#305 Vamana Avatara and Bali’s journey from ego to devotion
Aditi, the mother of Indra and the other gods was very unhappy since her sons had been vanquished by Bali. Once, Kashyapa had been away from the ashrama for a long time. He had been engaged in intense samadhi. When he had completed it, he came back to the ashrama. Aditi received him with due honour and stood silent by his side. He looked at her and her pale face.
He asked her: “What is worrying you? You do not seem to be happy. Has any calamity overtaken you? Or the world? Has dharma been banished from the minds of men? Have you, by any chance, inadvertently insulted any guests as a result of which they have gone away without accepting your hospitality? What has happened? Are your sons well? Looking at you I can see that you are greatly pained at something. Tell me what it is.“
Aditi lifted her downcast eyes and they were filled with tears. She said:
“My lord, nothing dreadful has happened as you fear. There has been no mishap in the ashrama nor has there been any lapse of dharma as far as my behaviour is concerned. The pain that is eating into my vitals is on account of my children. My sons have been treated ill by Bali. The asuras have driven the devas from their city and have taken all their glory and wealth and riches. My children are homeless and without any hope of regaining their lost glory. Have mercy on me and my sons and help us in our calamity.”
Kashyapa Prajapati smiled gently at her and said: “Indeed, the maya of the Lord is amazing. This entire world is under bondage because of the ties of affection. That is the wonderful thing about Vishnu Maya. Or else, what connection is there between this body made up of the five elements and the Atman which is a thing apart: which is different from Prakriti? Who is the husband of whom: and who, the son of whom? Maya it is, which makes one think of such things as I, and Mine: I am the mother and these are my sons. I am unhappy because they are unhappy.”
He paused for a while and then, looking kindly at her said: “The only path open to you is to worship the Lord, Narayana, who dwells in the hearts of all. He has ever been compassionate towards those who love him and He will grant you your desire. Pray to him. Worship Him.” She looked at him and said: “I am a woman and I do not know the methods by which the Lord has to be worshipped. Great beings have performed tapas for years and years to please him and they are still performing tapas. Tell me about an easier method by which an ignorant woman like me can find favour in the eyes of the Lord.”
Kashyapa said: “There is a vrata by name Payovrata. Brahma once taught me this vrata. In the month of Phalguna, from the first to the twelfth day of the brighter fortnight, you should worship Narayana day and night with only milk as your food. Recite the mantra with the twelve letters: the great Dvadashanama: “Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya”. If you observe this vrata with intense devotion and concentration the Lord will grant your wishes.”
Aditi performed the Payovrata. Her mind was stilled and her senses were kept under control: her thoughts were all lost in the feet of Narayana. At the end of twelve days the Lord appeared before her. She stood up. She fell at his feet again and again and then stood in his presence with her palms folded, tears were running down her eyes. She could not speak a word. After a while, words came haltingly and indistinctly to her lips. “I do not know how to praise you and to recount your qualities. Ignorant woman that I am, I have not the art nor the learning to understand your greatness. But this I know. You are kind and you are compassionate. I am your slave, my lord. I am in pain. Please take pity on me.”
The Lord looked kindly at her with lotus eyes and said: “Mother of gods, you do not have to tell me what is paining you. I know that your sons are at the mercy of the asuras. You want to see your sons back in power. I know that. All that will come to pass. But you have to wait. The time is not yet ripe for it. At the moment Bali’s star is in the ascent because he has Sukra as his guru as also Sukra’s disciples. The glory of Sukra is such that his protege, Bali, will not come to harm.
However, I am pleased with your Vrata and I will grant you your wish. I will be born as your son and then I will be able to help your sons. Do not breathe a word of this to any one since my birth will have to be a devarahasya.” The Lord then vanished from her sight. Kashyapa, with his yogic power knew what was to happen. He was happy because his wife was happy.
A son was born to Aditi. When the child was born it had the form of the Lord as Aditi had seen it: as though he wanted to assure her that it was, indeed He, who had been born as her son in accordance with his promise to her. A moment later he assumed the form of a child and there was great rejoicing in the three worlds. The devas and the other gods were pleased.
The earth became lovely because the Lord had chosen to walk on her. The water of the lakes became pure and clear. The sky took on a glorious blue tinge. The seasons rushed in all together. The flowers of all the seasons were blooming and filling the air with their perfume.
It was the month of Bhadrapada: Suklapaksha: Dvadashi and Abhijit was the star under which the child was born. In later days this dvadashi has been known as Vijaya dvadashi.
The child grew up to be a boy. He was small made and he was indeed a Vamana. When the time came Upanayana was performed for him. Surya himself taught him the Gayatri. Brihaspati, the preceptor of the gods gave him the sacred thread and Kashyapa gave him the Maunji. The earth gave him the Krishnajina: deer-skin. The moon gave him the brahmin’s staff: the Brahma danda. Aditi gave him the Kaupina and the Dyurloka world gave him the umbrella. Brahma who held the Vedas inside him gave him the Kamandalu and the seven great rishis gave him the bundle of Kusa grass. Sarasvati gave him the akshamala.
Kubera granted him the vessel with which to collect his alms. Parvati, the consort of Mahadeva who goes by the name Annapurna, gave the child Vamana his first Bhiksha. .
BALI’S YAJNA
On the holy grounds of Bhrigukachchha the asura monarch Bali was performing the Ashvamedha under the direct guidance of Sukra and his Bhrigu clan. Vamana decided to go there and attend the yaga. Bhrigukachchha was on the northern banks of the sacred river Narmada.
The yaga was proceeding and suddenly there seemed to be a great glow emanating from somewhere. When they all looked around, it seemed to be coming towards them. They all paused and spoke to themselves: “It seems as though the rising sun is walking towards us.” They all looked at the tiny little brahmin child walking towards them with the kamandalu in one hand and the umbrella in the other.
“Is it the sun who has assumed this dimunitive form to watch this yaga in person? Is it the lord of Fire who has come to bless us? Or is it Sanatkumara, the son of Brahma who has designed to sanctify the yagashala with his presence?” So thought all of them when they saw his glory. Even as they were conjecturing as to who he was, Vamana walked into the yajnashala. His tiny chest covered by the maunji, with the sacred thread glowing like a streak of lightning, with his head covered by a charming Jata, with the kamandalu in one hand and the umbrella in the other, the tiny young brahmin stood there. The entire assembly stood up as one man: so great was the glory of the boy who was hardly a child.
Bali rushed to his presence, fell at his feet, honoured him and offered him a noble seat. He washed the tiny feet of the young brahmin and placed the water on his head. He then said: “Welcome to you, my lord. I do not know who you are: but this I know. You have come here to bless me and to grace this yajnashala. To me you look like the tapas of all the Brahmarishis taken collectively and given a form. By your coming I have been blessed and so have my forefathers. My life is now made pure because of you. By placing the water of your feet on my head I feel that I have become purified of all my sins and my ashvamedha yaga has become fruitful.’
Tell me, my lord, what I can do for you. Great beings like you bless their devotees by asking them for some favours. That is the privilege of a brahmin and the good
fortune of a kshatriya is, that he can grant it. A brahmin blesses by asking and a kshatriya is blessed by the act: granting the favour. Tell me what I can give you. Do you want the earth? or gold? or houses? Shall I give you beautiful maidens or shall I give you horses or elephants or cows? Please command me and honour me by accepting a gift from me.”
The small young brahmin smiled very sweetly on Bali and said: “It is but right that you should speak these words which are so full of humility, nobility and righteousness. It is not, however, surprising that it should be so.
The great Sukra and the Bhrigus are your acharyas. And, as for your ancestors, your grandfather was the great Prahlada! your father, Virochana who was famed for giving. I know that in your family there has never been born one who has ever refused anything to those who came with a desire.
None has refused anything to those who came for alms: nor has there been any instance of a promise, once given, having been withdrawn.
Hiranyaksha, who was your ancestor, had but one weapon in his hand and that was the gada. With the help of just this gada he had conquered all the three worlds and he was unhappy that he could not find one powerful enough to fight with him. When Narayana in the form of a Varaha met him in a fight: when he was carrying the earth to the surface from Rasatala, when Varaha was challenged by Hiranyaksha: Hiranyaksha fought with Varaha and was killed. But, believe me, the Lord was not happy about it at all, because he often remembered the prowess of Hiranya and felt that he was not a conqueror at all! And then what happened?
“Hiranyakashipu, when he heard that his brother had been killed, rushed to the Vaikuntha to kill Narayana. Looking at him with his trident Narayana thought to himself: “Wherever I go this Hiranya is sure to chase me and, incidentally he will destroy all the spots where I am known to dwell. His eyes, his mind and his thoughts are all turned outwards and so, I will enter his mind.” Accordingly, when he inhaled breath Hiranya inhaled the Lord also who had assumed the form of the tiniest of tiny particles.
Hatred for the Lord is more intense than love for the Lord: and because of his hatred, because of his thinking on Him night and day Hiranyakashipu attained death at the hands of the Lord himself. “As for Virochana, your father, has there been a giver as great as he?
Once the devas came to him as beggars assuming the form of brahmins. Even though he knew that they were devas your father gave them his very life since they asked for it and it was his rule in life never to refuse alms to anyone.
Born as you are, in such illustrious family, is it a wonder that you are so righteous? I will certainly ask a boon of you. I know you will grant me that. I WANT FROM YOU THREE PACES OF GROUND MEASURED BY MY FOOT.”
Bali was amazed and he stood speechless for a moment. Then, with a tender smile lighting up his face he said: “Indeed, you are a child. You spoke words of wisdom and they please the wise. Nevertheless, I am afraid you are still a child. Your behaviour is also childish, because you do not know what is good for you. Look on me. I am the sole lord of the entire world. You have pleased me with your charming words and yet, instead of asking me for whole islands and heaps of gold, you ask me for three paces of ground measured by these tiny feet! Once I give there will be no need for you to desire anything more at any time. Revise your words and take from me land large enough to keep you in comfort through life. Come, ask me.”
Vamana said: “I appreciate your words and your generous gesture, O king, believe me, if a man has not conquered desire, all the desirable things in the worlds will not be enough to satisfy him. A man who is not satisfied with three paces of ground will not find the seven islands with all their wealth enough to satisfy him. We have been told that the lords of the seven islands have not yet attained the state when they can say: “I have enough.” A man who is pleased with what he gets is always happy. But the man who is swayed by the wanderings of the wayward mind will never find happiness since he is always discontented. It is this discontent which is the cause of sorrow in man. A contented man is fit for liberation and his glory waxes day by day. You are the greatest of givers. I therefore ask you to grant me just this: three paces of ground which will be covered by my foot.”
Bali laughed again. Smiling indulgently he said: “So be it. I will grant you three paces of ground measured with your Tiny Foot”; and he looked at the tiny lotus feet of the Lord in the form of a Vamana. With the smile hovering still on his lips Bali took up the vessel full of water to pour a few drops of it on the lotus palm of the youngster and say: “I have given you what you asked for.”
“DO NOT GIVE”, SAYS SUKRA
Sukra the preceptor stopped him. Without speaking a word the king lifted his eyes and there was a questioning look on his face. Sukra was the wisest of the wise men. He was known by the name ‘Kavi’. There were some who said that he was wiser than even Brihaspati, the preceptor of Indra. Sukra loved the Daityas and Bali was his favoured disciple. He did not want Bali to be deceived.
He looked kindly at the king and said: “My son, you do not know what you are doing. This sweet young brahmin boy who, according to you is still a child who does not know what is good for him’ is not what you think he is. He is the Lord Narayana himself. He is set on helping the devas and so he is born as the son of Kashyapa and Aditi. You are, at heart, a very simple person and you have been very rash in promising to grant a boon to this ‘youngster.’
‘It is not going to be a simple boon. I know that it will only spell destruction to you and to the entire asura clan. An injustice is being contemplated. I do not think you should be the victim to it. “This Narayana who is standing before you is going to deprive you of all your wealth. You will lose all that you have. Your power will be snatched from you and as for your glory, it will all be swallowed by the devas, thanks to their lord, their champion, Narayana. Indeed, my son, you are a fool. After giving away all that you possess where will you live? You will have no place even to stand.
This “child” has asked for three paces of ground: paces measured by his small lotus feet. Are you not aware that with one foot the Lord will measure the entire earth? The second pace will cover the world of the gods. Where will the foot be placed a third time? Can you not see that He will place it on your head and push you down to the nether world? It stands to reason that you are not a in a position to grant the boon to him. I know the problem that is worrying you. You have promised him something and it is not dharma to take back your promise. I grant that. The subject has been well discussed in the Rigveda. I will explain it to you.
“To say ‘I will give’ is speaking the truth. After saying that if a man says: ‘I will not’ then an untruth is spoken. Truth is considered to be the flower and fruit born of the tree named speech. One who speaks the truth will be famed for his goodness. He is, after all, the tree which grants such beautiful flowers and fruits by name truth.
“Untruth, on the other hand, strikes at the root of the words. A tree, which has been uprooted, whose roots are visible, visible to the naked eye, will dry up in no time and it will fall to the ground. Even so, a man who speaks an untruth will make his atman rootless, infirm: and his body will fall to the ground. And so, man should never speak an untruth.
BUT, an untruth is allowed under certain circumstances. When there is danger indicated to his body as a consequence of a gift he has promised, a man can retract his promise and refuse to grant it. Under special circumstances, like when a man has to coax a woman to listen to him: when he is joking: when a marriage is to be performed—praising the qualities of the young man or woman and exaggerating them—: when one’s life is in danger, when the intention is to do good to cows or to brahmins or to save the life of someone in danger: Under these circumstances, the Rigveda allows a man to speak an untruth. When this boon you have granted is sure to destroy you, you are perfectly justified in taking back your word. No sin will be ascribed to you. I am telling you that the only course open to you is to refuse the boon.”
Bali listened to his guru with great attention. He was silent for a long moment. He then said: “I am quite convinced by your argument that a man need not have any qualms about refusing to grant a boon which will endanger his security. But, my lord, look at me! I am not like the ordinary human beings to whom worldly security is important. I am the son of Virochana and my grandfather was Prahlada. Being a scion of that noble race, how can I do what you ask me to do? Can I even consider it for a moment? Is it not shameful? If I listen to you I will have to behave like an ordinary man who is unwilling to part with his wealth. Again and again it has been proclaimed that there is nothing more terrible than untruth. I can be burdened with any terrible sin except this: speaking an untruth. Deceiving a brahmin is the greatest calamity that can visit me. I am not so afraid of hell or poverty or sorrow or loss of position or even death. I am afraid only of Infamy.
“Wealth and position stay with a man only as long as he lives. Once he is dead they become meaningless. Why then, should they be important when he is alive? Again, you say that my life is in danger and so a lie is justified. To me, it does not seem to be such an important issue at all. I prefer to please a brahmin. Consider great beings like Dadhichi and Shibi. They did not think of themselves when they gave. Think of my father whose name is still remembered because he was a giver and not because he was a king. This kingdom of mine has been ruled by great asuras who have never known what defeat is. They are all gone, every one of them: but their fame is still perfuming the earth.
“It is easy enough to find heroes who have died fighting. But it is rare to find a person who has had the good fortune to give wealth to a deserving person. It will be commendable if I can give away my wealth. Poverty which follows such a gift will indeed be desirable. Even if the man is just an ordinary poor man it is good when the recipient is a great brahmin of your class, to give: then poverty itself will be an ornament to me and to my name. I have decided to grant the boon to this young brahmin boy. If, as you say, he is lord Narayana himself who is asking me to grant him a boon, I am all the more excited at the thought of giving it to him. HIS HAND will be underneath mine! Can anything be a greater good fortune than that?
Granted that his request is unfair. That is not, in any way, going to affect or alter my decision. I will grant him the three paces of ground he has asked for.”
Sukra was highly incensed at the insult offered by Bali. He was the guru and Bali had not obeyed him. In a fit of anger Sukra cursed Bali. He said: “You seem to think that you are wiser than me. You are really an ignorant man. You are lacking in respect to the elders since you chose to ignore my words. You will soon find yourself without a kingdom. I curse you that your glory and your success and wealth will soon leave you and you will fall from grace.”
The curse of the brahmin did not affect Bali. He called for his wife Vindhyavali. She brought the golden vessel in her hand, the vessel which held purified water. Bali and his wife sat at the feet of Vamana and washed his dear feet and took the water on their heads. The heavens rained flowers on Bali and his wife Vindhyavali. The sky was filled with the music from heavenly instruments. The gandharvas began to dance and the kinnaras were singing. Flowers were falling on Bali incessantly.
The gift had been given and received. Bali lifted his eyes and looked at Vamana. Even as he was looking the small brahmin boy grew to immense proportions. Bali looked with tears of joy at the Vishvarupa of Narayana. He was granted the privilege of seeing the form of the Virat Purusha. He saw the universe which is formed of the mahabhutas, the three gunas, the Indriyas, the Chitta and the Jiva. He saw the Rasatala at the feet of the Lord: and the earth, in the soles of the feet: the knees were the mountains and the birds: while the thighs were seen to be the homes of the winds. He saw the Prajapatis and the asuras. The Lord’s navel was the sky and inside him were the seven seas. On His chest were the stars clustered and forming a garland of beauty.
In the heart of the Virat Purusha Bali found Dharma and in his chest “Rita” sweet words spoken with righteousness. Satya was also there. In the mind was found Chandra. Lakshmi with the lotus in her hand was in his broad chest. His throat contained all the Sama vedas and all sacred incantations as well as sound in all its forms. The shoulders revealed the devas led by Indra. His ears were the quarters: his head, the heavens. The sun was in his eyes and his mouth held fire. His throat had the vedas and his tongue, Varuna. His eye lashes were the fates and derision in the lift of the eyebrows. Bali saw on his forehead night, and day and anger while the Lord’s lower lip was an epitome of greed. His touch was lust: his gait was yajna and his shadow was death. His smile was Maya. The hair on his body was the trees, creepers and shrubs on the earth while the rivers were his veins. His intellect was Brahma. His body was the home of all movable and immovable things: the deva ganas, the rishis and, in short, everything.
The asuras who were the attendants of Bali found, to their consternation, that the prophecy of Sukra had come true. They could not bear the brilliance of the Lord’s form. They fell down in a faint. When they woke from the faint they saw the form of Narayana and not the Virat Purusha. The attendants of the Lord had all come from Vaikuntha. The weapons of the Lord were all there: the glorious Sudarshana, the bow by name Sharnga, the conch which was famed by the name Panchajanya, and the gada Kaumodaki. The attendants were led by Sunanda, the favourite of the Lord. The Lord was glowing with his crown with jewels gleaming from it. His bracelets adorned his magnificent arms and his earrings shaped like fish gleamed with every movement of his head. Srivatsa, the mark of his chest was made more beautiful by the jewel Kaustubha he wore on his chest. His golden yellow silk was flying in the breeze and a beautiful smile lighted his face. The immense form of the Lord reached the heavens. Narayana, with one foot covered the earth which belonged to Bali: his frame filled the skies and his arms spread wide, enveloped the quarters. For the second pace only a part of the heavens was visible. He raised his foot and it reached the maharloka: and passing it, it went to Janaloka, Satyaloka and Dyurloka.
Brahma, who was in Satyaloka went with great excitement near the foot of the Lord. The gleam from the nails was like the soft light of the moon and it beautified the Satyaloka. With him came the rishis Marichi; the Sanaka brothers: the yogis, the Vedas and their branches and they all worshipped the foot of the Lord. Brahma performed puja to the foot of the Lord with the water from his Kamandalu and the water which fell from it to the Foot of the Lord flowed as a river by name “Mandakini” purifying all the spots she touched. On the earth, when she was brought there later, she became known as Ganga.
The Lord had measured the entire earth and the heavens too. He resumed the form of the Vamana and stood there smiling. The asuras saw their master robbed of all his wealth and his kingdom. They decided to fight with Vamana. They thought that they could fight with Vamana: destroy him and re-establish Bali on the throne. They rushed towards the dimunitive form of Narayana with their weapons uplifted. The attendants of Vishnu who were there already prepared themselves to fight with the asuras. Bali saw all this and he became angry with his attendants.
He said: “Listen to my words and abandon this resolve to fight. Evidently, the time is not favourable to us. Indeed, Time is the most powerful of all factors. Time is the Lord himself and according to Him and His wish man is granted happiness and sorrow. Man is helpless in His presence. There was a time when this same Time favoured us and it spelt ill for the Devas. We were powerful and they were suffering. Time has now decided to reverse His tactics. Nothing, not a large army, nor incantations nor tapas can stem the tide of Time. We can only wait for the moment when there is a change in our fortunes. Till then, be wise and control yourselves. Do not fight. It is futile.”
Garuda was standing by the side of the Lord. He stole one glance at his master and then, with Varuna Pasha he tied up Bali. There were shouts of horror and indignation from all quarters when this happened.
Bali smiled to himself. He knew why this happened. Narayana wanted him to be rid of the two dread sins which had found a place in his heart: the twins “I” and “MINE”. When he had said, “I can give the entire earth to you. It is mine,” the Lord must have smiled to himself and decided to punish him for that. He looked at Vamana. When he saw the love and grace there, Bali knew that he was wrong. The Lord had come to bless him. By asking the boon he had taken away all that he had and the sin “mine” had been washed away. The Lord now wanted to let the world know that only by surrender can one lose “I” and that was why he had asked Garuda to bind him.
The kindness of the Lord made Bali’s eyes fill with tears and he bowed his head with humility while he was being tied up with the Varuna Pasha by Garuda.
The Lord looked at Bali who was now a captive: who had lost all he had because he would not swerve from truth. And Narayana said: “You are the king of the asuras and you promised me ground which will be covered by three paces measured by my foot. Two of them, as you have seen, have been covered and they are mine. There is still one pace left. Where will I place my foot? Tell me. You have not kept your word and you know what the punishment is, for one who speaks an untruth. You will have to be pushed into the nether world. Your guru has already told you about it.”
Bali was neither frightened nor hurt by the words of Vamana. He smiled and said: “Lord, I do not consider my words to be lies. There is still place for your third pace. Please be gracious enough to place your foot on my head. I am not afraid of Naraka but I am afraid of being called a sinner. I am not afraid of these bonds which have tied me up. I am not afraid of poverty and eternal sorrow. Punishment which is meted out to a man by one who is dear to him: dear like a mother, a brother, a father or well-wisher is indeed, a blessing. In the eyes of the world you are supposed to have punished me for my pride and my arrogance. But in reality, you have blessed me. You have opened my inner eye-the eye of wisdom-and you are a friend of the asuras and not their enemy.
“You love my grandfather, Prahlada. You were silent when he was tortured by his father because Prahlada knew that the physical frame which was going through so much pain is, in reality, nothing. He knew that the body was of no help: that wealth and friends were of no assistance when there was danger of one’s wisdom being eclipsed. He did not think of any of them even for a moment but spent all his time thinking on you and your blessed feet. I have also done that. It is wealth, that makes man proud and arrogant.
Man becomes blind and loses sight of the fact that death is the end of the body. And now, what have you done to me, my Lord? You have forced this wealth away from me and you have made it possible for me to reach you sooner than would have been the case otherwise. I am the most fortunate among men.”
At that moment Prahlada, the grandfather of Bali, came. He was the beloved Bhakta of Narayana and Bali wanted to fall at his feet and honour him but he could not, since he was bound by the Varuna Pasha. He welcomed him and worshipped him with his tears. Prahlada went straight to Vamana and fell at his feet. With his tears he washed the feet of the Lord.
Brahma came to Narayana and said: “Do not distress Vindhyavali any longer. Please release Bali from his bonds. He has given you all that he had. Have you not said that a man who has had his thoughts always with you will attain your nearness even if he worships you with water and a few blades of grass? This Bali has given away everything to you and he has surrendered himself to you. He should be rewarded by you.”
Narayana said: “When I want to destroy a man I grant him all the wealth and power in the world. He then gets involved in them and forgets his real nature. If, however, I desire to save a man from this Maya, I take away his wealth, his all. Rid of all his faults, he will become mine. Once he is saved, my bhakta will never be destroyed.
“As for Bali, never once has he swerved from the path of truth. He has conquered Maya. He has suffered so much. He has lost his wealth, his power and his position as the lord of men. His enemies are laughing at him tied up as he is by this Varuna Pasha. His kinsmen have now abandoned him. His guru has cursed him. And yet, his firmness to stay in the path of Dharma is commendable.
I spoke such deceptive words and his guru spoke so many truths from the vedas to convince him that he could call untruth, truth. But he would not listen. Bali has now attained a state which is to be envied by the devas. Blessed by me, he will be the Indra during the Manvantara by name Savarni. He will stay till that time in Sutala which is dear to me. Bali, king of men, you will now go to Sutala. I will be there with you to protect you. I will always be with you. All your asuric nature will vanish very soon and you will be a great Indra during Savarni Manvantara.”
Bali was so overcome that he could not talk. His eyes were raining tears and his words were buried in his throat which was too full of tears to function properly. After a while he composed himself and said: “My lord, you came to me and asked for a gift. I was so absorbed, so intent in granting it to you that my mind did not think of saluting you properly. I made only an attempt at prostrating before you. Even that small effort has granted me your infinite grace. You have placed your blessed foot on the head of this contemptible Bali who was blinded by his power and wealth. How can I praise your kindness towards me?”
Bali was released from the Varuna Pasha. He walked round the Lord, Rudra and Brahma. He then entered the Sutalaloka. Prahlada spoke to the Lord. He said: “The denizens of the heavens prostrate at your feet for your blessings. As for my grandson and me, we are not devas. We are mere asuras. By birth we are inferior to the devas. And yet, your love for us is great: so great that I consider that our fortune is far greater than theirs. How can I thank you, Lord, for the kindness you have showered on this child of mine? You had made him Indra. When there was danger of his forgetting himself because of the splendour of it, you have come yourself, taken his glory away from him and blessed him. And you have promised to be the guardian of Bali in Sutalaloka. I do not know what we have done to deserve this favour from you.”
Vamana smiled kindly at him and said: “Prahlada, please enter the Sutalaloka and stay with your grandson. I will always be there in your presence. Mace in hand, I will guard the portals of your house.”
Prahlada then entered the Sutalaloka after saluting all the gods. At the command of the Lord Sukra completed the yajna which had been begun by Bali.
What can we learn?
The importance of keeping one’s word – Despite being warned by his guru Shukracharya, Bali chose to keep his promise to Vamana and give him the three steps of land he requested.
The power of surrender – When Vamana revealed his true form as Vishnu and claimed all the worlds with his steps, Bali surrendered completely, offering his own head for the third step. Ultimate liberation comes not through our own efforts alone, but through surrendering our ego.
The balance of justice and compassion – Although Vamana (Vishnu) came to stop Bali’s expanding power, he also rewarded Bali’s devotion and integrity by granting him rule over Patala and promising a future position as Indra. If Bhagavan can do this, who are we to punish others? It teaches us to approach situations with both righteousness and kindness, recognizing and rewarding good qualities even in those we may consider opponents.
King Bali, though a righteous ruler, had become proud of his power and conquests. The Vamana avatara came to teach him humility. True greatness lies in humility and recognizing Bhagavan.
