Vamana Dvadashi

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Here is a very woderful verse which is in 5th canto itself and not in the

regular pastime of Vamanadev in 8th Canto. Happy Vamana Dvadashi!!! --- YHS

Bhadra Govinda Dasa.

 

Alas, how pitiable it is for Indra, the King of heaven, that although he is

very learned and powerful and although he chose Bhaspati as his prime

minister to instruct him, he is completely ignorant concerning spiritual

advancement. Bhaspati is also unintelligent because he did not properly

instruct his disciple Indra. Lord V€manadeva was standing at Indra’s door,

but King Indra, instead of begging Him for an opportunity to render

transcendental loving service, engaged Him in asking me for alms to gain the

three worlds for his sense gratification. Sovereignty over the three worlds

is very insignificant because whatever material opulence one may possess

lasts only for an age of Manu, which is but a tiny fraction of endless

time.-------Bali Maharaja in Srimad Bhagavatam.

 

PURPORT

Bali Mah€r€ja was so powerful that he fought with Indra and took possession

of the three worlds. Indra was certainly very advanced in knowledge, but

instead of asking V€manadeva for engagement in His service, he used the Lord

to beg for material possessions that would lie finished at the end of one

age of Manu. An age of Manu, which is the duration of Manu’s life, is

calculated to last seventy-two yugas. One yuga consists of 4,300,000 years,

and therefore the duration of Manu’s life is 309,600,000 years. The demigods

possess their material opulence only until the end of the life of Manu. Time

is insurmountable. The time one is allotted, even if it be millions of

years, is quickly gone. The demigods own their material possessions only

within the limits of time. Therefore Bali Mah€r€ja lamented that although

Indra was very learned, he did not know how to use his intelligence

properly, for instead of asking V€manadeva to allow him to engage in His

service, Indra used Him to beg Bali Mah€r€ja for material wealth. Although

Indra was learned and his prime minister, Bhaspati, was also learned,

neither of them begged to be able to render loving service to Lord

V€manadeva. Therefore Bali Mah€r€ja lamented for Indra.