Text 24]
Bali Mahārāja Surrenders His Life
181
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is so kind that if an unsophisticated person, with devotion and without duplicity, offers at the lotus feet of the Lord a little water, a flower, a fruit or a leaf, the Lord accepts it. Then the devotee is promoted to Vaikuṇṭha, the spiritual world. Brahmā drew the Lord's attention to this subject and requested that He release Bali Mahārāja, who was suffering, being bound by the ropes of Varuṇa, and who had already given everything, including the three worlds and whatever he possessed.
TEXT 24
श्रीभगवानुवाच
ब्रह्मन् यमनुगृह्णामि तद्विशो विधुनोम्यहम् ।
यन्मदः पुरुषः स्तब्धो लोकं मां चावमन्यते ॥२४॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca brahman yam anugrhṇāmi tad-viśo vidhunomy aham yan-madaḥ puruṣaḥ stabdho lokam mām cāvamanyate
śrī-bhagavān uvāca—the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; brahman—O Lord Brahmā; yam—unto anyone to whom; anugrhṇāmi—I show My mercy; tat—his; viśaḥ—material opulence or riches; vidhunomi—take away; aham—I; yat-madaḥ—having false prestige due to this money; puruṣaḥ—such a person; stabdhaḥ—being dull-minded; lokam—the three worlds; mām ca—unto Me also; avamanyate—derides.
TRANSLATION
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Lord Brahmā, because of material opulence a foolish person becomes dull-witted and mad. Thus he has no respect for anyone within the three worlds and defies even My authority. To such a person I show special favor by first taking away all his possessions.
PURPORT
A civilization that has become godless because of material advancement in opulence is extremely dangerous. Because of great opulence, a