SB 8.21.23 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

भवद्भ‍िर्निर्जिता ह्येते बहुशोऽनुचरा हरे: । दैवेनर्द्धैस्त एवाद्य युधि जित्वा नदन्ति न: ॥ २३ ॥

Verse text

bhavadbhir nirjitā hy ete bahuśo ’nucarā hareḥ daivenarddhais ta evādya yudhi jitvā nadanti naḥ

Synonyms

bhavadbhiḥ — by all of you demons ; nirjitāḥ — have been defeated ; hi — indeed ; ete — all these soldiers of the demigods ; bahuśaḥ — in great number ; anucarāḥ — followers ; hareḥ — of Lord Viṣṇu ; daivena — by providence ; ṛddhaiḥ — whose opulence was increased ; te — they (the demigods) ; eva — indeed ; adya — today ; yudhi — in the fight ; jitvā — defeating ; nadanti — are vibrating in jubilation ; naḥ — us .

Translation

Previously, being empowered by providence, you defeated a great number of such followers of Lord Viṣṇu. But today those same followers, having defeated us, are roaring in jubilation like lions.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

The many followers of Viṣṇu who were defeated by you, because you had strength by fate, have now defeated us, and are roaring in jubilation. Seeing that the demons covered with ignorance could not understand philosophy, Bali then gave inspiring instructions that they could accept. Previously the devatās had been defeated by you who had great strength by fate (daivena ṛddhaiḥ).

Purport

Bhagavad-gītā mentions five causes of defeat or victory. Of these five, daiva (providence) is the most powerful ( na ca daivāt paraṁ balam ). Bali Mahārāja knew the secret of how he had formerly been victorious because providence was in his favor. Now, since that same providence was not in his favor, there was no possibility of his victory. Thus he very intelligently forbade his associates to fight.