Religion is God's law, not personal opinion; follow authorized mahajanas who surrender completely to Krishna.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.3.19 — September 24, 1972, Los Angeles 720924SB-LOS ANGELES [38:39 Minutes] SB-01.03.19_720924SB-LOS ANGELES Prabhupāda: [Govindam prayers playing; sings along] [leads singing of Jaya Rādhā-Mādhava] [prema-dhvani] Thank you very much.
Devotees: All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda. [obeisances] [break] Pradyumna: Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya.
Canto One, Chapter 3, text number 19. [leads chanting of verse] [Prabhupāda and devotees repeat] pañcadaśaṁ vāmanakaṁ kṛtvāgād adhvaraṁ baleḥ pada-trayaṁ yācamānaḥ pratyāditsus tri-piṣṭapam [SB 1.3.19] Prabhupāda: Ladies. Ladies. [ladies chant] That's all right.
Word meaning. Pradyumna: [leads chanting of synonyms] pañcadaśam—the fifteenth in the line; vāmanakam—the dwarf brāhmaṇa; kṛtvā—by assumption of; agāt—went; adhvaram—arena of sacrifice; baleḥ—of King Bali; pada-trayam—three steps only; yācamānaḥ—begging; pratyāditsuḥ—willing at heart to return; tri-piṣṭapam—the kingdom of the three planetary systems. [11:48] Translation: "In the fifteenth incarnation, the Lord assumed the form of a dwarf brāhmaṇa, Vāmana, and visited the arena of sacrifice arranged by Mahārāja Bali. Although at heart He was willing to regain the kingdom of the three planetary systems, He simply asked for a donation of three steps of land." Prabhupāda: Hmm.
So Vāmanadeva... chalayasi vikramaṇe balim adbhuta-vāmana pada-nakha-nīra-janita-jana-pāvana keśava dhṛta-vāmana-śarīra jaya jagadīśa hare [Daśāvatāra Stotra 5] So Bali Mahārāja, he was the grandson of Prahlāda Mahārāja. They were in the demon's family. But in the demon's family also, there is sometimes Prahlāda Mahārāja, Bali Mahārāja. Prahlāda and Bali, they are our ācāryas.
There are twelve bona fide ācāryas. Balir vaiyāsakir vayam. The ācāryas are mentioned, dvādaśa-mahājanāḥ. Svayambhū.
Svayambhū means Lord Brahmā. [aside:] Don't make sound. Svayambhū, Nārada. Nārada is also one of the authorities. They have been accepted at authority for understanding religious principles. Religious principle is not to be understood by..., from a rascal, no, that anyone comes and says religious topics.