SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM: CANTO 8

(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'When next through the grace of the Supreme Personality all the Suras had regained their spirits, resumed Indra, Vâyu and the others the fight against the lot that before had baffled them in the struggle. (2) The moment the so very mighty Indra, furious with the son of Virocana [Bali], took up his thunderbolt, began they [the Asuras] all to cry 'Alas, alas!' (3) He who sober and well equipped moved about on the battlefield was by him who carries the thunderbolt opposed and rebuked as follows: (4) 'You cheater, you fool, with your magic you try to be of control with illusions and to win, conquering us as if we were children of whom one deceptively blindfolding them can take away their possessions! (5) The ones desiring to attain the higher of heaven by illusory means and expect to find liberation that way, that bunch of lowly asses, I send down denying them the positions they have taken. (6) I am the one who today will put an end to you and your jugglery by severing your head with my hundred-jagged thunderbolt; you poor soul and your buddies... just try to exist on this battlefield!'

(7) Bali retorted: 'All present here on this field are subjected to the rule of time and do all in due order, like anyone else does in his line of work, find reputation, victory, defeat and death. (8) Because the whole world, moving onward, is running on time, does the Sura cognizant of this, rejoice nor lament; as such are you thus all of little study! [compare B.G. 2.: 11] (9) We who, no matter what might happen, are of respect for the self, cannot accept that heart-rending speech of yours which is pitied by the saintly'.

(10) S'rî S'uka said: 'As a valiant hero thus chiding the mighty one with steel arrows of scorn, attacked Bali, the subduer of the greatest, him again drawing his bow to his ear in attack. (11) Like an elephant beaten by the rod lamented the god, who thus was defeated by his silver-tongued enemy, not over his lesson. (12) The master of destruction used the infallible bolt against him so that he [Bali] struck with his wings clipped with his heavenly vehicle crashed to the ground like a mountain. (13) Seeing that his mate had fallen stepped, as a matter of principle, his most intimate friend and well-wisher Jambha forward in compassion with his hurt companion. (14) He of superpower, riding the lion took position with his club and hit Indra including his elephant with great force on the shoulder. (15) Suffering the great blow sank the elephant severely injured down to his knees and fell he hitting the earth unconscious. (16) Thereupon, when his driver Mâtali brought him [Indra] his chariot drawn by a thousand horses, left he his elephant behind and mounted he the cart. (17) In appreciation of that service of the chariot driver, smiled the best of the Dânavas and struck he him in combat with his with fire blazing trident. (18) Bracing himself managed Mâtali to tolerate the excruciating pain, but Indra most incensed decapitated Jambha with his thunderbolt. (19) When Jambhâsura's kin heard from Nârada rishi that he had been killed, hurried Namuci, Bala and Pâka over there as fast as they could. (20) With cruel words scolding Indra to hurt him in the heart, besieged they him with arrows that fell like a torrent of rain over a mountain. (21) The thousand horses of the king of heaven were plagued by as many arrows, all quickly launched at once. (22) With the two hundred more coming towards Mâtali, that by Pâka all at once were aimed and released against the chariot with all its upkeep, could thus a most remarkable feat be witnessed in the battle. (23) Namuci contributed with fifteen gold-feathered all-powerful arrows which cutting through the air made a noise over the field like a loaded cloud of rain. (24) All the Asuras covered Indra and his chariot from all around with a dense shower of arrows, that covered the sun just like clouds in the rainy season do [see also 4.10: 13]. (25) Like traders shipwrecked in the middle of the ocean began the demigods and their retinue, unable to discern him any longer, bereft of their leader to wail, oppressed and heavily daunted by the enemy superiority as they were. (26) Thereupon, to the delight of all the directions of the sky and the earth, managed Indra, the excel of the truth, to free himself together with his horses, chariot, flag and driver from the hull of arrows, by his personal effulgence shining like the sun at the end of the night.

(27) When the godhead saw how his attendants by the enemy were embarrassed in the fight took he fuming of anger his thunderbolt up to kill the opponents. (28) With the help of that thunderbolt did he before the eyes of their family members, in order to create fear in them, o King, sever the heads of the trunks of Bala and Pâka. (29) Namuci witnessing the two being slaughtered, grieved over them and made, o lord of men, enraged a great attempt to kill Indra. (30) With a steel spear hung with bells and decorated with gold in his hand he strode in fury against Indra roaring like a lion: 'And now you're dead' and struck. (31) The mighty thing like a meteor falling from the sky was then by the supreme personality [of Indra] smashed to pieces o King, while the demon himself got the thunderbolt on his shoulder from a fuming Indra who tried to cut off his head. (32) But the powerful bolt, the same weapon that before by the king of the gods so successfully had been used in piercing Vritrâsura [6.12: 25], could not even scratch his skin. That defiance by Namuci's neck was an extraordinarily wondrous thing. (33) And so with the bolt returning without effect grew Indra very apprehensive of the enemy to which he wondered: 'What is this? By what supreme force could this, to each his eyes so wondrous thing, happen? (34) With this same bolt I formerly clipped the wings of so many mountains that, flying high, weighing far too heavy and pestering the common people, happened to fall. (35) Vritrâsura so powerful of the austerities of Tvashthâ [see 6.9: 11] was killed by it just as were many other powerful characters impervious to all other weapons. (36) And now is that bolt, though strong as a brahmâstra, released against a less important demon repelled; as useless as a rod I can wield it no longer.'

(37) Unto Indra who this way was lamenting spoke a voice out of the blue: 'To this Dânava it is arranged that he can not be annihilated by anything dry or wet. (38) He would not die by something moist or dry because of a benediction I granted him and therefore, o Indra, must you think of some other means to deal with your enemy.'

(39) After he heard that ominous voice meditated Lord Indra with great scrutiny and arrived he thereupon at the insight that something of foam had to be the means that was neither dry or wet. (40) Thus he forced through Namuci's throat a weapon wet nor dry, upon which all the sages pleased covered the almighty one with flowergarlands. (41) The two chief singers of heaven Vis'vâvasu and Parâvasu sang hymns, the kettledrums were sounded by the godly and the heavenly dancers danced in bliss. (42) Vâyu, Agni, Varuna and others though started to eliminate vigorously, as if they were lions killing deer, the other belligerent Asuras. (43) Devarishi Nârada Muni was by Lord Brahmâ sent to the demigods, o King, to forbid the ones in power the total annihilation of the Dânavas he saw taking place. (44) S'rî Nârada said: 'Under the protection of the arms and the fortune [the goddess] of Nârâyana you all procured the nectar; since you all thus flourished must you now stop with this fighting!'

(45) S'uka said: 'Controlling the aggravation of their anger accepted they the words of the sage and returned they, hailed by their followers, all to their heavenly abodes. (46) They who remained after the fight took up Bali and all who had fallen and went, with Nârada's permission, to the mountain called Asta. (47) There at that place were the slain and maimed who still had their heads by S'ukrâcârya [4.1: 45, 6.7: 18, 7.5: 1, 7.10: 33] resuscitated through his knowledge of the Samjîvanî ['animation'] prayer. (48) Bali, also brought back on the touch of Us'anâ, realized what had happened and although he was defeated did he, as the smartest with the ways of the world, not lament.

S'rî S'uka said: 'When next through the grace of the Supreme Personality all the Suras had regained their spirits, resumed Indra, Vâyu and the others the fight against the lot that before had baffled them in the struggle.

S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: Thereafter, by the supreme grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, S'rî Hari, all the demigods, headed by Indra and Vâyu, were brought back to life. Being enlivened, the demigods began severely beating the very same demons who had defeated them before. (Vedabase)

Text 2

The moment the so very mighty Indra, furious with the son of Virocana [Bali], took up his thunderbolt, began they [the Asuras] all to cry 'Alas, alas!'

When the most powerful Indra became angry and took his thunderbolt in hand to kill Mahârâja Bali, the demons began lamenting, "Alas, alas!" (Vedabase)

Text 3

He who sober and well equipped moved about on the battlefield was by him who carries the thunderbolt opposed and rebuked as follows:

Sober and tolerant and well equipped with paraphernalia for fighting, Bali Mahârâja moved before Indra on the great battlefield. King Indra, who always carries the thunderbolt in his hand, rebuked Bali Mahârâja as follows. (Vedabase)

Text 4

'You cheater, you fool, with your magic you try to be of control with illusions and to win, conquering us as if we were children of whom one deceptively blindfolding them can take away their possessions!

Indra said: O rascal, as a cheater sometimes binds the eyes of a child and takes away his possessions, you are trying to defeat us by displaying some mystic power, although you know that we are the masters of all such mystic powers. (Vedabase)

Text 5

The ones desiring to attain the higher of heaven by illusory means and expect to find liberation that way, that bunch of lowly asses, I send down denying them the positions they have taken.

Those fools and rascals who want to ascend to the upper planetary system by mystic power or mechanical means, or who endeavor to cross even the upper planets and achieve the spiritual world or liberation, I cause to be sent to the lowest region of the universe. (Vedabase)

Text 6

I am the one who today will put an end to you and your jugglery by severing your head with my hundred-jagged thunderbolt; you poor soul and your buddies... just try to exist on this battlefield!'

Today, with my thunderbolt, which has hundreds of sharp edges, I, the same powerful person, shall sever your head from your body. Although you can produce so much jugglery through illusion, you are endowed with a poor fund of knowledge. Now, try to exist on this battlefield with your relatives and friends. (Vedabase)

Text 7

Bali retorted: 'All present here on this field are subjected to the rule of time and do all in due order, like anyone else does in his line of work, find reputation, victory, defeat and death.

Bali Mahârâja replied: All those present on this battlefield are certainly under the influence of eternal time, and according to their prescribed activities, they are destined to receive fame, victory, defeat and death, one after another. (Vedabase)

Text 8

Because the whole world, moving onward, is running on time, does the Sura cognizant of this, rejoice nor lament; as such are you thus all of little study! [compare B.G. 2.: 11]

Seeing the movements of time, those who are cognizant of the real truth neither rejoice nor lament for different circumstances. Therefore, because you are jubilant due to your victory, you should be considered not very learned. (Vedabase)

Text 9

We who, no matter what might happen, are of respect for the self, cannot accept that heart-rending speech of yours which is pitied by the saintly'.

You demigods think that your own selves are the cause of your attaining fame and victory. Because of your ignorance, saintly persons feel sorry for you. Therefore, although your words afflict the heart, we do not accept them. (Vedabase)

Text 10

S'rî S'uka said: 'As a valiant hero thus chiding the mighty one with steel arrows of scorn, attacked Bali, the subduer of the greatest, him again drawing his bow to his ear in attack.

S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: After thus rebuking Indra, King of heaven, with sharp words, Bali Mahârâja, who could subdue any other hero, drew back to his ear the arrows known as nârâcas and attacked Indra with these arrows. Then he again chastised Indra with strong words. (Vedabase)

Text 11

Like an elephant beaten by the rod lamented the god, who thus was defeated by his silver-tongued enemy, not over his lesson.

Since Mahârâja Bali's rebukes were truthful, King Indra did not at all become sorry, just as an elephant beaten by its driver's rod does not become agitated. (Vedabase)

Text 12

The master of destruction used the infallible bolt against him so that he [Bali] struck with his wings clipped with his heavenly vehicle crashed to the ground like a mountain.

When Indra, the defeater of enemies, released his infallible thunderbolt scepter at Bali Mahârâja with a desire to kill him, Bali Mahârâja indeed fell to the ground with his airplane, like a mountain with its wings cut off. (Vedabase)

Text 13

Seeing that his mate had fallen stepped, as a matter of principle, his most intimate friend and well-wisher Jambha forward in compassion with his hurt companion.

When the demon Jambhâsura saw that his friend Bali had fallen, he appeared before Indra, the enemy, just to serve Bali Mahârâja with friendly behavior. (Vedabase)

Text 14

He of superpower, riding the lion took position with his club and hit Indra including his elephant with great force on the shoulder.

The greatly powerful Jambhâsura, carried by a lion, approached Indra and forcefully struck him on the shoulder with his club. He also struck Indra's elephant. (Vedabase)

Text 15

Suffering the great blow sank the elephant severely injured down to his knees and fell he hitting the earth unconscious.

Being beaten by Jambhâsura's club, Indra's elephant was confused and aggrieved. Thus it touched its knees to the ground and fell unconscious. (Vedabase)

Text 16

Thereupon, when his driver Mâtali brought him [Indra] his chariot drawn by a thousand horses, left he his elephant behind and mounted he the cart.

Thereafter, Mâtali, Indra's chariot driver, brought Indra's chariot, which was drawn by one thousand horses. Indra then left his elephant and got onto the chariot. (Vedabase)

Text 17

In appreciation of that service of the chariot driver, smiled the best of the Dânavas and struck he him in combat with his with fire blazing trident.

Appreciating Mâtali's service, Jambhâsura, the best of the demons, smiled. Nonetheless, he struck Mâtali in the battle with a trident of blazing fire. (Vedabase)

Text 18:

Bracing himself managed Mâtali to tolerate the excruciating pain, but Indra most incensed decapitated Jambha with his thunderbolt.

Although the pain was extremely severe, Mâtali tolerated it with great patience. Indra, however, became extremely angry at Jambhâsura. He struck Jambhâsura with his thunderbolt and thus severed his head from his body. (Vedabase)

Text 19:

When Jambhâsura's kin heard from Nârada rishi that he had been killed, hurried Namuci, Bala and Pâka over there as fast as they could.

When Nârada Rishi informed Jambhâsura's friends and relatives that Jambhâsura had been killed, the three demons named Namuci, Bala and Pâka arrived on the battlefield in great haste. (Vedabase)

Text 20:

With cruel words scolding Indra to hurt him in the heart, besieged they him with arrows that fell like a torrent of rain over a mountain.

Rebuking Indra with harsh, cruel words that were piercing to the heart, these demons showered him with arrows, just as torrents of rain wash a great mountain. (Vedabase)

Text 21:

The thousand horses of the king of heaven were plagued by as many arrows, all quickly launched at once.

Quickly handling the situation on the battlefield, the demon Bala put all of Indra's one thousand horses into tribulation by simultaneously piercing them all with an equal number of arrows. (Vedabase)

Text 22:

With the two hundred more coming towards Mâtali, that by Pâka all at once were aimed and released against the chariot with all its upkeep, could thus a most remarkable feat be witnessed in the battle.

Pâka, another demon, attacked both the chariot, with all its paraphernalia, and the chariot driver, Mâtali, by fitting two hundred arrows to his bow and releasing them all simultaneously. This was indeed a wonderful act on the battlefield. (Vedabase)

Text 23:

Namuci contributed with fifteen gold-feathered all-powerful arrows which cutting through the air made a noise over the field like a loaded cloud of rain.

Then Namuci, another demon, attacked Indra and injured him with fifteen very powerful golden-feathered arrows, which roared like a cloud full of water. (Vedabase)

Text 24:

All the Asuras covered Indra and his chariot from all around with a dense shower of arrows, that covered the sun just like clouds in the rainy season do [see also 4.10: 13].

Other demons covered Indra, along with his chariot and chariot driver, with incessant showers of arrows, just as clouds cover the sun in the rainy season. (Vedabase)

Text 25:

Like traders shipwrecked in the middle of the ocean began the demigods and their retinue, unable to discern him any longer, bereft of their leader to wail, oppressed and heavily daunted by the enemy superiority as they were.

The demigods, being severely oppressed by their enemies and being unable to see Indra on the battlefield, were very anxious. Having no captain or leader, they began lamenting like traders in a wrecked vessel in the midst of the ocean. (Vedabase)

Text 26:

Thereupon, to the delight of all the directions of the sky and the earth, managed Indra, the excel of the truth, to free himself together with his horses, chariot, flag and driver from the hull of arrows, by his personal effulgence shining like the sun at the end of the night.

Thereafter, Indra released himself from the cage of the network of arrows. Appearing with his chariot, flag, horses and chariot driver and thus pleasing the sky, the earth and all directions, he shone effulgently like the sun at the end of night. Indra was bright and beautiful in the vision of everyone. (Vedabase)

Text 27:

When the godhead saw how his attendants by the enemy were embarrassed in the fight took he fuming of anger his thunderbolt up to kill the opponents.

When Indra, who is known as Vajra-dhara, the carrier of the thunderbolt, saw his own soldiers so oppressed by the enemies on the battlefield, he became very angry. Thus he took up his thunderbolt to kill the enemies. (Vedabase)

Text 28:

With the help of that thunderbolt did he before the eyes of their family members, in order to create fear in them, o King, sever the heads of the trunks of Bala and Pâka.

O King Parîkshit, King Indra used his thunderbolt to cut off the heads of both Bala and Pâka in the presence of all their relatives and followers. In this way he created a very fearful atmosphere on the battlefield. (Vedabase)

Text 29:

Namuci witnessing the two being slaughtered, grieved over them and made, o lord of men, enraged a great attempt to kill Indra.

O King, when Namuci, another demon, saw the killing of both Bala and Pâka, he was full of grief and lamentation. Thus he angrily made a great attempt to kill Indra. (Vedabase)

Text 30:

With a steel spear hung with bells and decorated with gold in his hand he strode in fury against Indra roaring like a lion: 'And now you're dead' and struck.

Being angry and roaring like a lion, the demon Namuci took up a steel spear, which was bound with bells and decorated with ornaments of gold. He loudly cried, "Now you are killed!" Thus coming before Indra to kill him, Namuci released his weapon. (Vedabase)

Text 31:

The mighty thing like a meteor falling from the sky was then by the supreme personality [of Indra] smashed to pieces o King, while the demon himself got the thunderbolt on his shoulder from a fuming Indra who tried to cut off his head.

O King, when Indra, King of heaven, saw this very powerful spear falling toward the ground like a blazing meteor, he immediately cut it to pieces with his arrows. Then, being very angry, he struck Namuci's shoulder with his thunderbolt to cut off Namuci's head. (Vedabase)

Text 32:

But the powerful bolt, the same weapon that before by the king of the gods so successfully had been used in piercing Vritrâsura [6.12: 25], could not even scratch his skin. That defiance by Namuci's neck was an extraordinarily wondrous thing.

Although King Indra hurled his thunderbolt at Namuci with great force, it could not even pierce his skin. It is very wonderful that the famed thunderbolt that had pierced the body of Vritrâsura could not even slightly injure the skin of Namuci's neck. (Vedabase)

Text 33:

And so with the bolt returning without effect grew Indra very apprehensive of the enemy to which he wondered: 'What is this? By what supreme force could this, to each his eyes so wondrous thing, happen?

When Indra saw the thunderbolt return from the enemy, he was very much afraid. He began to wonder whether this had happened because of some miraculous superior power. (Vedabase)

Text 34:

With this same bolt I formerly clipped the wings of so many mountains that, flying high, weighing far too heavy and pestering the common people, happened to fall.

Indra thought: Formerly, when many mountains flying in the sky with wings would fall to the ground and kill people, I cut their wings with this same thunderbolt. (Vedabase)

Text 35:

Vritrâsura so powerful of the austerities of Tvashthâ [see 6.9: 11] was killed by it just as were many other powerful characters impervious to all other weapons.

Vritrâsura was the essence of the austerities undergone by Tvashthâ, yet the thunderbolt killed him. Indeed, not only he but also many other stalwart heroes, whose very skin could not be injured even by all kinds of weapons, were killed by the same thunderbolt. (Vedabase)

Text 36:

And now is that bolt, though strong as a brahmâstra, released against a less important demon repelled; as useless as a rod I can wield it no longer.'

But now, although the same thunderbolt has been released against a less important demon, it has been ineffectual. Therefore, although it was as good as a brahmâstra , it has now become useless like an ordinary rod. I shall therefore hold it no longer. (Vedabase)

Text 37:

Unto Indra who this way was lamenting spoke a voice out of the blue: 'To this Dânava it is arranged that he can not be annihilated by anything dry or wet.

S'ukadeva Gosvâmî continued: While the morose Indra was lamenting in this way, an ominous, unembodied voice said from the sky, "This demon Namuci is not to be annihilated by anything dry or moist." (Vedabase)

Text 38:

He would not die by something moist or dry because of a benediction I granted him and therefore, o Indra, must you think of some other means to deal with your enemy.'

The voice also said, "O Indra, because I have given this demon the benediction that he will never be killed by any weapon that is dry or moist, you have to think of another way to kill him." (Vedabase)

Text 39:

After he heard that ominous voice meditated Lord Indra with great scrutiny and arrived he thereupon at the insight that something of foam had to be the means that was neither dry or wet.

After hearing the ominous voice, Indra, with great attention, began to meditate on how to kill the demon. He then saw that foam would be the means, for it is neither moist nor dry. (Vedabase)

Text 40:

Thus he forced through Namuci's throat a weapon wet nor dry, upon which all the sages pleased covered the almighty one with flowergarlands.

Thus Indra, King of heaven, severed Namuci's head with a weapon of foam, which was neither dry nor moist. Then all the sages satisfied Indra, the exalted personality, by showering flowers and garlands upon him, almost covering him. (Vedabase)

Text 41:

The two chief singers of heaven Vis'vâvasu and Parâvasu sang hymns, the kettledrums were sounded by the godly and the heavenly dancers danced in bliss.

Vis'vâvasu and Parâvasu, the two chiefs of the Gandharvas, sang in great happiness. The kettledrums of the demigods sounded, and the Apsarâs danced in jubilation. (Vedabase)

Text 42:

Vâyu, Agni, Varuna and others though started to eliminate vigorously, as if they were lions killing deer, the other belligerent Asuras.

Vâyu, Agni, Varuna and other demigods began killing the demons who opposed them, just as lions kill deer in a forest. (Vedabase)

Text 43:

Devarishi Nârada Muni was by Lord Brahmâ sent to the demigods, o King, to forbid the ones in power the total annihilation of the Dânavas he saw taking place.

O King, when Lord Brahmâ saw the imminent total annihilation of the demons, he sent a message with Nârada, who went before the demigods to make them stop fighting. (Vedabase)

Text 44:

S'rî Nârada said: 'Under the protection of the arms and the fortune [the goddess] of Nârâyana you all procured the nectar; since you all thus flourished must you now stop with this fighting!'

The great sage Nârada said: All of you demigods are protected by the arms of Nârâyana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and by His grace you have gotten the nectar. By the grace of the goddess of fortune, you are glorious in every way. Therefore, please stop this fighting. (Vedabase)

Text 45:

S'uka said: 'Controlling the aggravation of their anger accepted they the words of the sage and returned they, hailed by their followers, all to their heavenly abodes.

S'rî S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: Accepting the words of Nârada, the demigods gave up their anger and stopped fighting. Being praised by their followers, they returned to their heavenly planets. (Vedabase)

Text 46:

They who remained after the fight took up Bali and all who had fallen and went, with Nârada's permission, to the mountain called Asta.

Following the order of Nârada Muni, whatever demons remained on the battlefield took Bali Mahârâja, who was in a precarious condition, to the hill known as Astagiri. (Vedabase)

Text 47:

There at that place were the slain and maimed who still had their heads by S'ukrâcârya [4.1: 45, 6.7: 18, 7.5: 1, 7.10: 33] resuscitated through his knowledge of the Samjîvanî ['animation'] prayer.

There, on that hill, S'ukrâcârya brought to life all the dead demoniac soldiers who had not lost their heads, trunks and limbs. He achieved this by his own mantra, known as Samjîvanî. (Vedabase)

Text 48:

Bali, also brought back on the touch of Us'anâ, realized what had happened and although he was defeated did he, as the smartest with the ways of the world, not lament.

Bali Mahârâja was very experienced in universal affairs. When he regained his senses and memory by the grace of S'ukrâcârya, he could understand everything that had happened. Therefore, although he had been defeated, he did not lament. (Vedabase)