p181 _
-chap- _
toc-1 _
p182w _
toc-2 _
+chap+ _
p183
----- bhagap182.html
people will blame me. I deem this punishment an act of favor a
favor shewn perhaps out of consideration for my grand-father Prah-
lada. For this kingdom only maddened me with power and made
me forget my end. And what shall 1 do with this body too? True
thou art my enemy, but this loss of kingdom has brought me nearer
to thee."
Prahlada appeared at this time. He bowed down to Vamana
and said: "It is thou that didst give the kingdom of Triloki to Bali
and it is thou that hast taken it away and really thou hast shewn
him a favor by doing so. For power maddens a man and blinds him
as to his real self."
Vindhyavali said: "O Lord, Thou art the Creator, the Pre-
server, and the Destroyer of Triloki. Who else could own it besides
Thyself? It was the height of presumption to pretend to give the
Triloki to you." Brahma said: "O Deva of Devas, all-pervading
Lord, thou hast taken away everything from this Bali. He has also
given himself up entirely to Thee, without being moved in the least.
He does not now deserve to remain tied up."
Bhagavan said: "O Brahma, I take away all his riches from
him whom I favor. For one proud of riches disregards both myself
and others. When after many births the Jiva happens to become a
man, and when in that birth he is found not to entertain any pride of
birth, karma, age, beauty, wisdom, power, wealth and other things,
you should know that to be my favor. One constantly devoted to me
is not led away by anything apt to beget pride.
This king of Danavas and Daityas has now conquered Maya.
So he is not beside himself even in grief. His wealth gone, his posi-
tion lost, himself overpowered and chained by enemies, forsaken by
friends, reviled and cursed by his own preceptor, and what not, this
Bali did not give up Truth.
I will give him a place, difficult for others to attain. He shall
be the Indra of Savarni Manvantara. Till then let him reside in
Sutala. By my wish, the dwellers of Sutala shall have no mental or
bodily pain, no fatigue, no sleepiness, no defeat and no misfortune.
Bless thee, O Maharaj, go to Sutala with thy clan. Sutala is even
wished for by those that dwell in Svarga. Even the Lokapalas shall
not be able to overpower thee. What of others? If any Daitya does
not follow thee, I will kill him by my Chakra. By all means I will
[[182]]
p181 _
-chap- _
toc-1 _
p182w _
toc-2 _
+chap+ _
p183
v?