BHAGVAT GOD SOMETIMES PUTS A DEVOTEE TO SEVERE TESTS THAT ARE ALMOST UNBEARABLE, THE LORD CERTAINLY APPRECIATES THE DEVOTEE'S FORBEARANCE, AND IT IS RECORDED FOR THE FUTURE GLORIFICATION OF THE DEVOTEE, 30TH JULY
TRANSLATION
Although bereft of his riches, fallen from his original position, defeated and arrested by his enemies, rebuked and deserted by his relatives and friends, although suffering the pain of being bound and although rebuked and cursed by his spiritual master, Bali Maharaja, being fixed in his vow, did not give up his truthfulness. It was certainly with pretension that I spoke about religious principles, but he did not give up religious principles, for he is true to his word.
PURPORT
BALI MAHARAJA PASSED THE SEVERE TEST PUT BEFORE HIM BY THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD. THIS IS FURTHER PROOF OF THE LORD'S MERCY TOWARD HIS DEVOTEE.
THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD SOMETIMES PUTS A DEVOTEE TO SEVERE TESTS THAT ARE ALMOST UNBEARABLE. ONE COULD HARDLY EVEN LIVE UNDER THE CONDITIONS FORCED UPON BALI MAHARAJA. THAT BALI MAHARAJA ENDURED ALL THESE SEVERE TESTS AND AUSTERITIES IS THE MERCY OF THE SUPREME LORD. THE LORD CERTAINLY APPRECIATES THE DEVOTEE'S FORBEARANCE, AND IT IS RECORDED FOR THE FUTURE GLORIFICATION OF THE DEVOTEE.
THIS WAS NOT AN ORDINARY TEST. AS DESCRIBED IN THIS VERSE, HARDLY ANYONE COULD SURVIVE SUCH A TEST, BUT FOR THE FUTURE GLORIFICATION OF BALI MAHARAJA, ONE OF THE MAHAJANAS, THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD NOT ONLY TESTED HIM BUT ALSO GAVE HIM THE STRENGTH TO TOLERATE SUCH ADVERSITY. THE LORD IS SO KIND TO HIS DEVOTEE THAT WHEN SEVERELY TESTING HIM THE LORD GIVES HIM THE NECESSARY STRENGTH TO BE TOLERANT AND CONTINUE TO REMAIN A GLORIOUS DEVOTEE.
TRANSLATION
THE LORD CONTINUED: BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT TOLERANCE, I HAVE GIVEN HIM A PLACE NOT OBTAINABLE EVEN BY THE DEMIGODS. HE WILL BECOME KING OF THE HEAVENLY PLANETS DURING THE PERIOD OF THE MANU KNOWN AS SAVARNI.
PURPORT
THIS IS THE MERCY OF THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD. EVEN IF THE LORD TAKES AWAY A DEVOTEE'S MATERIAL OPULENCES, THE LORD IMMEDIATELY OFFERS HIM A POSITION OF WHICH THE DEMIGODS CANNOT EVEN DREAM. THERE ARE MANY EXAMPLES OF THIS IN THE HISTORY OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE. ONE OF THEM IS THE OPULENCE OF SUDAMA VIPRA. SUDAMA VIPRA SUFFERED SEVERE MATERIAL SCARCITY, BUT HE WAS NOT DISTURBED AND DID NOT DEVIATE FROM DEVOTIONAL SERVICE.
THUS HE WAS ULTIMATELY GIVEN AN EXALTED POSITION BY THE MERCY OF LORD KRSHNA. Here the word mad-ashrayam is very significant. Because the Lord wanted to give Bali Maharaja the exalted position of Indra, the demigods might naturally have been envious of him and might have fought to disturb his position. BUT THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD ASSURED BALI MAHARAJA THAT HE WOULD ALWAYS REMAIN UNDER THE LORD'S PROTECTION (mad-ashrayam).
