CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Bali Maharaja

Surrenders His Life

The summary of this Twenty-second Chapter is as follows. The Supreme
Personality of Godhead was pleased by the behavior of Bali Maharaja.
Thus the Lord placed him on the planet Sutala, and there, after bestow-
ing benedictions upon him, the Lord agreed to become his doorman.

Bali Maharaja was extremely truthful. Being unable to keep his prom-
ise, he was very much afraid, for he knew that one who has deviated
from truthfulness is insignificant in the eyes of society. An exalted per-
son can suffer the consequences of hellish life, but he is very much
afraid of being defamed for deviation from the truth. Bali Maharaja
agreed with great pleasure to accept the punishment awarded him by the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. In Bali Maharaja’s dynasty there were
many asuras who because of their enmity toward Visnu had achieved a
destination more exalted than that of many mystic yogis. Bali Maharaja
specifically remembered the determination of Prahlada Maharaja in de-
votional service. Considering all these points, he decided to give his head
in charity as the place for Visnu’s third step. Bali Maharaja also con-
sidered how great personalities give up their family relationships and
material possessions to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In-
deed, they sometimes even sacrifice their lives for the satisfaction of the
Lord, just to become His personal servants. Accordingly, by following in
the footsteps of previous dcaryas and devotees, Bali Maharaja perceived
himself successful.

While Bali Maharaja, having been arrested by the ropes of Varuna,
was offering prayers to the Lord, his grandfather Prahlada Maharaja ap-
peared there and described how the Supreme Personality of Godhead had
delivered Bali Maharaja by taking his possessions in a tricky way. While
Prahlada Maharaja was present, Lord Brahma and Biali’s wife,
Vindhyavali, described the supremacy of the Supreme Lord. Since Bali
Maharaja had given everything to the Lord, they prayed for his release.

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