12.218
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
śatakratur athāpaśyad baler dīptāṃ mahātmanaḥ। svarūpiṇīṃ śarīrād dhi tadā niṣkrāmatīṃ śriyam ॥12-218-1॥
Then Indra saw the radiant Goddess Śrī, in her true form, emerging from the body of the great-souled Bali.
tāṃ dīptāṃ prabhayā dṛṣṭvā bhagavān pākāśāsanaḥ। vismayotphullanayano baliṃ papraccha vāsavaḥ॥12-218-2॥
Seeing her radiant brilliance, Indra, filled with amazement, his eyes wide, asked Bali.
bale keyamapakrāntā rocamānā śikhaṇḍinī। tvattaḥ sthitā sakeyūrā dīpyamānā svatejasā ॥12-218-3॥
Who is this powerful, radiant, crested woman, adorned with armlets, who has departed from you and stands shining with her own brilliance?
baliruvāca॥
Bali said.
na hīmām āsurīṃ vedmi na daivīṃ na ca mānuṣīm। tvam evaināṃ pṛccha mā vā yatheṣṭaṃ kuru vāsava ॥12-218-4॥
I truly do not know whether she is of the asura kind, divine, or human; you alone should ask her, or do as you wish, O Vāsava (Indra).
śakra uvāca॥
Indra said.
kā tvaṃ balerapakrāntā rocamānā śikhaṇḍinī। ajānato mamācakṣva nāmadheyaṃ śucismite ॥12-218-5॥
Who are you, radiant crested lady, who has left Bali? O pure-smiled one, please tell me your name, for I do not know it.
kā tvaṃ tiṣṭhasi māyeva dīpyamānā svatejasā। hitvā daityeśvaraṃ subhru tanmamācakṣva tattvataḥ ॥12-218-6॥
Who are you, standing here like an illusion, radiant with your own splendor? O beautiful-browed one, having left the lord of the Daityas, tell me the truth about this.
śrīr uvāca॥
Śrī said.
na mā virocano veda na mā vairocano baliḥ। āhur māṃ duḥsahety evaṃ vidhitseti ca māṃ viduḥ॥12-218-7॥
Neither Virocana nor Bali, the son of Virocana, knows me; they say I am hard to bear, and thus, those who desire to know, know me so.
bhūtir lakṣmīti mām āhuḥ śrīr ity evaṃ ca vāsava। tvaṃ māṃ śakra na jānīṣe sarve devā na māṃ viduḥ ॥12-218-8॥
People call me prosperity, Lakshmi, and fortune, O Indra. But you, O Śakra, do not know me; nor do any of the gods know me.
śakra uvāca॥
Indra said.
kimidaṃ tvaṃ mama kṛte utāho balinaḥ kṛte। duḥsahe vijahāsyenaṃ cirasaṃvāsinī satī ॥12-218-9॥
What is this—are you doing this for my sake, or for the sake of the powerful? Are you, who have long lived with him, now wishing to abandon him in this unbearable situation?
śrīr uvāca॥
Śrī said.
na dhātā na vidhātā māṃ vidadhāti kathañcana। kālastu śakra paryāyānmainaṃ śakrāvamanyathāḥ ॥12-218-10॥
Neither the supporter nor the creator appoints me in any way. It is Time alone, O Indra, through cycles; O Indra, do not disregard this one (me).
śakra uvāca॥
Indra said:
kathaṁ tvayā balis tyaktaḥ kimarthaṁ vā śikhaṇḍini| kathaṁ ca māṁ na jahyās tvaṁ tan me brūhi śucismite ॥12-218-11॥
O Śucismitā, tell me: How was Bali abandoned by you, for what reason, O Śikhaṇḍinī? And how is it that you would not abandon me? Please tell me that.
śrīr uvāca॥
Śrī said.
satye sthitāsmi dāne ca vrate tapasi caiva hi। parākrame ca dharme ca parācīnastato baliḥ ॥12-218-12॥
I am established in truth, in charity, in vows, and in austerity indeed; in valor and in righteousness as well, therefore Bali is ancient.
brahmaṇyo'yaṃ sadā bhūtvā satyavādī jitendriyaḥ। abhyasūyadbrāhmaṇānvai ucchiṣṭaścāspṛśadghṛtam ॥12-218-13॥
Although always devoted to Brahman, truthful, and self-controlled, he envied Brāhmaṇas, and being defiled by food remnants, did not touch clarified butter.
yajñaśīlaḥ purā bhūtvā māmeva yajatetayam। provāca lokānmūḍhātmā kālenopanipīḍitaḥ ॥12-218-14॥
This deluded soul, who was formerly devoted to sacrifice, said to the worlds, 'He worships only me,' being oppressed by time.
apākṛtā tataḥ śakra tvayi vatsyāmi vāsava। apramattena dhāryāsmi tapasā vikrameṇa ca ॥12-218-15॥
O Śakra, when the obstacles are removed, I shall dwell with you, O Vāsava. I am to be sustained by the vigilant through austerity and valor.
śakra uvāca॥
Indra said.
asti devamanuṣyeṣu sarvabhūteṣu vā pumān। yastvāmeko viṣahituṃ śaknuyāt kamalālaye ॥12-218-16॥
O Kamalālaye, is there any god among men, or any man among all beings, who alone is able to withstand you?
śrīr uvāca॥
Śrī said.
naiva devo na gandharvo nāsuro na ca rākṣasaḥ। yo māmeko viṣahituṃ śaktaḥ kaścitpuraṃdara ॥12-218-17॥
Neither god, nor gandharva, nor asura, nor even rākṣasa—there is no one, O Purandara, who alone is capable of overcoming me.
śakra uvāca॥
Indra said.
tiṣṭhethā mayi nityaṃ tvaṃ yathā tadbrūhi me śubhe। tatkariṣyāmi te vākyamṛtaṃ tvaṃ vaktumarhasi ॥12-218-18॥
O auspicious one, please tell me how you should always remain in me. I shall do that; your words are like nectar. You are worthy to speak.
śrīr uvāca॥
Śrī said.
sthāsyāmi nityaṃ devendra yathā tvayi nibodha tat. vidhinā vedadṛṣṭena caturdhā vibhajasva mām ॥12-218-19॥
O Indra of the gods, know that I shall always remain in you. By the ordinance as seen in the Veda, divide me into four parts.
śakra uvāca॥
Indra said.
ahaṃ vai tvā nidhāsyāmi yathāśakti yathābalam। na tu me'atikramaḥ syādvai sadā lakṣmi tavāntike ॥12-218-20॥
O Lakṣmī, I will indeed place you as per my ability and strength, but let me never transgress in your presence.
bhūmir eva manuṣyeṣu dhāraṇī bhūtabhāvinī। sā te pādaṃ titikṣeta samarthā hīti me matiḥ॥12-218-21॥
The earth, truly the supporter and producer of beings among men, should be able to bear your foot—this is my opinion.
śrīr uvāca॥
Śrī said.
eṣa me nihitaḥ pādo yo'yaṃ bhūmau pratiṣṭhitaḥ। dvitīyaṃ śakra pādaṃ me tasmātsunihitaṃ kuru ॥12-218-22॥
This foot of mine is placed and established on the earth. O Śakra, therefore, place my second foot well.
śakra uvāca॥
Indra said.
āpa eva manuṣyeṣu dravantyaḥ paricārikāḥ। tās te pādaṃ titikṣantām alam āpas titikṣitum ॥12-218-23॥
The waters, truly, are the flowing attendants among men. Let them bear your foot; let the waters be able to endure it.
śrīr uvāca॥
Śrī said.
eṣa me nihitaḥ pādo yo'ayam apsu pratiṣṭhitaḥ। tṛtīyaṃ śakra pādaṃ me tasmāt sunihitaṃ kuru ॥12-218-24॥
This is my foot that I have placed, which stands established in the waters. O Śakra, therefore, make my third foot well-placed.
śakra uvāca॥
Indra said.
yasmindevāś ca yajñāś ca yasmin vedāḥ pratiṣṭhitāḥ। tṛtīyaṃ pādam agnis te sudhṛtaṃ dhārayiṣyati ॥12-218-25॥
That third step of yours, Agni, in which the gods and sacrifices and the Vedas are established, will be well supported and upheld by you.
śrīr uvāca॥
Śrī said.
eṣa me nihitaḥ pādo yo'ayam agnau pratiṣṭhitaḥ। caturthaṃ śakra pādaṃ me tasmāt sunihitaṃ kuru ॥12-218-26॥
This is my foot that has been placed and established in the fire. O Śakra, therefore, make my fourth foot well-established.
śakra uvāca॥
Indra said.
ye vai santo manuṣyeṣu brahmaṇyāḥ satyavādinaḥ। te te pādaṃ titikṣantāmalaṃ santastitikṣitum ॥12-218-27॥
Those among men who are virtuous, devoted to Brahman, and speakers of truth—such persons should be able to endure every hardship; it is the nature of the virtuous to endure.
śrīr uvāca॥
Śrī said.
eṣa me nihitaḥ pādo yo'yaṃ satsu pratiṣṭhitaḥ। evaṃ vinihitāṃ śakra bhūteṣu paridhatsva mām ॥12-218-28॥
This is my foot, which I have set among the virtuous. In this way, O Śakra, surround me, who is established among beings.
śakra uvāca॥
Indra said.
bhūtānāmiha vai yastvā mayā vinihitāṃ satīm। upahanyātsa me dviṣyāttathā śṛṇvantu me vacaḥ ॥12-218-29॥
Whoever among beings here should harm you, who have been appointed by me and are existing, he should become my enemy; thus let all hear my words.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
tatas tyaktaḥ śriyā rājā daityānāṃ balir abravīt। yāvat purastāt pratapet tāvad vai dakṣiṇāṃ diśam ॥12-218-30॥
Then, when prosperity had left him, King Bali of the Daityas said: "As long as it shines in the east, let us proceed to the southern direction."
paścimāṃ tāvadevāpi tathodīcīṃ divākaraḥ। tathā madhyaṃdine sūryo astameti yadā tadā ॥ punardevāsuraṃ yuddhaṃ bhāvi jetāsmi vastadā ॥12-218-31॥
Just as the sun stays in the west for a time and then in the north, and at midday sets when the time comes, so too, when the battle between gods and demons is about to occur, then I will be your conqueror.
sarvāṃllokānyadāditya ekasthastāpayiṣyati। tadā devāsure yuddhe jetāhaṃ tvāṃ śatakrato ॥12-218-32॥
When the Sun scorches all the worlds from one place, then, O Śatakratu, in the battle between gods and asuras, I will conquer you.
śakra uvāca॥
Indra said.
brahmaṇāsmi samādiṣṭo na hantavyo bhavāniti। tena te'haṃ bale vajraṃ na vimuñcāmi mūrdhani ॥12-218-33॥
I have been well-instructed by Brahmā that you are not to be killed. Therefore, I do not hurl the thunderbolt at your head in battle.
yatheṣṭaṃ gaccha daityendra svasti te'stu mahāsura। ādityo nāvatapitā kadācinmadhyataḥ sthitaḥ ॥12-218-34॥
Go as you wish, O lord of the Daityas; may well-being be yours, O great Asura. The Sun has never scorched from the middle.
sthāpito hy asya samayaḥ pūrvam eva svayambhuvā। ajasraṃ pariyāty eṣa satyenāvatapan prajāḥ ॥12-218-35॥
The time for this world was indeed established long ago by Svayambhū; this time moves unceasingly, protecting all creatures by the power of truth.
ayanaṃ tasya ṣaṇmāsā uttaraṃ dakṣiṇaṃ tathā। yena saṃyāti lokeṣu śītoṣṇe visṛjan raviḥ ॥12-218-36॥
The Sun's path consists of six months each in the northern and southern directions; by this movement, the Sun brings about cold and heat in the worlds.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
evam-uktas-tu daityendro balir-indreṇa bhārata। jagāma dakṣiṇām-āśām-udīcīṃ tu puraṃdaraḥ ॥12-218-37॥
O Bhārata, when thus addressed by Indra, the lord of the Daityas, Bali, went to the southern direction, while Purandara (Indra) went to the north.
ity etad balinā gītam anahaṅkāra-saṃjñitam। vākyaṃ śrutvā sahasrākṣaḥ kham eva āruruhe tadā ॥12-218-38॥
Having heard this statement called 'absence of ego', spoken by the mighty one, Indra (the thousand-eyed) then immediately ascended into the sky.
