Bhagvat :THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF HIGHLY ELEVATED DEVOTEES, CALLED SADHANA-SIDDHA AND KRPA-SIDDHA
TRANSLATION
Bali Maharaja said: As you have already stated, the principle of religion that does not hinder one's economic development, sense gratification, fame and means of livelihood is the real occupational duty of the householder. I also think that this religious principle is correct.
PURPORT
Bali Maharaja's grave answer to his guru Shukracharya is meaningful. Shukracharya stressed that one's material means of livelihood and one's material reputation, sense gratification and economic development must continue properly. To see to this is the first duty of a man who is a householder, especially one who is interested in material affairs.
If a religious principle does not affect one's material condition, it is to be accepted. At the present time, in this age of Kali, this idea is extremely prominent. No one is prepared to accept any religious principle if it hampers material prosperity. Shukracharya, being a person of this material world, did not know the principles of a devotee.
A DEVOTEE IS DETERMINED TO SERVE THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD TO HIS FULL SATISFACTION. ANYTHING THAT HAMPERS SUCH DETERMINATION SHOULD CERTAINLY BE REJECTED. THIS IS THE PRINCIPLE OF BHAKTI. Anukülyasya sankalpam pratikülyasya varjanam (Cc. Madhya 22.100).
To perform devotional service, one must accept only that which is favorable and reject that which is unfavorable. Bali Maharaja had the opportunity to contribute everything he possessed to the lotus feet of Lord Vamanadeva, but Shukracharya was putting forward a material argument to hamper this process of devotional service.
Under the circumstances, Bali Maharaja decided that such hindrances should certainly be avoided. In other words, he decided immediately to reject the advice of Shukracharya and go on with his duty. Thus he gave all his possessions to Lord Vamanadeva.
TRANSLATION
I am the grandson of Maharaja Prahlada. How can I withdraw my promise because of greed for money when I have already said that I shall give this land? How can I behave like an ordinary cheater, especially toward a brahmana?
PURPORT
Bali Maharaja had already been blessed by his grandfather Prahlada Maharaja. Therefore, he was a pure devotee, although born in a family of demons.
THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF HIGHLY ELEVATED DEVOTEES, CALLED SADHANA-SIDDHA AND KRPA-SIDDHA. SADHANA-SIDDHA REFERS TO ONE WHO HAS BECOME A DEVOTEE BY REGULAR EXECUTION OF THE REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES MENTIONED IN THE SHASTRAS, AS ORDERED AND DIRECTED BY THE SPIRITUAL MASTER.
IF ONE REGULARLY EXECUTES SUCH DEVOTIONAL SERVICE, HE WILL CERTAINLY ATTAIN PERFECTION IN DUE COURSE OF TIME. BUT THERE ARE OTHER DEVOTEES, WHO MAY NOT HAVE UNDERGONE ALL THE REQUIRED DETAILS OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE BUT WHO, BY THE SPECIAL MERCY OF GURU AND KRSHNA—THE SPIRITUAL MASTER AND THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD—HAVE IMMEDIATELY ATTAINED THE PERFECTION OF PURE DEVOTIONAL SERVICE.
Examples of such devotees are the yajna-patnis, Maharaja Bali and Shukadeva Gosvami. The yajna-patnis were the wives of ordinary brahmanas engaged in fruitive activities.
Although the brahmanas were very learned and advanced in Vedic knowledge, they could not achieve the mercy of Krshna-Balarama, whereas their wives achieved complete perfection in devotional service, despite their being women.
Similarly, Vairochani, Bali Maharaja, received the mercy of Prahlada Maharaja, and by Prahlada Maharaja's mercy he also received the mercy of Lord Vishnu, who appeared before him as a brahmachari beggar. Thus Bali Maharaja became a krpa-siddha because of the special mercy of both guru and Krshna. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu confirms this favor: guru-krshna-prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija (Cc. Madhya 19.151).
Bali Maharaja, by the grace of Prahlada Maharaja, got the seed of devotional service, and when that seed developed, he achieved the ultimate fruit of that service, namely love of Godhead (prema pum-artho mahan), immediately upon the appearance of Lord Vamanadeva.
Bali Maharaja regularly maintained devotion for the Lord, and because he was purified, the Lord appeared before him. Because of unalloyed love for the Lord, he then immediately decided, "I shall give this little dwarf brahmana whatever He asks from me." This is a sign of love. Thus Bali Maharaja is understood to be one who received the highest perfection of devotional service by special mercy.
