SB 10.72.24 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

बलेर्नु श्रूयते कीर्तिर्वितता दिक्ष्वकल्मषा । ऐश्वर्याद् भ्रंशितस्यापि विप्रव्याजेन विष्णुना ॥ २४ ॥ श्रियं जिहीर्षतेन्द्रस्य विष्णवे द्विजरूपिणे । जानन्नपि महीं प्रादाद् वार्यमाणोऽपि दैत्यराट् ॥ २५ ॥

Verse text

baler nu śrūyate kīrtir vitatā dikṣv akalmaṣā aiśvaryād bhraṁśitasyāpi vipra-vyājena viṣṇunā śriyaṁ jihīrṣatendrasya viṣṇave dvija-rūpiṇe jānann api mahīm prādād vāryamāṇo ’pi daitya-rāṭ

Synonyms

baleḥ — of Bali ; nu — is it not so ; śrūyate — are heard ; kīrtiḥ — the glories ; vitatā — widespread ; dikṣu — in all directions ; akalmaṣā — spotless ; aiśvaryāt — from his powerful position ; bhraṁśitasya — who was made to fall ; api — even though ; vipra — of a brāhmaṇa ; vyājena — in the guise ; viṣṇunā — by Lord Viṣṇu ; śrīyam — the opulence ; jihīrṣatā — who wanted to take away ; indrasya — of Indra ; viṣṇave — to Viṣṇu ; dvija — rūpiṇe — appearing as a brāhmaṇa ; jānan — aware ; api — although ; mahīm — the whole earth ; prādāt — he gave ; vāryamāṇaḥ — being forbidden ; api — even ; daitya — of the demons ; rāṭ — the king .

Translation

Indeed, the spotless glories of Bali Mahārāja are heard throughout the world. Lord Viṣṇu, wishing to recover Indra’s opulence from Bali, appeared before him in the guise of a brāhmaṇa and made him fall from his powerful position. Though aware of the ruse and forbidden by his guru, Bali, king of the demons, still gave Viṣṇu the whole earth in charity.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Indeed, the spotless glories of Bali Mahārāja are heard throughout the world. Lord Viṣṇu, wishing to recover Indra's opulence from Bali, appeared before him in the guise of a brāhmaṇa and made him fall from his powerful position. Though aware of the ruse and forbidden by his guru, Bali, king of the demons, still gave Viṣṇu the whole earth in charity. KB 10.72.24-25 In this regard, he began to think of Bali Mahārāja. Lord Viṣṇu in the dress of a brāhmaṇa appeared as a beggar before Bali and snatched away all of his opulence and his kingdom. He did this for the benefit of Indra, who, having been defeated by Bali Mahārāja, was bereft of his kingdom. Although Bali Mahārāja was cheated, his reputation as a great devotee able to give anything and everything in charity is still glorified throughout the three worlds. Bali Mahārāja could guess that the brāhmaṇa was Lord Viṣṇu Himself and had come to him just to take away his opulent kingdom on behalf of Indra. Bali’s spiritual master and family priest, Śukrācārya, repeatedly warned him about this, yet Bali did not hesitate to give in charity whatever the brāhmaṇa wanted, and at last he gave up everything to that brāhmaṇa.

Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

"But what is to be gained by giving charity to cheaters?" This verse answers. "Indeed (nu), the fame of Bali, who lost his position by Visnu disguising himself as a brahmana, wanting to take away his (indrasya) wealth, is heard and spread everywhere." Na is sometimes seen instead of nu. In that case the meaning is "Is not the fame of Bali heard and spread everywhere?" He gave the earth to Visnu even though he knew it was Visnu and even though obstructed by Sukracarya.

Purport (Jiva Goswami)

“But they are enemies.” Though I know this for certain, I must accept them as brāhmaṇas, even though they are enemies disguised as brāhmaṇas, and grant their request like Bali since this will give fame. Two verses describe his way of thinking. Since the Lord was born to Kaśyapa and Aditi, Vāmana was actually brāhmaṇa by birth. But he was also attached to Indra. Hiding kṣatriya tendencies, he took the form of Vāmana with the desire to assist Indra (thus he is called Upendra). Thus Vāmana actually disguised himself as a brāhmaṇa. Remembering Vāmana’s expanding himself in the universe he praises him as Viṣṇu (viṣṇunā, viṣṇave). Bali gave with faith, even offering himself (pra—adāt) since he was the best of the demons (datya-rāṭ), respecting brāhmaṇas. He gave the earth, even though he knew from the beginning that he was being tricked.