Text 36] Bali Mahārāja Conquers the Heavenly Planets
207
PURPORT
We have seen in the dispute between Mahārāja Pṛthu and Indra that when Mahārāja Pṛthu wanted to perform one hundred  aśvamedha-yajñas , Indra wanted to impede him, for it is because of such great sacrifices that Indra was made King of heaven. Here the  brāhmaṇa  descendants of Bhṛgu decided that although Mahārāja Bali was situated on the throne of Indra, he would not be able to stay there unless he performed such sacrifices. Therefore they advised Mahārāja Bali to perform at least as many  aśvamedha-yajñas  as Indra. The word  ayājayan  indicates that all the  brāhmaṇas  induced Bali Mahārāja to perform such sacrifices.
TEXT 35
ततस्तदनुभावेन भुवनत्रयविश्रुताम् । कीर्तिं दिक्षु वितन्वानः स रेज उडुराडिव ॥३५॥
tatas tad-anubhāvena bhuvana-traya-viśrutām kīrtim dikṣu vitanvānaḥ sa reja udurāḍ iva
tataḥ —thereafter;  tat-anubhāvena —because of performing such great sacrifices;  bhuvana-traya —throughout the three worlds;  viśrutām —celebrated;  kīrtim —reputation;  dikṣu —in all directions;  vitanvānaḥ —spreading;  saḥ —he (Bali Mahārāja);  reje —became effulgent;  udurāṭ —the moon;  iva —like.
TRANSLATION
When Bali Mahārāja performed these sacrifices, he gained a great reputation in all directions, throughout the three worlds. Thus he shone in his position, like the brilliant moon in the sky.
TEXT 36
बुभुजे च श्रियं स्वृद्धां द्विजदेवोपलम्मिताम् । कृतकृत्यमिवात्मानं मन्यमानो महामनाः ॥३६॥