BHAGVAT A VAISHNAVA SHOULD POSSESS THE BRAHMINICAL QUALITIES SUCH AS SATYA (TRUTH), SHAMA (FORGIVENESS), DAMA (HUMBLE), TITIKSHA (TOLERANCE) AND ARJAVA (STRAIGHTNESS, SINCERITY AND HARMONY IN ONE'S THOUGHT, WORDS AND ACTIONS).
Extract from Srimad Bhagvatam
TRANSLATION
Although you have no knowledge, you have become a so-called learned person, and therefore you dare be so impudent as to disobey my order. Because of disobeying me, you shall very soon be bereft of all your opulence.
PURPORT
Shrila Vishvanatha Cakravarti Thakura says that Bali Maharaja was not pandita-mani, or one who falsely assumes himself learned; rather, he was pandita-manya-jnam, one who is so learned that all other learned persons worship him. And because he was so learned, he could disobey the order of his so-called spiritual master.
He had no fear of any condition of material existence. Anyone cared for by Lord Vishnu does not need to care about anyone else. Thus Bali Maharaja could never be bereft of all opulences. The opulences offered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead are not to be compared to the opulences obtained by karma-kanda. In other words, if a devotee becomes very opulent, it is to be understood that his opulence is a gift of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such opulence will never be vanquished, whereas the opulence achieved by one's fruitive activity may be vanquished at any moment.
Extract from Srimad Bhagvatam
TRANSLATION
Bali Maharaja's wife, known as Vindhyavali, who was decorated with a necklace of pearls, immediately came and had a large golden waterpot brought there, full of water with which to worship the Lord by washing His feet.
TRANSLATION
Bali Maharaja, the worshiper of Lord Vamanadeva, jubilantly washed the Lord's lotus feet and then took the water on his head, for that water delivers the entire universe.
TRANSLATION
At that time, the residents of the higher planetary system, namely the demigods, the Gandharvas, the Vidyadharas, the Siddhas and the Charanas, all being very pleased by Bali Maharaja's simple, nonduplicitous act, praised his qualities and showered upon him millions of flowers.
PURPORT
Arjavam—simplicity or freedom from duplicity—is a qualification of a brahmana and a Vaishnava. A Vaishnava automatically acquires all the qualities of a brahmana.
A Vaishnava should possess the brahminical qualities such as satya, shama, dama, titiksha and arjava. There cannot be any duplicity in the character of a Vaishnava. When Bali Maharaja acted with unflinching faith and devotion unto the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu, this was very much appreciated by all the residents of the higher planetary system.
TRANSLATION
The Gandharvas, the Kimpurushas and the Kinnaras sounded thousands and thousands of kettledrums and trumpets again and again, and they sang in great jubilation, declaring, "How exalted a person is Bali Maharaja, and what a difficult task he has performed! Even though he knew that Lord Vishnu was on the side of his enemies, he nonetheless gave the Lord the entire three worlds in charity."
