English
The Vamana Avatar and King Bali
Source: Shrimad Bhagavata Purana, Book 8 (chapters 15–23)
Bali, grandson of the great devotee Prahlada, was king of the asuras: brave, generous and true to his word. By the grace of his guru Shukracharya and the power of sacrifice, he defeated Indra and took over heaven itself.
Aditi, mother of the gods, was grief-stricken at the loss of heaven. On the advice of her husband, the sage Kashyapa, she kept the Payovrata in worship of Lord Vishnu. The Lord was pleased and said, “I myself will be born as your son.”
On Bhadrapada Shukla Dwadashi the Lord was born to Aditi as a tiny boy: Vamana. After his sacred-thread ceremony he became a radiant brahmachari carrying an umbrella, a staff and a water pot.
In those days King Bali was performing a great Ashvamedha sacrifice at Bhrigukachchha on the north bank of the Narmada. Vamana arrived there. Seeing his radiance, Bali rose to welcome him, washed his feet and said, “Revered brahmana, ask for whatever you wish: villages, wealth, elephants, a bride.”
Vamana smiled: “Your Majesty, I want only three steps of land, measured by my own feet.” Bali laughed, “Only that? Ask for more.” But Vamana said, “For a contented brahmana, this is plenty.”
Bali was about to take the water for the vow when his guru Shukracharya stopped him: “Your Majesty, this is no ordinary brahmana. This is Vishnu himself! In three steps he will take everything you have.”
Bali said calmly, “Gurudev, I have given my word. As Prahlada's grandson I will not go back on it.” He poured the water of the vow… and in that very moment Vamana's body began to grow, and grow, and grow.
Before their eyes Vamana became Trivikrama. His body spread across the earth, the sky and every direction. With his first step he measured all of Bali's earth, and with the second, heaven and all the worlds above it.
There was no room left for the third step. The Lord said, “Your Majesty, you promised three steps. Where shall I place the third?” The asura army was filled with rage, but Bali held them back.
Knowing the Lord's wish, Garuda bound Bali with the noose of Varuna. Even bound, Bali did not lose his composure. He folded his hands and said, “Lord, place your third step on my head.”
Bali said, “Losing my wealth does not grieve me as much as breaking my word would. By taking away my pride you have only shown me grace.”
Just then the devotee Prahlada arrived. He bowed to the Lord and said, “Lord, it was you who gave Bali his splendour, and you who have taken it. This too is your grace.” Brahma and Bali's wife Vindhyavali also prayed for Bali.
Pleased, the Lord said, “Even after losing everything, Bali did not abandon truth. I give him the kingdom of Sutala, a realm rare even for the gods. In the coming Savarni Manvantara he will be Indra.”
And then the Lord said what is the greatest boon any devotee could receive: “I myself, mace in hand, will stand guard at your door in Sutala.”
Bali bowed to the Lord and joyfully went to Sutala with his family. Indra got heaven back, and the prayer of Aditi, mother of the gods, was fulfilled.
What this story teaches
Bali lost his kingdom, but not his word. Through truth and surrender he gained what no kingdom can give: the Lord's own presence.
According to the Bhagavata, Vamana Jayanti is celebrated on Bhadrapada Shukla Dwadashi. On Kartik Shukla Pratipada, the day after Diwali (the day of Govardhan Puja), Bali Pratipada is celebrated in Maharashtra and many other regions, and in Kerala Onam is held to be the festival that welcomes King Bali. The episode of Shukracharya losing an eye is found in folk tellings, not in the Bhagavata.
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