Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 8 Chapter 20 Verse 11

Canto 8: Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations | Chapter 20: Bali Mahārāja Surrenders the Universe

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 8.20.11

yajanti yajñaḿ kratubhir yam ādṛtā

bhavanta āmnāya-vidhāna-kovidāḥ

sa eva viṣṇur varado 'stu vā paro

dāsyāmy amuṣmai kṣitim īpsitāḿ mune

SYNONYMS

yajanti — worship; yajñam — who is the enjoyer of sacrifice; kratubhiḥ — by the different paraphernalia for sacrifice; yam — unto the Supreme Person; ādṛtāḥ — very respectfully; bhavantaḥ — all of you; āmnāya-vidhāna-kovidāḥ — great saintly persons fully aware of the Vedic principles of performing sacrifice; saḥ — that; eva — indeed; viṣṇuḥ — is Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; varadaḥ — either He is prepared to give benedictions; astu — He becomes; vā — or; paraḥ — comes as an enemy; dāsyāmi — I shall give; amuṣmai — unto Him (unto Lord Viṣṇu, Vāmanadeva); kṣitim — the tract of land; īpsitām — whatever He has desired; mune — O great sage.

TRANSLATION

O great sage, great saintly persons like you, being completely aware of the Vedic principles for performing ritualistic ceremonies and yajñas, worship Lord Viṣṇu in all circumstances. Therefore, whether that same Lord Viṣṇu has come here to give me all benedictions or to punish me as an enemy, I must carry out His order and give Him the requested tract of land without hesitation.

PURPORT

As stated by Lord Śiva:

ārādhanānāḿ sarveṣāḿ

viṣṇor ārādhanaḿ param

tasmāt parataraḿ devi

tadīyānāḿ samarcanam

(Padma Purāṇa)

Although in the Vedas there are recommendations for worshiping many demigods, Lord Viṣṇu is the Supreme Person, and worship of Viṣṇu is the ultimate goal of life. The Vedic principles of the varṇāśrama institution are meant to organize society to prepare everyone to worship Lord Viṣṇu.

varṇāśramācāravatā

puruṣeṇa paraḥ pumān

viṣṇur ārādhyate panthā

nānyat tat-toṣa-kāraṇam

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu, is worshiped by the proper execution of prescribed duties in the system of varṇa and āśrama. There is no other way to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead." (Viṣṇu Purāṇa 3.8.9) One must ultimately worship Lord Viṣṇu, and for that purpose the varṇāśrama system organizes society into brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas, śūdras, brahmacārīs, gṛhasthas, vānaprasthas and sannyāsīs. Bali Mahārāja, having been perfectly educated in devotional service by his grandfather Prahlāda Mahārāja, knew how things are to be done. He was never to be misguided by anyone, even by a person who happened to be his so-called spiritual master. This is the sign of full surrender. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura said:

mārabi rākhabi — yo icchā tohārā

nitya-dāsa-prati tuyā adhikārā

When one surrenders to Lord Viṣṇu, one must be prepared to abide by His orders in all circumstances, whether He kills one or gives one protection. Lord Viṣṇu must be worshiped in all circumstances.

<<< >>>

Copyright © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness