दैवेनर्द्धैस्त एवाद्य युधि जित्वा नदन्ति नः ॥२३॥
bhavadbhir nirjitÄ hy ete
bahuÅ›o 'nucarÄ hareḥ
daivenarddhais ta evÄdya
yudhi jitvÄ nadanti naḥ
bhavadbhiḥ - by all of you demons; nirjitÄḥ - have been defeated; hi - indeed; ete - all these soldiers of the demigods; bahuÅ›aḥ - in great number; anucarÄḥ - followers; hareḥ - of Lord Viṣṇu; daivena - by providence; á¹›ddhaiḥ - whose opulence was increased; te - they (the demigods); eva - indeed; adya - today; yudhi - in the fight; jitvÄ - defeating; nadanti - are vibrating in jubilation; naḥ - us.
Previously, being empowered by providence, you defeated a great number of such followers of Lord Viṣṇu. But today those same followers, having defeated us, are roaring in jubilation like lions.
Bhagavad-gÄ«tÄ mentions five causes of defeat or victory. Of these five, daiva (providence) is the most powerful (na ca daivÄt paraá¹ balam). Bali MahÄrÄja knew the secret of how he had formerly been victorious because providence was in his favor. Now, since that same providence was not in his favor, there was no possibility of his victory. Thus he very intelligently forbade his associates to fight.
