Śrīmad Bhāgavatam |Canto 8 Chapter 23

The Demigods Regain the Heavenly Planets

VERSE 8.23.1

śrī-śuka uvāca

ity uktavantaṁ puruṣaṁ purātanaṁ
mahānubhāvo ’khila-sādhu-sammataḥ
baddhāñjalir bāṣpa-kalākulekṣaṇo
bhakty-utkalo gadgadayā girābravīt

SYNONYMS

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti — thus; uktavantam — upon the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; puruṣam — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; purātanam — the oldest of everyone; mahā-anubhāvaḥ — Bali Mahārāja, who was a great and exalted soul; akhila-sādhu-sammataḥ — as approved by all saintly persons; baddha-añjaliḥ — with folded hands; bāṣpa-kala-ākula-īkṣaṇaḥ — whose eyes were filled with tears; bhakti-utkalaḥ — full of ecstatic devotion; gadgadayā — which were faltering in devotional ecstasy; girā — by such words; abravīt — said.

TRANSLATION

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: When the supreme, ancient, eternal Personality of Godhead had thus spoken to Bali Mahārāja, who is universally accepted as a pure devotee of the Lord and therefore a great soul, Bali Mahārāja, his eyes filled with tears, his hands folded and his voice faltering in devotional ecstasy, responded as follows.

VERSE 8.23.2

śrī-balir uvāca

aho praṇāmāya kṛtaḥ samudyamaḥ
prapanna-bhaktārtha-vidhau samāhitaḥ
yal loka-pālais tvad-anugraho ’marair
alabdha-pūrvo ’pasade ’sure ’rpitaḥ

SYNONYMS

śrī-baliḥ uvāca — Bali Mahārāja said; aho — alas; praṇāmāya — to offer my respectful obeisances; kṛtaḥ — I did; samudyamaḥ — only an endeavor; prapanna-bhakta-artha-vidhau — in the regulative principles observed by pure devotees; samāhitaḥ — is capable; yat — that; loka-pālaiḥ — by the leaders of various planets; tvat-anugrahaḥ — Your causeless mercy; amaraiḥ — by the demigods; alabdha-pūrvaḥ — not achieved previously; apasade — unto a fallen person like me; asure — belonging to the asura community; arpitaḥ — endowed.

TRANSLATION

Bali Mahārāja said: What a wonderful effect there is in even attempting to offer respectful obeisances to You! I merely endeavored to offer You obeisances, but nonetheless the attempt was as successful as those of pure devotees. The causeless mercy You have shown to me, a fallen demon, was never achieved even by the demigods or the leaders of the various planets.

VERSE 8.23.3

śrī-śuka uvāca

ity uktvā harim ānatya
brahmāṇaṁ sabhavaṁ tataḥ
viveśa sutalaṁ prīto
balir muktaḥ sahāsuraiḥ

SYNONYMS

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti uktvā — saying this; harim — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari; ānatya — offering obeisances; brahmāṇam — unto Lord Brahmā; sa-bhavam — with Lord Śiva; tataḥ — thereafter; viveśa — he entered; sutalam — the planet Sutala; prītaḥ — being fully satisfied; baliḥ — Bali Mahārāja; muktaḥ — thus released; saha asuraiḥ — with his asura associates.

TRANSLATION

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: After speaking in this way, Bali Mahārāja offered his obeisances first to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, and then to Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva. Thus he was released from the bondage of the nāga-pāśa [the ropes of Varuṇa], and in full satisfaction he entered the planet known as Sutala.

VERSE 8.23.4

evam indrāya bhagavān
pratyānīya triviṣṭapam
pūrayitvāditeḥ kāmam
aśāsat sakalaṁ jagat

SYNONYMS

evam — in this way; indrāya — unto King Indra; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; pratyānīya — giving back; tri-viṣṭapam — his supremacy in the heavenly planets; pūrayitvā — fulfilling; aditeḥ — of Aditi; kāmam — the desire; aśāsat — ruled; sakalam — complete; jagat — universe.

TRANSLATION

Thus having delivered the proprietorship of the heavenly planets to Indra and having fulfilled the desire of Aditi, mother of the demigods, the Supreme Personality of Godhead ruled the affairs of the universe.

VERSE 8.23.5

labdha-prasādaṁ nirmuktaṁ
pautraṁ vaṁśa-dharaṁ balim
niśāmya bhakti-pravaṇaḥ
prahrāda idam abravīt

SYNONYMS

labdha-prasādam — who had achieved the blessings of the Lord; nirmuktam — who was released from bondage; pautram — his grandson; vaṁśa-dharam — the descendant; balim — Bali Mahārāja; niśāmya — after overhearing; bhakti-pravaṇaḥ — in fully ecstatic devotion; prahrādaḥ — Prahlāda Mahārāja; idam — this; abravīt — spoke.

TRANSLATION

When Prahlāda Mahārāja heard how Bali Mahārāja, his grandson and descendant, had been released from bondage and had achieved the benediction of the Lord, he spoke as follows in a tone of greatly ecstatic devotion.

VERSE 8.23.6

śrī-prahrāda uvāca

nemaṁ viriñco labhate prasādaṁ
na śrīr na śarvaḥ kim utāpare ’nye
yan no ’surāṇām asi durga-pālo
viśvābhivandyair abhivanditāṅghriḥ

SYNONYMS

śrī-prahrādaḥ uvāca — Prahlāda Mahārāja said; na — not; imam — this; viriñcaḥ — even Lord Brahmā; labhate — can achieve; prasādam — benediction; na — nor; śrīḥ — the goddess of fortune; na — nor; śarvaḥ — Lord Śiva; kim uta — what to speak of; apare anye — others; yat — which benediction; naḥ — of us; asurāṇām — the demons; asi — You have become; durga-pālaḥ — the maintainer; viśva-abhivandyaiḥ — by personalities like Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva, who are worshiped all over the universe; abhivandita-aṅghriḥ — whose lotus feet are worshiped.

TRANSLATION

Prahlāda Mahārāja said: O Supreme Personality of Godhead, You are universally worshiped; even Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva worship Your lotus feet. Yet although You are such a great personality, You have kindly promised to protect us, the demons. I think that such kindness has never been achieved even by Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva or the goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī, what to speak of other demigods or common people.

VERSE 8.23.7

yat-pāda-padma-makaranda-niṣevaṇena
brahmādayaḥ śaraṇadāśnuvate vibhūtīḥ
kasmād vayaṁ kusṛtayaḥ khala-yonayas te
dākṣiṇya-dṛṣṭi-padavīṁ bhavataḥ praṇītāḥ

SYNONYMS

yat — of whom; pāda-padma — of the lotus flower of the feet; makaranda — of the honey; niṣevaṇena — by tasting the sweetness of rendering service; brahma-ādayaḥ — great personalities like Lord Brahmā; śaraṇa-da — O my Lord, supreme shelter of everyone; aśnuvate — enjoy; vibhūtīḥ — benedictions given by You; kasmāt — how; vayam — we; ku-sṛtayaḥ — all the rogues and thieves; khala-yonayaḥ — born of an envious dynasty, namely that of the demons; te — those asuras; dākṣiṇya-dṛṣṭi-padavīm — the position bestowed by the merciful glance; bhavataḥ — of Your Lordship; praṇītāḥ — have achieved.

TRANSLATION

O supreme shelter of everyone, great personalities like Brahmā enjoy their perfection simply by tasting the honey of rendering service at Your lotus feet. But as for us, who are all rogues and debauchees born of an envious family of demons, how have we received Your mercy? It has been possible only because Your mercy is causeless.

VERSE 8.23.8

citraṁ tavehitam aho ’mita-yoga-māyā-
līlā-visṛṣṭa-bhuvanasya viśāradasya
sarvātmanaḥ samadṛśo ’viṣamaḥ svabhāvo
bhakta-priyo yad asi kalpataru-svabhāvaḥ

SYNONYMS

citram — very wonderful; tava īhitam — all Your activities; aho — alas; amita — unlimited; yoga-māyā — of Your spiritual potency; līlā — by the pastimes; visṛṣṭa-bhuvanasya — of Your Lordship, by whom all the universes have been created; viśāradasya — of Your Lordship, who are expert in all respects; sarva-ātmanaḥ — of Your Lordship, who pervade all; sama-dṛśaḥ — and who are equal toward all; aviṣamaḥ — without differentiation; svabhāvaḥ — that is Your characteristic; bhakta-priyaḥ — under the circumstances You become favorable to the devotees; yat — because; asi — You are; kalpataru-svabhāvaḥ — having the characteristic of a desire tree.

TRANSLATION

O my Lord, Your pastimes are all wonderfully performed by Your inconceivable spiritual energy; and by her perverted reflection, the material energy, You have created all the universes. As the Supersoul of all living entities, You are aware of everything, and therefore You are certainly equal toward everyone. Nonetheless, You favor Your devotees. This is not partiality, however, for Your characteristic is just like that of a desire tree, which yields everything according to one’s desire.

VERSE 8.23.9

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

vatsa prahrāda bhadraṁ te
prayāhi sutalālayam
modamānaḥ sva-pautreṇa
jñātīnāṁ sukham āvaha

SYNONYMS

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Personality of Godhead said; vatsa — O My dear son; prahrāda — O Prahlāda Mahārāja; bhadram te — all auspiciousness unto you; prayāhi — please go; sutala-ālayam — to the place known as Sutala; modamānaḥ — in a spirit of jubilation; sva-pautreṇa — with your grandson (Bali Mahārāja); jñātīnām — of your relatives and friends; sukham — happiness; āvaha — just enjoy.

TRANSLATION

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear son Prahlāda, all good fortune unto you. For the time being, please go to the place known as Sutala and there enjoy happiness with your grandson and your other relatives and friends.

VERSE 8.23.10

nityaṁ draṣṭāsi māṁ tatra
gadā-pāṇim avasthitam
mad-darśana-mahāhlāda-
dhvasta-karma-nibandhanaḥ

SYNONYMS

nityam — constantly; draṣṭā — the seer; asi — you shall be; mām — unto Me; tatra — there (in Sutalaloka); gadā-pāṇim — with a club in My hand; avasthitam — situated there; mat-darśana — by seeing Me in that form; mahā-āhlāda — by the great transcendental bliss; dhvasta — having been vanquished; karma-nibandhanaḥ — the bondage of fruitive activities.

TRANSLATION

The Supreme Personality of Godhead assured Prahlāda Mahārāja: You shall be able to see Me there in My usual feature with conchshell, disc, club and lotus in My hand. Because of your transcendental bliss due to always personally seeing Me, you will have no further bondage to fruitive activities.

VERSE 8.23.11-12

śrī-śuka uvāca

ājñāṁ bhagavato rājan
prahrādo balinā saha
bāḍham ity amala-prajño
mūrdhny ādhāya kṛtāñjaliḥ

parikramyādi-puruṣaṁ
sarvāsura-camūpatiḥ
praṇatas tad-anujñātaḥ
praviveśa mahā-bilam

SYNONYMS

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; ājñām — the order; bhagavataḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; rājan — O King (Mahārāja Parīkṣit); prahrādaḥ — Mahārāja Prahlāda; balinā saha — accompanied by Bali Mahārāja; bāḍham — yes, sir, what You say is all right; iti — thus; amala-prajñaḥ — Prahlāda Mahārāja, who had clear intelligence; mūrdhni — on his head; ādhāya — accepting; kṛta-añjaliḥ — with folded hands; parikramya — after circumambulating; ādi-puruṣam — the supreme original person, Bhagavān; sarva-asura-camūpatiḥ — the master of all the chiefs of the demons; praṇataḥ — after offering obeisances; tat-anujñātaḥ — being permitted by Him (Lord Vāmana); praviveśa — entered; mahā-bilam — the planet known as Sutala.

TRANSLATION

Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Accompanied by Bali Mahārāja, my dear King Parīkṣit, Prahlāda Mahārāja, the master of all the chiefs of the demons, took the Supreme Lord’s order on his head with folded hands. After saying yes to the Lord, circumambulating Him and offering Him respectful obeisances, he entered the lower planetary system known as Sutala.

VERSE 8.23.13

athāhośanasaṁ rājan
harir nārāyaṇo ’ntike
āsīnam ṛtvijāṁ madhye
sadasi brahma-vādinām

SYNONYMS

atha — thereafter; āha — said; uśanasam — unto Śukrācārya; rājan — O King; hariḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; nārāyaṇaḥ — the Lord; antike — nearby; āsīnam — who was sitting; ṛtvijām madhye — in the group of all the priests; sadasi — in the assembly; brahma-vādinām — of the followers of Vedic principles.

TRANSLATION

Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa, thereafter addressed Śukrācārya, who was sitting nearby in the midst of the assembly with the priests [brahma, hotā, udgātā and adhvaryu]. O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, these priests were all brahma-vādīs, followers of the Vedic principles for performing sacrifices.

VERSE 8.23.14

brahman santanu śiṣyasya
karma-cchidraṁ vitanvataḥ
yat tat karmasu vaiṣamyaṁ
brahma-dṛṣṭaṁ samaṁ bhavet

SYNONYMS

brahman — O brāhmaṇa; santanu — please describe; śiṣyasya — of your disciple; karma-chidram — the discrepancies in the fruitive activities; vitanvataḥ — of he who was performing sacrifices; yat tat — that which; karmasu — in the fruitive activities; vaiṣamyam — discrepancy; brahma-dṛṣṭam — when it is judged by the brāhmaṇas; samam — equipoised; bhavet — it so becomes.

TRANSLATION

O best of the brāhmaṇas, Śukrācārya, please describe the fault or discrepancy in your disciple Bali Mahārāja, who engaged in performing sacrifices. This fault will be nullified when judged in the presence of qualified brāhmaṇas.

VERSE 8.23.15

śrī-śukra uvāca

kutas tat-karma-vaiṣamyaṁ
yasya karmeśvaro bhavān
yajñeśo yajña-puruṣaḥ
sarva-bhāvena pūjitaḥ

SYNONYMS

śrī-śukraḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukrācārya said; kutaḥ — where is that; tat — of him (Bali Mahārāja); karma-vaiṣamyam — discrepancy in discharging fruitive activities; yasya — of whom (Bali Mahārāja); karma-īśvaraḥ — the master of all fruitive activities; bhavān — Your Lordship; yajña-īśaḥ — You are the enjoyer of all sacrifices; yajña-puruṣaḥ — You are the person for whose pleasure all sacrifices are offered; sarva-bhāvena — in all respects; pūjitaḥ — having worshiped.

TRANSLATION

Śukrācārya said: My Lord, You are the enjoyer and lawgiver in all performances of sacrifice, and You are the yajña-puruṣa, the person to whom all sacrifices are offered. If one has fully satisfied You, where is the chance of discrepancies or faults in his performances of sacrifice?

VERSE 8.23.16

mantratas tantrataś chidraṁ
deśa-kālārha-vastutaḥ
sarvaṁ karoti niśchidram
anusaṅkīrtanaṁ tava

SYNONYMS

mantrataḥ — in pronouncing the Vedic mantras improperly; tantrataḥ — in insufficient knowledge for following regulative principles; chidram — discrepancy; deśa — in the matter of country; kāla — and time; arha — and recipient; vastutaḥ — and paraphernalia; sarvam — all these; karoti — makes; niśchidram — without discrepancy; anusaṅkīrtanam — constantly chanting the holy name; tava — of Your Lordship.

TRANSLATION

There may be discrepancies in pronouncing the mantras and observing the regulative principles, and, moreover, there may be discrepancies in regard to time, place, person and paraphernalia. But when Your Lordship’s holy name is chanted, everything becomes faultless.

VERSE 8.23.17

tathāpi vadato bhūman
kariṣyāmy anuśāsanam
etac chreyaḥ paraṁ puṁsāṁ
yat tavājñānupālanam

SYNONYMS

tathāpi — although there was no fault on the part of Bali Mahārāja; vadataḥ — because of your order; bhūman — O Supreme; kariṣyāmi — I must execute; anuśāsanam — because it is Your order; etat — this is; śreyaḥ — that which is the most auspicious; param — supreme; puṁsām — of all persons; yat — because; tava ājñā-anupālanam — to obey Your order.

TRANSLATION

Lord Viṣṇu, I must nonetheless act in obedience to Your order because obeying Your order is most auspicious and is the first duty of everyone.

VERSE 8.23.18

śrī-śuka uvāca

pratinandya harer ājñām
uśanā bhagavān iti
yajña-cchidraṁ samādhatta
baler viprarṣibhiḥ saha

SYNONYMS

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; pratinandya — offering all obeisances; hareḥ — of the Personality of Godhead; ājñām — the order; uśanāḥ — Śukrācārya; bhagavān — the most powerful; iti — thus; yajña-chidram — discrepancies in the performance of sacrifices; samādhatta — made it a point to fulfill; baleḥ — of Bali Mahārāja; vipra-ṛṣibhiḥ — the best brāhmaṇas; saha — along with.

TRANSLATION

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: In this way, the most powerful Śukrācārya accepted the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead with full respect. Along with the best brāhmaṇas, he began to compensate for the discrepancies in the sacrifices performed by Bali Mahārāja.

VERSE 8.23.19

evaṁ baler mahīṁ rājan
bhikṣitvā vāmano hariḥ
dadau bhrātre mahendrāya
tridivaṁ yat parair hṛtam

SYNONYMS

evam — thus; baleḥ — from Bali Mahārāja; mahīm — the land; rājan — O King Parīkṣit; bhikṣitvā — after begging; vāmanaḥ — His Lordship Vāmana; hariḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; dadau — delivered; bhrātre — unto His brother; mahā-indrāya — Indra, the King of heaven; tridivam — the planetary system of the demigods; yat — which; paraiḥ — by others; hṛtam — was taken.

TRANSLATION

O King Parīkṣit, thus having taken all the land of Bali Mahārāja by begging, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Vāmanadeva, delivered to His brother Indra all the land taken away by Indra’s enemy.

VERSE 8.23.20-21

prajāpati-patir brahmā
devarṣi-pitṛ-bhūmipaiḥ
dakṣa-bhṛgv-aṅgiro-mukhyaiḥ
kumāreṇa bhavena ca

kaśyapasyāditeḥ prītyai
sarva-bhūta-bhavāya ca
lokānāṁ loka-pālānām
akarod vāmanaṁ patim

SYNONYMS

prajāpati-patiḥ — the master of all Prajāpatis; brahmā — Lord Brahmā; deva — with the demigods; ṛṣi — with the great saintly persons; pitṛ — with the inhabitants of Pitṛloka; bhūmipaiḥ — with the Manus; dakṣa — with Dakṣa; bhṛgu — with Bhṛgu Muni; aṅgirāḥ — with Aṅgirā Muni; mukhyaiḥ — with all the chiefs of the various planetary systems; kumāreṇa — with Kārttikeya; bhavena — with Lord Śiva; ca — also; kaśyapasya — of Kaśyapa Muni; aditeḥ — of Aditi; prītyai — for the pleasure; sarva-bhūta-bhavāya — for the auspiciousness of all living entities; ca — also; lokānām — of all planetary systems; loka-pālānām — of the predominating persons in all planets; akarot — made; vāmanam — Lord Vāmana; patim — the supreme leader.

TRANSLATION

Lord Brahmā [the master of King Dakṣa and all other Prajāpatis], accompanied by all the demigods, the great saintly persons, the inhabitants of Pitṛloka, the Manus, the munis, and such leaders as Dakṣa, Bhṛgu and Aṅgirā, as well as Kārttikeya and Lord Śiva, accepted Lord Vāmanadeva as the protector of everyone. He did this for the pleasure of Kaśyapa Muni and his wife Aditi and for the welfare of all the inhabitants of the universe, including their various leaders.

VERSE 8.23.22-23

vedānāṁ sarva-devānāṁ
dharmasya yaśasaḥ śriyaḥ
maṅgalānāṁ vratānāṁ ca
kalpaṁ svargāpavargayoḥ

upendraṁ kalpayāṁ cakre
patiṁ sarva-vibhūtaye
tadā sarvāṇi bhūtāni
bhṛśaṁ mumudire nṛpa

SYNONYMS

vedānām — (for the protection) of all the Vedas; sarva-devānām — of all the demigods; dharmasya — of all principles of religion; yaśasaḥ — of all fame; śriyaḥ — of all opulences; maṅgalānām — of all auspiciousness; vratānām ca — and of all vows; kalpam — the most expert; svarga-apavargayoḥ — of elevation to the heavenly planets or liberation from material bondage; upendram — Lord Vāmanadeva; kalpayām cakre — they made it the plan; patim — the master; sarva-vibhūtaye — for all purposes; tadā — at that time; sarvāṇi — all; bhūtāni — living entities; bhṛśam — very much; mumudire — became happy; nṛpa — O King.

TRANSLATION

O King Parīkṣit, Indra was considered the King of all the universe, but the demigods, headed by Lord Brahmā, wanted Upendra, Lord Vāmanadeva, as the protector of the Vedas, the principles of religion, fame, opulence, auspiciousness, vows, elevation to the higher planetary system, and liberation. Thus they accepted Upendra, Lord Vāmanadeva, as the supreme master of everything. This decision made all living entities extremely happy.

VERSE 8.23.24

tatas tv indraḥ puraskṛtya
deva-yānena vāmanam
loka-pālair divaṁ ninye
brahmaṇā cānumoditaḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ — thereafter; tu — but; indraḥ — the King of heaven; puraskṛtya — keeping forward; deva-yānena — by an airplane used by the demigods; vāmanam — Lord Vāmana; loka-pālaiḥ — with the chiefs of all other planets; divam — to the heavenly planets; ninye — brought; brahmaṇā — by Lord Brahmā; ca — also; anumoditaḥ — being approved.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, along with all the leaders of the heavenly planets, Indra, the King of heaven, placed Lord Vāmanadeva before him and, with the approval of Lord Brahmā, brought Him to the heavenly planet in a celestial airplane.

VERSE 8.23.25

prāpya tri-bhuvanaṁ cendra
upendra-bhuja-pālitaḥ
śriyā paramayā juṣṭo
mumude gata-sādhvasaḥ

SYNONYMS

prāpya — after obtaining; tri-bhuvanam — the three worlds; ca — also; indraḥ — the King of heaven; upendra-bhuja-pālitaḥ — being protected by the arms of Vāmanadeva, Upendra; śriyā — by opulence; paramayā — by supreme; juṣṭaḥ — thus being served; mumude — enjoyed; gata-sādhvasaḥ — without fear of the demons.

TRANSLATION

Indra, King of heaven, being protected by the arms of Vāmanadeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, thus regained his rule of the three worlds and was reinstated in his own position, supremely opulent, fearless and fully satisfied.

VERSE 8.23.26-27

brahmā śarvaḥ kumāraś ca
bhṛgv-ādyā munayo nṛpa
pitaraḥ sarva-bhūtāni
siddhā vaimānikāś ca ye

sumahat karma tad viṣṇor
gāyantaḥ param adbhutam
dhiṣṇyāni svāni te jagmur
aditiṁ ca śaśaṁsire

SYNONYMS

brahmā — Lord Brahmā; śarvaḥ — Lord Śiva; kumāraḥ ca — also Lord Kārttikeya; bhṛgu-ādyāḥ — headed by Bhṛgu Muni, one of the seven ṛṣis; munayaḥ — the saintly persons; nṛpa — O King; pitaraḥ — the inhabitants of Pitṛloka; sarva-bhūtāni — other living entities; siddhāḥ — the residents of Siddhaloka; vaimānikāḥ ca — human beings who can travel everywhere in outer space by airplane; ye — such persons; sumahat — highly praiseworthy; karma — activities; tat — all those (activities); viṣṇoḥ — done by Lord Viṣṇu; gāyantaḥ — glorifying; param adbhutam — uncommon and wonderful; dhiṣṇyāni — to their respective planets; svāni — own; te — all of them; jagmuḥ — departed; aditim ca — as well as Aditi; śaśaṁsire — praised all these activities of the Lord.

TRANSLATION

Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva, Lord Kārttikeya, the great sage Bhṛgu, other saintly persons, the inhabitants of Pitṛloka and all other living entities present, including the inhabitants of Siddhaloka and living entities who travel in outer space by airplane, all glorified the uncommon activities of Lord Vāmanadeva. O King, while chanting about and glorifying the Lord, they returned to their respective heavenly planets. They also praised the position of Aditi.

VERSE 8.23.28

sarvam etan mayākhyātaṁ
bhavataḥ kula-nandana
urukramasya caritaṁ
śrotṝṇām agha-mocanam

SYNONYMS

sarvam — all; etat — these incidents; mayā — by me; ākhyātam — have been described; bhavataḥ — of you; kula-nandana — O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, the pleasure of your dynasty; urukramasya — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; caritam — activities; śrotṝṇām — of the audience; agha-mocanam — such hearing of the Lord’s activities certainly vanquishes the results of sinful activities.

TRANSLATION

O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, pleasure of your dynasty, I have now described to you everything about the wonderful activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Vāmanadeva. Those who hear about this are certainly freed from all the results of sinful activities.

VERSE 8.23.29

pāraṁ mahimna uruvikramato gṛṇāno
yaḥ pārthivāni vimame sa rajāṁsi martyaḥ
kiṁ jāyamāna uta jāta upaiti martya
ity āha mantra-dṛg ṛṣiḥ puruṣasya yasya

SYNONYMS

pāram — the measurement; mahimnaḥ — of the glories; uruvikramataḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who acts wonderfully; gṛṇānaḥ — can count; yaḥ — a person who; pārthivāni — of the whole planet earth; vimame — can count; saḥ — he; rajāṁsi — the atoms; martyaḥ — a human being who is subject to death; kim — what; jāyamānaḥ — one who will take birth in the future; uta — either; jātaḥ — one who is already born; upaiti — can do; martyaḥ — a person subject to death; iti — thus; āha — said; mantra-dṛk — who could foresee the Vedic mantras; ṛṣiḥ — the great saintly Vasiṣṭha Muni; puruṣasya — of the supreme person; yasya — of whom.

TRANSLATION

One who is subject to death cannot measure the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Trivikrama, Lord Viṣṇu, any more than he can count the number of atoms on the entire planet earth. No one, whether born already or destined to take birth, is able to do this. This has been sung by the great sage Vasiṣṭha.

VERSE 8.23.30

ya idaṁ deva-devasya
harer adbhuta-karmaṇaḥ
avatārānucaritaṁ
śṛṇvan yāti parāṁ gatim

SYNONYMS

yaḥ — anyone who; idam — this; deva-devasya — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is worshiped by the demigods; hareḥ — of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Hari; adbhuta-karmaṇaḥ — whose activities are all wonderful; avatāra-anucaritam — activities performed in His different incarnations; śṛṇvan — if one continues to hear; yāti — he goes; parām gatim — to the supreme perfection, back home, back to Godhead.

TRANSLATION

If one hears about the uncommon activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His various incarnations, he is certainly elevated to the higher planetary system or even brought back home, back to Godhead.

VERSE 8.23.31

kriyamāṇe karmaṇīdaṁ
daive pitrye ’tha mānuṣe
yatra yatrānukīrtyeta
tat teṣāṁ sukṛtaṁ viduḥ

SYNONYMS

kriyamāṇe — upon the performance; karmaṇi — of a ritualistic ceremony; idam — this description of the characteristics of Vāmanadeva; daive — to please the demigods; pitrye — or to please the forefathers, as in a śrāddha ceremony; atha — either; mānuṣe — for the pleasure of human society, as in marriages; yatra — wherever; yatra — whenever; anukīrtyeta — is described; tat — that; teṣām — for them; sukṛtam — auspicious; viduḥ — everyone should understand.

TRANSLATION

Whenever the activities of Vāmanadeva are described in the course of a ritualistic ceremony, whether the ceremony be performed to please the demigods, to please one’s forefathers in Pitṛloka, or to celebrate a social event like a marriage, that ceremony should be understood to be extremely auspicious.