Text 3] Bali Maharaja Surrenders the Universe 97
PURPORT

Bali Mahardja’s grave answer to Sukracarya is meaningful. Sukracarya
stressed that one’s material means of livelihood and one’s material
reputation, sense gratification and economic development must continue
properly. To see to this is the first duty of a man who is a householder,
especially one who is interested in material affairs. If a religious princi-
ple does not affect one’s material condition, it is to be accepted. At the
present time, in this age of Kali, this idea is extremely prominent. No
one is prepared to accept any religious principle if it hampers material
prosperity. Sukracarya, being a person of this material world, did not
know the principles of a devotee. A devotee is determined to serve the
Supreme Personality of Godhead to His full satisfaction. Anything that
hampers such determination should certainly be rejected. This is the
principle of bhakti. Anuktlyasya sankalpah pratikilyasya varjanam
(Cc. Madhya 22.100). To perform devotional service, one must accept
only that which is favorable and reject that which is unfavorable. Bali
Maharaja had the opportunity to contribute everything he possessed to
the lotus feet of Lord Vamanadeva, but Sukracarya was putting forward
a material argument to hamper this process of devotional service. Under
the circumstances, Bali Maharaja decided that such hindrances should
certainly be avoided. In other words, he decided immediately to reject the
advice of Sukracérya and go on with his duty. Thus he gave all his
possessions to Lord Vamanadeva.

TEXT 3
a ate aorta searaa ae aay |
aferrea cerita manta: feat zat U3 1
sa caham vitta-lobhena
pratydcakse katharh dvijam
pratisrutya dadamiti
prahradih kitavo yatha

sah—such a person as I am; ca—also; aham—I am; vitta-lobhena—
for being allured by greed for money; pratydcakse—I shall cheat or say
no when I have already said yes; katham—how; dvijam—especially to a
