Text 28] Bali Maharaja Surrenders His Life 185
TRANSLATION

Although aristocratic birth and other such opulences are im-
pediments to advancement in devotional service because they are
causes of false prestige and pride, these opulences never disturb a
pure devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

PURPORT

Devotees like Dhruva Maharaja, who was given unlimited material
opulence, have the special mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Once Kuvera wanted to give Dhruva Maharaja a benediction, but
although Dhruva Maharaja could have asked him for any amount of ma-
terial opulence, he instead begged Kuvera that he might continue his de-
votional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When a devotee
is fixed in his devotional service, there is no need for the Lord to deprive
him of his material opulences. The Supreme Personality of Godhead
never takes away material opulences achieved because of devotional ser-
vice, although He sometimes takes away opulences achieved by pious ac-
tivities. He does this to make a devotee prideless or put him in a better
position in devotional service. If a special devotee is meant for preaching
but does not give up his family life or material opulences to take to the
service of the Lord, the Lord surely takes away his material opulences
and establishes him in devotional service. Thus the pure devotee be-
comes fully engaged in propagating Krsna consciousness.

TEXT 28
ay ataageraraaet: | atfata: |
aNigaat amt deat a gafe zc
esa danava-daityanam
agranih kirti-vardhanah
ajaisid ajayam mayam
sidann api na muhyati

esah—this Bali Maharaja; dénava-daityanam—among the demons

and unbelievers; agranih—the foremost devotee; kirti-vardhanah—the
