SB 8.22.28
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT 28
- eṣa dānava-daityānām
- agranīḥ kīrti-vardhanaḥ
- ajaiṣīd ajayāṁ māyāṁ
- sīdann api na muhyati
SYNONYMS
eṣaḥ — this Bali Mahārāja; dānava-daityānām — among the demons and unbelievers; agranīḥ — the foremost devotee; kīrti-vardhanaḥ — the most famous; ajaiṣīt — has already surpassed; ajayām — the insurmountable; māyām — material energy; sīdan — being bereft (of all material opulences); api — although; na — not; muhyati — is bewildered.
TRANSLATION
Bali Mahārāja has become the most famous among the demons and nonbelievers, for in spite of being bereft of all material opulences, he is fixed in his devotional service.
PURPORT
In this verse, the words sīdann api na muhyati are very important. A devotee is sometimes put into adversity while executing devotional service. In adversity, everyone laments and becomes aggrieved, but by the grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, a devotee, even in the worst condition, can understand that he is going through a severe examination by the Personality of Godhead. Bali Mahārāja passed all such examinations, as explained in the following verses.