SB 10.85.37
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Please note: The synonyms, translation and purport of this verse were composed by disciples of Śrīla Prabhupāda
TEXT 37
- samarhayām āsa sa tau vibhūtibhir
- mahārha-vastrābharaṇānulepanaiḥ
- tāmbūla-dīpāmṛta-bhakṣaṇādibhiḥ
- sva-gotra-vittātma-samarpaṇena ca
SYNONYMS
samarhayām āsa—worshiped; saḥ—he; tau—Them; vibhūtibhiḥ—with his riches; mahā-arha—greatly valuable; vastra—with garments; ābharaṇa—ornaments; anulepanaiḥ—and fragrant pastes; tāmbūla—with betel nut; dīpa—lamps; amṛta—nectarean; bhakṣaṇa—food; ādibhiḥ—and so on; sva—of his; gotra—family; vitta—of the wealth; ātma—and of himself; samarpaṇena—with the offering; ca—and.
Translation and purport composed by disciples of Śrīla Prabhupāda
TRANSLATION
He worshiped Them with all the riches at his disposal—priceless clothing, ornaments, fragrant sandalwood paste, betel nut, lamps, sumptuous food and so on. Thus he offered Them all his family's wealth, and also his own self.
PURPORT
Bali Mahārāja's devotional attitude is renowned as the perfect example of complete self-surrender. When Lord Viṣṇu in the guise of a young brāhmaṇa student approached him for charity, Bali offered all he possessed, and when he had nothing more to offer, he surrendered himself as the Supreme Lord's eternal servant.
There are nine standard processes of devotional service, and the last, ātma-samarpaṇam, as taught by Bali Daityarāja, is the culmination toward which every endeavor should aim. If one tries to impress the Lord with wealth, power, intelligence and so on but fails to humbly understand oneself to be His servant, one's so-called devotion is only a presumptuous show.