Text 24] The Subterranean Heavenly Planets 399

upendrena—by means of Upendra (Lord Vamanadeva); aétmanam—
myself; aydcata—requested; dtmanah—for himself; ca—and; dsisah —
blessings (the three worlds); no—not: eva—certainly; tat-dasyam—the
loving service of the Lord; ati—very; gambhira-vayasah—having an
insurmountable duration; kdlasya—of time; manvantara-parivrttam—
changed by the end of a life of a Manu; kiyat—what is the value of;
loka-trayam—three worlds; idam—these.

TRANSLATION

Alas, how pitiable it is for Indra, the King of heaven, that
although he is very learned and powerful and although he chose
Brhaspati as his prime minister to instruct him, he is completely
ignorant concerning spiritual advancement. Brhaspati is also unin-
telligent because he did not properly instruct his disciple Indra.
Lord Vamanadeva was standing at Indra’s door, but King Indra, in-
stead of begging Him for an opportunity to render transcendental
loving service, engaged Him in asking me for alms to gain the
three worlds for his sense gratification. Sovereignty over the three
worlds is very insignificant because whatever material opulence
one may possess lasts only for an age of Manu, which is but a tiny
fraction of endless time.

PURPORT

Bali Maharaja was so powerful that he fought with Indra and took
possession of the three worlds. Indra was certainly very advanced in
knowledge, but instead of asking Vamanadeva for engagement in His
service, he used the Lord to beg for material possessions that would be
finished at the end of one age of Manu. An age of Manu, which is the
duration of Manu’s life, is calculated to last seventy-two yugas. One yuga
consists of 4,300,000 years, and therefore the duration of Manu’s life is
309,600,000 years. The demigods possess their material opulence only
until the end of the life of Manu. Time is insurmountable. The time one
is allotted, even if it be millions of years, is quickly gone. The demigods
own their material possessions only within the limits of time. Therefore
Bali Maharaja lamented that although Indra was very learned. he did not
know how to use his intelligence properly, for instead of asking
