Verse Text
yathā vā –
ruṣājvalita-buddhinā bhṛgu-sutena śapto ’py alaṁ
mayā hṛta-jagat-trayo ’py atanukaitavaṁ tanvatā |
vinindya kṛta-bandhano ’py uraga-rāja-pāśair balād
arajyata sa mayy aho dviguṇam eva vairocaniḥ ||83||
Translation
Another example: Though Bali was severely cursed by Śukrācarya, who was flaming with anger, and though I stole from Bali the three worlds while playing a trick on him as Vāmanāvatāra, and though I then criticized him for not being able to fulfill his promise, and finally bound him up with ropes made of snakes, his attachment to me increased two-fold.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
These are the words of Kṛṣṇa to Uddhava after returning from the abode of Bali.
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
Kṛṣṇa Himself, after seeing Bali Mahārāja, told Uddhava, “My dear friend, how can I express the glorious characteristics of Bali Mahārāja, the son of Virocana? Although the King of the suras [demigods] was cursed by this son of Virocana, and although I cheated him in My incarnation as Vāmana, taking away his dominions throughout the universe, and although I still criticized him for not fulfilling his promise, I have just now seen him in his kingdom, and he feelingly expressed his love for Me.” [Note: Bali was a king of the demons who waged war against the demigods and nearly conquered the universe. When the demigods prayed for help, the Lord appeared as Vāmanadeva, a dwarf brāhmaṇa, and asked Bali for three paces of land. Bali agreed, and Vāmana covered all the worlds with His first two steps. Then He demanded to know where His third pace was to be. Bali offered his own head beneath the Lord’s foot and thus became a mahājana, or a great devotee.]