Text 11
yajanti yajñaṁ kratubhir yam ādṛtā
bhavanta āmnāya-vidhāna-kovidāḥ
sa eva viṣṇur varado ’stu vā paro
dāsyāmy amuṣmai kṣitim īpsitāṁ mune
yajanti — worship; yajñam — who is the enjoyer of sacrifice; kratubhiḥ — by the different paraphernalia for sacrifice; yam — unto the Supreme Person; ādṛtāḥ — very respectfully; bhavantaḥ — all of you; āmnāya-vidhāna-kovidāḥ — great saintly persons fully aware of the Vedic principles of performing sacrifice; saḥ — that; eva — indeed; viṣṇuḥ — is Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; varadaḥ — either He is prepared to give benedictions; astu — He becomes; vā — or; paraḥ — comes as an enemy; dāsyāmi — I shall give; amuṣmai — unto Him (unto Lord Viṣṇu, Vāmanadeva); kṣitim — the tract of land; īpsitām — whatever He has desired; mune — O great sage.
O great sage, great saintly persons like you, being completely aware of the Vedic principles for performing ritualistic ceremonies and yajñas, worship Lord Viṣṇu in all circumstances. Therefore, whether that same Lord Viṣṇu has come here to give me all benedictions or to punish me as an enemy, I must carry out His order and give Him the requested tract of land without hesitation.
As stated by Lord Śiva:
ārādhanānāṁ sarveṣāṁ
viṣṇor ārādhanaṁ param
tasmāt parataraṁ devi
tadīyānāṁ samarcanam
(Padma Purāṇa)
Although in the Vedas there are recommendations for worshiping many demigods, Lord Viṣṇu is the Supreme Person, and worship of Viṣṇu is the ultimate goal of life. The Vedic principles of the varṇāśrama institution are meant to organize society to prepare everyone to worship Lord Viṣṇu.
varṇāśramācāravatā
puruṣeṇa paraḥ pumān
viṣṇur ārādhyate panthā
nānyat tat-toṣa-kāraṇam
“The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu, is worshiped by the proper execution of prescribed duties in the system of varṇa and āśrama. There is no other way to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” (Viṣṇu Purāṇa 3.8.9) One must ultimately worship Lord Viṣṇu, and for that purpose the varṇāśrama system organizes society into brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas, śūdras, brahmacārīs, gṛhasthas, vānaprasthas and sannyāsīs. Bali Mahārāja, having been perfectly educated in devotional service by his grandfather Prahlāda Mahārāja, knew how things are to be done. He was never to be misguided by anyone, even by a person who happened to be his so-called spiritual master. This is the sign of full surrender. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura said:
mārabi rākhabi — yo icchā tohārā
nitya-dāsa-prati tuyā adhikārā
When one surrenders to Lord Viṣṇu, one must be prepared to abide by His orders in all circumstances, whether He kills one or gives one protection. Lord Viṣṇu must be worshiped in all circumstances.