it is extremely difficult to perform Vedic
ritualistic ceremonies or sacrifices perfectly. Hardly anyone can chant
the Vedic mantras with perfect pronunciation or accumulate the
paraphernalia for Vedic performances. Therefore the sacrifice
recommended in this age is saìkértana, constant chanting of the holy
name of the Lord. Yajïaiù saìkértana-präyair yajanti hi sumedhasaù
(Bhäg. 11.5.29). Instead of wasting time performing Vedic sacrifices,
those who are intelligent, those who possess good brain substance,
should take to the chanting of the Lord’s holy name and thus perform
sacrifice perfectly. I have seen that many religious leaders are
addicted to performing yajïas and spending hundreds and thousands of
rupees for imperfect sacrificial performances. This is a lesson for
those who unnecessarily execute such imperfect sacrifices. We should
take the advice of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu (yajïaiù saìkértana-präyair
yajanti hi sumedhasaù). Although Çukräcärya was a strict brähmaëa
addicted to ritualistic activities, he also admitted, niçchidram
anusaìkértanaà tava: “My Lord, constant chanting of the holy name of
Your Lordship makes everything perfect.” In Kali-yuga the Vedic
ritualistic ceremonies cannot be performed as perfectly as before.
Therefore Çréla Jéva Gosvämé has recommended that although one should
take care to follow all the principles in every kind of spiritual
activity, especially in worship of the Deity, there is still a chance
of discrepancies, and one should compensate for this by chanting the
holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In our Kåñëa
consciousness movement we therefore give special stress to the chanting
of the Hare Kåñëa mantra in all activities.
SB 8.23.27.
brahmä çarvaù kumäraç ca
bhågv-ädyä munayo nåpa
pitaraù sarva-bhütäni
siddhä vaimänikäç ca ye
sumahat karma tad viñëor
gäyantaù param adbhutam
dhiñëyäni sväni te jagmur
aditià ca çaçaàsire
TRANSLATION
Lord
Brahmä, Lord Çiva, Lord Kärttikeya, the great sage Bhågu, other saintly
persons, the inhabitants of Pitåloka and all other living entities
present, including the inhabitants of Siddhaloka and living entities
who travel in outer space by airplane, all glorified the uncommon
activities of Lord Vämanadeva. O King, while chanting about and
glorifying the Lord, they returned to their respective heavenly
planets. They also praised the position of Aditi.
SB 8.23.28
sarvam etan mayäkhyätaà
bhavataù kula-nandana
urukramasya caritaà
çrotèëäm agha-mocanam
TRANSLATION
O
Mahäräja Parékñit, pleasure of your dynasty, I have now described to
you everything about the wonderful activities of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead Vämanadeva. Those who hear about this are
certainly freed from all the results of sinful activities.
SB 8.23.29
päraà mahimna uruvikramato gåëäno
yaù pärthiväni vimame sa rajäàsi martyaù
kià jäyamäna uta jäta upaiti martya
ity äha mantra-dåg åñiù puruñasya yasya
TRANSLATION
One
who is subject to death cannot measure the glories of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, Trivikrama, Lord Viñëu, any more than he can
count the number of atoms on the entire planet earth. No one, whether
born already or destined to take birth, is able to do this. This has
been sung by the great sage Vasiñöha.
PURPORT
Vasiñöha Muni has
given a mantra about Lord Viñëu: na te viñëor jäyamäno na jäto mahimnaù
päram anantam äpa. No one can estimate the extent of the uncommonly
glorious activities of Lord Viñëu. Unfortunately, there are so-called
scientists who are subject to death at every moment but are trying to
understand by speculation the wonderful creation of the cosmos. This is
a foolish attempt. Long, long ago, Vasiñöha Muni said that no one in
the past could measure the glories of the Lord and that no one can do
so in the future. One must simply be satisfied with seeing the glorious
activities of the Supreme Lord’s creation. The Lord therefore says in
Bhagavad-gétä (10.42), viñöabhyäham idaà kåtsnam ekäàçena sthito jagat:
“With a single fragment of Myself, I pervade and support this entire
universe.” The material world consists of innumerable universes, each
one full of innumerable planets, which are all considered to be
products of the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s material energy. Yet
this is only one fourth of God’s creation. The other three fourths of
creation constitute the spiritual world. Among the innumerable planets
in only one universe, the so-called scientists cannot understand even
the moon and Mars, but they try to defy the creation of the Supreme
Lord and His uncommon energy. Such men have been described as crazy.
Nünaà pramattaù kurute vikarma (Bhäg. 5.5.4). Such crazy men
unnecessarily waste time, energy and money in attempting to defy the
glorious activities of Urukrama, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
.
SB 8.23.30
TRANSLATION
If
one hears about the uncommon activities of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead in His various incarnations, he is certainly elevated to the
higher planetary system or even brought back home, back to Godhead.
.
SB 8.23.31
TRANSLATION
Whenever
the activities of Vämanadeva are described in the course of a
ritualistic ceremony, whether the ceremony be performed to please the
demigods, to please one’s forefathers in Pitåloka, or to celebrate a
social event like a marriage, that ceremony should be understood to be
extremely auspicious.
PURPORT
There are three kinds of
ceremonies—specifically, ceremonies to please the Supreme Personality
of Godhead or the demigods, those performed for social celebrations
like marriages and birthdays, and those meant to please the
forefathers, like the çräddha ceremony. In all these ceremonies, large
amounts of money are spent for various activities, but here it is
suggested that if along with this there is recitation of the wonderful
activities of Vämanadeva, certainly the ceremony will be carried out
successfully and will be free of all discrepancies.
Thus end the
Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Twenty-third Chapter, of
the Çrémad-Bhägavatam, entitled “The Demigods Regain the Heavenly
planets.”