SB 8.19.14 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

पिता प्रह्लादपुत्रस्ते तद्विद्वान्द्विजवत्सल: । स्वमायुर्द्विजलिङ्गेभ्यो देवेभ्योऽदात् स याचित: ॥ १४ ॥

Verse text

pitā prahrāda-putras te tad-vidvān dvija-vatsalaḥ svam āyur dvija-liṅgebhyo devebhyo ’dāt sa yācitaḥ

Synonyms

pitā — father ; prahrāda — putraḥ — the son of Mahārāja Prahlāda ; te — your ; tat — vidvān — although it was known to him ; dvija — vatsalaḥ — still, because of his affinity for brāhmaṇas ; svam — his own ; āyuḥ — duration of life ; dvija — liṅgebhyaḥ — who were dressed like brāhmaṇas ; devebhyaḥ — unto the demigods ; adāt — delivered ; saḥ — he ; yācitaḥ — being so requested .

Translation

Your father, Virocana, the son of Mahārāja Prahlāda, was very affectionate toward brāhmaṇas. Although he knew very well that it was the demigods who had come to him in the dress of brāhmaṇas, at their request he delivered to them the duration of his life.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Your father, Virocana, the son of Mahārāja Prahlāda, was very affectionate toward brāhmaṇas. Although he knew very well that it was the devatās who had come to him in the dress of brāhmaṇas, at their request he delivered to them the duration of his life. Your father, Virocana, the son of Prahlāda, though knowing they were enemies, gave the devatās dressed as brāhmaṇas his life, because he was affectionate to brāhmaṇas. Though he knew they were enemies he gave his life to them because they were dressed like brāhmaṇas.

Purport

Mahārāja Virocana, Bali’s father, was so pleased with the brāhmaṇa community that even though he knew that those approaching him for charity were the demigods in the dress of brāhmaṇas, he nonetheless agreed to give it.