48 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 8, Ch. 18
the people in general; sah—he (Bali Maharaja); dharma-vit—com-
pletely aware of religious principles; mirdhni—on the head; adadhat—
carried; su-margalam —all-auspicious; yat—which; deva-devah—the
best of the demigods; girisah—Lord Siva; candra-maulih—who carries
on his forehead the emblem of the moon; dadhdra—carried;
miirdhnd—on the head; paraya—supreme; ca—also; bhaktya4—with
devotion.
TRANSLATION
Lord Siva, the best of demigods, who carries on his forehead the

emblem of the moon, receives on his head with great devotion the
Ganges water emanating from the toe of Visnu. Being aware of
religious principles, Bali Maharaja knew this. Consequently,
following in the footsteps of Lord Siva, he also placed on his head
the water that had washed the Lord’s lotus feet.

PURPORT

Lord Siva is known as Ganga-dhara, or one who carries the water of

the Ganges on his head. On Lord Siva’s forehead is the emblem of the
half-moon, yet to give supreme respect to the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, Lord Siva placed the water of the Ganges above this emblem.
This example should be followed by everyone, or at least by every devo-
tee, because Lord Siva is one of the mahdjanas. Similarly, Maharaja Bali
also later became a mahdjana. One mahajana follows another mahdjana,
and by following the parampard system of mahdjana activities one can
become advanced in spiritual consciousness. The water of the Ganges is
sanctified because it emanates from the toe of Lord Visnu. Bali Maharaja
washed the lotus feet of Vimanadeva, and the water with which he did so
became equal to the Ganges. Bali Maharaja, who perfectly knew all
religious principles, therefore took that water on his head, following in
the footsteps of Lord Siva.

TEXT 29

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