Vamana and Bali

The dwarf who asked for three paces of ground — and the king who would not refuse, though his teacher warned him

Vamana and Bali is chapter 10 of Matsya Purana. Source: Matsya Purana, chapters 244–246. It is told in 6 scenes — Aditi's Penance; Prahlada's Curse; Vamana's Birth; Shukra's Warning; Three Paces; The Kingdom of Sutala — followed by 10 quiz questions.

Aditi's Penance

The sages asked Suta, "Why, in the Vamana incarnation, did Vishnu bind the Daitya king Bali? And how did his small dwarf form spread over the three worlds?"

"Arjuna asked this same question of the sage Shaunaka," said Suta. "Arjuna was then on pilgrimage. He was wandering the forests to atone for breaking the promise he had made to Yudhishthira about living with Draupadi. At Kurukshetra he saw an image of Vamana and asked why it was worshipped and why Vishnu took this dwarf form."

"I will tell you in brief," said Shaunaka. "Long ago Aditi, mother of the gods, saw that her son Indra had been defeated by the Asuras. So Aditi began penance for her sons. For a thousand years she lived on air alone and worshipped Vishnu. 'My sons were born in vain,' she said to herself. Then she praised Vishnu."

"O wearer of the lotus garland, who takes away the sorrow of a devotee at the mere thought of him, I bow to you," she prayed. "From your navel sprang the lotus and from it Brahma. You cannot be seen, yet you are in every heart."

Vishnu appeared unseen and said, "Virtuous Aditi, your wish will soon be fulfilled. Ask what you want. No one who receives my blessing leaves empty-handed."

"Lord, if you are pleased, let my son Indra again be lord of the three worlds," said Aditi. "The Asuras have taken his kingdom and his share of the sacrifice. I grieve less at Indra's defeat than at the loss of his kingdom and rights."

"I shall be born from you through Kashyapa," said Vishnu, "and kill the Danavas."

"Lord, how shall I bear you in my womb?" asked Aditi. "The whole universe is in you."

"You speak truly," said Vishnu. "The whole world rests in me. Even Indra and the gods cannot hold me. But I hold you, and with you the world, the gods and Kashyapa. Do not worry. When I am in your womb you will feel no pain. Those who despise your sons I will strip of their strength with my own glory."

Vishnu vanished. In time Aditi bore him in her womb. When Vishnu entered it, the world seemed to tilt in the direction Aditi walked. The mountains trembled, the oceans drew back, and the Asuras began to weaken.

Prahlada's Curse

Bali noticed that the Asuras had lost their former brilliance. They looked like embers whose fire had died. He asked his grandfather Prahlada, "Grandfather, why do they look so dimmed? Have the enemies made some spell against us? Is our end near?"

Prahlada was silent for a while. Then he said, "Mountains are shaking, the earth has become unsteady, and the Asuras lose lustre day by day. I think the glory of the gods has overshadowed the glory of the Asuras. The goddess Lakshmi is pleased with them. Lord, this is no common omen. A great calamity is coming."

Saying this Prahlada fixed his mind and looked with his mind's eye to see where Vishnu was. He saw Hari in the form of Vamana in Aditi's womb, and within him the seven worlds, Vasus, Rudras, Ashvins, Maruts, Gandharvas, Rakshasas, his own son Virochana, Bali, Narakasura, Bana, the seven oceans, and Prahlada himself. He came back from his meditation and said:

"Now I know the reason. The Vishnu who as Narasimha once killed my father has come into Aditi's womb with a part of himself. It is he who has taken away the Asuras' lustre. Even Brahma, Rudra, Indra, Surya and sages like Marichi do not fully know him."

"Who is this Hari that frightens us?" said Bali. "We have Asuras like Viprachitti, Shibi, Shanku, Ayahshanku and Mahatanu who can lift this world. Vishnu is not even half as strong as any of them."

"Shame on you," said Prahlada. "When a king like you, without judgment and sinful, rules, all the Asuras will surely perish. How can you speak this way of the unborn Vasudeva, God of gods? I am ashamed that you were born in my house. Devotion to Vishnu destroys all sins. Nothing is dearer to me than devotion to Krishna. Everyone knows it, but you do not. Hari is dearer to me than my life, and you insult me by despising him."

He went on, "Bali, Virochana is your father and I am his father. Narayana, whom you call small, is my teacher. You will soon lose your kingdom. I curse you. These words hurt me as if you had cut off my head."

Bali bowed again and again and tried to appease him. "Grandfather, I spoke out of delusion, ignorance and pride," he said. "You were right to curse me. Losing my kingdom will not grieve me as much as your forsaking me does. It is not hard to win the kingdom of three worlds, but it is very hard to get a teacher like you. Be pleased with me."

"I am not angry," said Prahlada. "I cursed you for your ignorance. But that curse cannot be undone now. Still, do not be sad. From today devotion to Vishnu will wake in you, and he will be your protector. Because of this curse you will always remember me, and I shall always wish you well."

Vamana's Birth

Having said this Prahlada fell silent. Then in due time Vishnu was born as Vamana. All Aditi's sorrows ended. A cool breeze blew, the sky became clear, and all beings were fixed on the path of dharma. Brahma performed the birth rites and praised him.

Vamana smiled and said to Brahma, "Kashyapa prayed to me along with you and the gods. I know your purpose. I told Aditi that Indra would be lord of the three worlds. I will keep my word."

Then Brahma gave Vamana a deerskin, Brihaspati put the sacred thread on him, Marichi gave him a staff, Vasishtha a water pot, Angiras kusha grass, Pulaha a rosary, Pulastya white clothes. Then all the Vedas with the sacred Om worshipped him.

With long hair, staff, water pot and umbrella Vamana set out for Bali's sacrifice. Though he walked slowly, his feet sank into the ground wherever they fell. With each step the whole earth, its mountains and oceans, trembled.

Shukra's Warning

Bali saw the shaking earth and bowed to his teacher Shukracharya. "Master," he asked, "why is the earth shaking? And why does the fire not accept the Asuras' offerings?"

Shukra meditated and said, "Hari has been born as Vamana in Kashyapa's house and is coming to your sacrifice. The earth trembles with the thump of his feet. The sacrificial fire too does not take the offering because the Lord is so near. According to the Vedas the share of sacrifice belongs only to the gods, but you have given it only to the Asuras. Vishnu sustains the world through *sattva* and destroys it as Shiva. Now he is engaged in sustaining, so beware. If Vishnu finds a place in your sacrifice he will grow stronger. So put him off. Say that you are not in a position to give him anything."

"Master, I have never refused anyone who asked," said Bali. "How can I refuse Vishnu, for whose worship penance, gifts and sacrifices are performed? What greater honour could there be than having Vishnu himself come to ask me for something? If Vishnu asked even for my head I would not hesitate. This is the fruit of the sacrifices and penance I have done. If I refuse him my life is worthless."

He went on, "In my kingdom no one is poor, no one is unhappy, no one is without ornaments. All are content. Through your grace I have been given this chance. If I have stopped the gods' share of the sacrifice and Vishnu in anger kills me, that too would be good, because death at Vishnu's hands leads to liberation."

Three Paces

At that moment the unthinkable Vishnu arrived at Bali's sacrifice in the form of Vamana. At his sight the Asuras lost their lustre. The sages began to chant and mutter. Bali thought himself blessed.

Vamana praised the fire, the sacrificer, the priests and the materials of sacrifice. Bali rose and offered the guest-water. "Lord Vamana, you look so dear and charming," he said. "I can give you heaps of gold, jewels, elephants, horses, beautiful women, clothes, ornaments, villages, the land of the seven seas. Ask for whatever you like best."

Vamana smiled and said gravely, "King, give me only three paces of land. Give the jewels, gold and villages to those who ask for them."

"Why only three paces?" said Bali. "What will that do for you? Take a hundred or a thousand."

"This much is enough for me," said Vamana. "Give the rest to others."

Bali made the gift of three paces.

As soon as he had the promise Vamana began to grow. The Purana says that all the gods were contained in his form. The sun and moon were his eyes, heaven his forehead, earth his feet. The Asuras were his toes, the sages the hairs of his body. In an instant he measured the earth. With the second step the sun and moon came level with his chest, and with the third level with his thighs, and then he began to measure the higher worlds. So he won the three worlds for the gods and gave them back to Indra.

The Kingdom of Sutala

To Bali he gave Sutala to live in. "King Bali," he said, "because you have given your word, I have already given your kingdom to Indra, but I give you a place to live in Patala. You once worshipped me deeply, so I will always destroy your enemies. Go to Patala. There are gardens, palaces, flowering trees, rivers, dancers, and you will have whatever you wish to eat. You will enjoy this for a *kalpa*. But you will be happy only as long as you do not trouble the gods and Brahmins. The moment you do, you will be caught in Varuna's noose."

Bali bowed and asked, "Lord, how will I get these pleasures in Patala?"

"You will have the gifts that are given with a wandering mind," said the Lord, "the *shraddha* offerings performed without Brahmins, oblations without faith, sacrifices without fees, deeds without rule, and study without vow."

Saying this Vishnu vanished. Indra became lord of the three worlds, and Bali sat on the throne in Patala. Shaunaka said to Arjuna, "Bali is there to this day. And your friend Krishna, who is in Dwarka, will be your charioteer."

Suta said that whoever recalls the talk of Prahlada and Bali, of Bali and Shukracharya, or of Bali and Vishnu, loses all his doubts.

Note: This chapter follows chapters 244 to 246 of the Matsya Purana. In this episode Vamana returns Bali's kingdom to Indra and gives Bali a place to live in Sutala/Patala. The binding in Varuna's noose is not an event that happens at once but a warning given about the future if he troubles the gods and Brahmins.

Source: The Matsya Purana — the English translation by a Taluqdar of Oudh, Sacred Books of the Hindus, vol. 17 (1916–17), Vamana and Bali