Bhagvat: DISCONTENT IN REGARD TO FULFILLING ONE'S LUSTY DESIRES AND ACHIEVING MORE AND MORE MONEY IS CAUSE FOR THE CONTINUATION OF MATERIAL LIFE, WHICH IS FULL OF REPEATED BIRTH AND DEATH.
TRANSLATION
MATERIAL EXISTENCE CAUSES DISCONTENT IN REGARD TO FULFILLING ONE'S LUSTY DESIRES AND ACHIEVING MORE AND MORE MONEY. THIS IS THE CAUSE FOR THE CONTINUATION OF MATERIAL LIFE, WHICH IS FULL OF REPEATED BIRTH AND DEATH. BUT ONE WHO IS SATISFIED BY THAT WHICH IS OBTAINED BY DESTINY IS FIT FOR LIBERATION FROM THIS MATERIAL EXISTENCE.
TRANSLATION
A BRAHMANA WHO IS SATISFIED WITH WHATEVER IS PROVIDENTIALLY OBTAINED IS INCREASINGLY ENLIGHTENED WITH SPIRITUAL POWER, BUT THE SPIRITUAL POTENCY OF A DISSATISFIED BRAHMANA DECREASES, AS FIRE DIMINISHES IN POTENCY WHEN WATER IS SPRINKLED UPON IT.
TRANSLATION
Therefore, O King (Lord incarnation of Vamana told Bali) , from you, the best of those who give charity, I ask only three paces of land. By such a gift I shall be very pleased, for the way of happiness is to be fully satisfied to receive that which is absolutely needed.
TRANSLATION
Shukadeva Gosvami continued: When the Supreme Personality of Godhead had thus spoken to Bali Maharaja, Bali smiled and told Him, "All right. Take whatever You like." To confirm his promise to give Vamanadeva the desired land, he then took up his waterpot.
TRANSLATION
Understanding Lord Vishnu's purpose, Shukracarya, the best of the learned, immediately spoke as follows to his disciple, who was about to offer everything to Lord Vamanadeva.
TRANSLATION
Shukracarya said: O son of Virocana, this brahmacari in the form of a dwarf is directly the imperishable Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vishnu. Accepting Kashyapa Muni as His father and Aditi as His mother, He has now appeared in order to fulfill the interests of the demigods.
TRANSLATION
You do not know what a dangerous position you have accepted by promising to give Him land. I do not think that this promise is good for you. It will bring great harm to the demons.
TRANSLATION
This person falsely appearing as a brahmachari is actually the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, who has come in this form to take away all your land, wealth, beauty, power, fame and education. After taking everything from you, He will deliver it to Indra, your enemy.
PURPORT
Shrila Vishvanatha Cakravarti Thakura explains in this regard that the very word harim means "one who takes away." If one connects himself with Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Lord takes away all his miseries, and in the beginning the Lord also superficially appears to take away all his material possessions, reputation, education and beauty. As stated in Shrimad-Bhagavatam (10.88.8), yasyaham anugrhnami harishye tad-dhanam shanaim. The Lord said to Maharaja Yudhishthhira, "The first installment of My mercy toward a devotee is that I take away all his possessions, especially his material opulence, his money."
This is the special favor of the Lord toward a sincere devotee. If a sincere devotee wants Krshna above everything but at the same time is attached to material possessions, which hinder his advancement in Krshna consciousness, by tactics the Lord takes away all his possessions. Here Shukracarya says that this dwarf brahmachari would take away everything.
Thus he indicates that the Lord will take away all one's material possessions and also one's mind. If one delivers his mind to the lotus feet of Krshna (sa vai manam krshna-padaravindayom), one can naturally sacrifice everything to satisfy Him. Although Bali Maharaja was a devotee, he was attached to material possessions, and therefore the Lord, being very kind to him, showed him special favor by appearing as Lord Vamana to take away all his material possessions, and his mind as well.
