BHAGVAT HOW LORD, PLEASED WITH BALI, ASSURED BALI OF THE HEAVENLY PLANET SUTALA, WHICH IS HUNDREDS OF TIMES BETTER THAN HEAVEN, WITH NO ANXIETIES, NO OLD AGE & DISEASE, 31ST JULY
TRANSLATION
(LORD ASSURED BALI) UNTIL BALI MAHARAJA ACHIEVES THE POSITION OF KING OF HEAVEN, HE SHALL LIVE ON THE PLANET SUTALA, WHICH WAS MADE BY VISHVAKARMA ACCORDING TO MY ORDER. BECAUSE IT IS ESPECIALLY PROTECTED BY ME, IT IS FREE FROM MENTAL AND BODILY MISERIES, FATIGUE, DIZZINESS, DEFEAT AND ALL OTHER DISTURBANCES. BALI MAHARAJA, YOU MAY NOW GO LIVE THERE PEACEFULLY.
PURPORT
Vishvakarma is the engineer or architect for the palatial buildings in the heavenly planets. Therefore, since he was engaged to construct the residential quarters of Bali Maharaja, the buildings and palaces on the planet Sutala must at least equal those on the heavenly planets. A further advantage of this place designed for Bali Maharaja was that he would not be disturbed by any outward calamity. Moreover, he would not be disturbed by mental or bodily miseries. These are all extraordinary features of the planet Sutala, where Bali Maharaja would live.
In the Vedic literatures we find descriptions of many different planets where there are many, many palaces, hundreds and thousands of times better than those of which we have experience on this planet earth. When we speak of palaces, this naturally includes the idea of great cities and towns. Unfortunately, when modern scientists try to explore other planets they see nothing but rocks and sand. Of course, they may go on their frivolous excursions, but the students of the Vedic literature will never believe them or give them any credit for exploring other planets.
TRANSLATION
GOD SAID “O BALI MAHARAJA [INDRASENA], NOW YOU MAY GO TO THE PLANET SUTALA, WHICH IS DESIRED EVEN BY THE DEMIGODS. LIVE THERE PEACEFULLY, SURROUNDED BY YOUR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES. ALL GOOD FORTUNE UNTO YOU.”
PURPORT
BALI MAHARAJA WAS TRANSFERRED FROM THE HEAVENLY PLANET TO THE PLANET SUTALA, WHICH IS HUNDREDS OF TIMES BETTER THAN HEAVEN, as indicated by the words svargibhim prarthyam.
WHEN THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD DEPRIVES HIS DEVOTEE OF MATERIAL OPULENCES, THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE LORD PUTS HIM INTO POVERTY; RATHER, THE LORD PROMOTES HIM TO A HIGHER POSITION. THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD DID NOT ASK BALI MAHARAJA TO SEPARATE FROM HIS FAMILY; INSTEAD, THE LORD ALLOWED HIM TO STAY WITH HIS FAMILY MEMBERS (jnatibhim parivaritam).
TRANSLATION
GOD SAID TO BALI “ON THE PLANET SUTALA, NOT EVEN THE PREDOMINATING DEITIES OF OTHER PLANETS, WHAT TO SPEAK OF ORDINARY PEOPLE, WILL BE ABLE TO CONQUER YOU. AS FAR AS THE DEMONS ARE CONCERNED, IF THEY TRANSGRESS YOUR RULE, MY DISC WILL KILL THEM.”
TRANSLATION
“O GREAT HERO, I SHALL ALWAYS BE WITH YOU AND GIVE YOU PROTECTION IN ALL RESPECTS ALONG WITH YOUR ASSOCIATES AND PARAPHERNALIA. MOREOVER, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE ABLE TO SEE ME THERE.”
TRANSLATION
“BECAUSE THERE YOU WILL SEE MY SUPREME PROWESS, YOUR MATERIALISTIC IDEAS AND ANXIETIES THAT HAVE ARISEN FROM YOUR ASSOCIATION WITH THE DEMONS AND DANAVAS WILL IMMEDIATELY BE VANQUISHED.”
PURPORT
THE LORD ASSURED BALI MAHARAJA OF ALL PROTECTION, AND FINALLY THE LORD ASSURED HIM OF PROTECTION FROM THE EFFECTS OF BAD ASSOCIATION WITH THE DEMONS. BALI MAHARAJA CERTAINLY BECAME AN EXALTED DEVOTEE, BUT HE WAS SOMEWHAT ANXIOUS BECAUSE HIS ASSOCIATION WAS NOT PURELY DEVOTIONAL. THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD THEREFORE ASSURED HIM THAT HIS DEMONIAC MENTALITY WOULD BE ANNIHILATED. IN OTHER WORDS, BY THE ASSOCIATION OF DEVOTEES, THE DEMONIAC MENTALITY IS VANQUISHED.
