Chapter 21 - Bali Bound Down

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Śuka said:

1. On beholding that the foot of the Lord had reached (his region) satya-loka and finding himself enveloped in and the effulgence of his region eclipsed by the brilliant lustre of his moon-like (toe-) nails, lotus-born god Brahmā and also great sages like Marīci, sages of great vows (of life-long celebacy like Nārada) and yogins (of the path of knowledge) like Sanandana, came forth to receive him.

2. (The presiding deities of) the Vedas and the subsidiary Vedas (viz. Āyur-veda the science of medicine, Dhanur-veda the military science, Gāndharva-veda the science of music. Sthāpatya-veda the science of Engineering), Niyamas and yamas^[1], science of Logic (Sāṃkhya and Mīmāṃsā), History (viz. the Rāmāyaṇa and the Mahābhārata), six auxiliaries of Vedas,^[2] Purāṇas and Saṃhitās (sacred texts like Pāñcarātra Saṃhitā, Brahma-saṃhitā, Garga-saṃhitā and others) who had burnt down their impurities of sins by the fire of spiritual knowledge enkindled by the wind of Yoga. approached and bowed down at the foot of the Lord, by virtue of meditating which they would attain to the region of god Brahmā which is not accessible by the path of Karmas (religious, ritualistic acts).

3. Thereupon, the lotus-born god Brahmā, of extremely pure reputation, brought water to worship Viṣṇu’s foot raised upto his region. Devoutly worshipping his feet, he sang out his praise, for he himself was born out of the lotus that adorns his navel.

4. The water that was poured out of the Kamaṇḍalu (water-jug) of god Brahmā, for washing the feet of the Lord of mighty strides, and being purified thereby, became the heavenly river in the sky. Like the pure hallowing renown of the Lord, it sanctifies the three worlds as it falls from the sky, and flows through them from the heavens.

5. God Brahmā and other protectors of the worlds, along with their followers, reverentially brought articles of worship to their Lord who had withdrawn his all-pervading form in a limited personality (viz. that of Vāmana).

6. With water brought for worship, with garlands of flowers and divinely fragrant sandal-paste and pigment, with burning of fragrant incense and lights, parched grains of paddy, unbroken rice, fruits and sprouts.

7. With songs of praise, shouts of victory announcing his prowess and greatness, with dancing performances, playing of musical instruments and presentation of vocal music and sounds of conchs and kettle drums.

8. Jāmbavān, the king of bears, with the speed of the mind, proclaimed with beating of drums in all directions, the victory of the Lord and the great festive occasion.

9. Finding that under a deceitful pretext of a request of three feet of land, the entire earth was taken away (fraudulently) from their master who was engaged in a sacrifice, the Asuras flared up and said to each other.

10. “Certainly this is not even a Brāhmaṇa by mere caste, (even a lowly Brāhmaṇa will not commit such a fraud). He is Viṣṇu, the prominent one among the masters of illusive powers (and conjuring tricks). Disguising himself as a Brāhmaṇa, he desires to accomplish the objective of gods.

11. We stand cheated of everything by this enemy who assuming the disguise of a Brahmacārin came for begging, while our master has laid down his powers of punishment during the period of this sacrifice.

12. Being a person vowed to observe (perpetual) truthfulness, and especially when consecrated for performing sacrifice, it is not possible to utter falsehood for our master who is friendly to Brāhmaṇas full of compassion.

13. It is, therefore, our sacred duty to kill him (Vāmana) and serve the cause of our master.” Saying thus the followers of Bali, Asuras, took up their arms.

14. Thus being enraged, all of them, armed with spears (śūla) and sharp-edged steel-bars^[3] (paṭṭiśa) rushed to strike at Vāmana (the Dwarf), even though Bali did not wish it.

15. Seeing the generals of the Daitya army attacking Vāmana, Viṣṇu’s attendants laughed at them, and thwarted them (Asuras’ attack) with their arms uplifted.

16-17. Nanda, Sunanda, Jaya, Vijaya, Prabala, Bala, Kumuda, Kumudākṣa, Viśvaksena, the king of birds—Garuḍa, Śrutadeva, Puṣpadanta and Sātvata—each of them possessing the strength of ten thousand elephants, advanced to kill the Asura army.

18. Seeing his people being massacred by the followers of Viṣṇu, and remembering the curse of Śukra (his preceptor), Bali prevented them from fighting, although they were enraged.

19. “Oh Vipracitti! Oh Rāhu! Oh Nemi! Listen to my speech! Please do not fight; retreat. This period is not favourable unto us.

20.Oh Daitya comrades! No human being is powerful enough to overcome Him with human prowess, as he is the master (chief cause) who distributes pleasure and pain to all creatures.

21. The glorious Lord who was formerly in favour of our prosperity and against that of the celestials, is today disposed to do quite the reverse of it.

22. No person can verily overcome the Time-spirit by physical power, expert advisers, intelligence, fortresses, mystic formulae, medicine etc. and by expedients like sāma, dāna, daṇḍa and bheda).

23. These attendants of Hari have many times been vanquished by you, when Fortune was favourable to you. Today those very attendants are roaring after vanquishing you in the battle.

24. If the Providence becomes favourable (again), we shall again defeat them. Therefore wait for the favourable Time, which will turn to be advantageous to us.”

Śrī Śuka said:

25. Hearing the directive (speech) of their leader, the generals of the Daitya and Dānava forces, beaten by the attendants of Viṣṇu entered the Rasātala (nether world).

26. On the very day of extracting Soma juice in the sacrifice, Garuḍa, king of birds, the son of Tārkṣya, informed of the desire of the Lord^[4], bound down Bali with the noosecords of Varuṇa.

27. When the king of Asuras was thus being taken prisoner by Viṣṇu of superior power, there arose a loud outcry on earth, in the sky and in all directions.

28. Glorious Lord Vāmana addressed to Bali who, though bound down by the noose of Varuṇa and bereft of royal splendour, was of balanced and stable mind, and of noble reputation, Oh King!

29. “Oh Asura! you have given me three paces of land. The entire earth (world) has been covered by two steps, Please provide space for the third.

30. As this entire land as far as the sun warms it by its rays, and the moon and the stars illuminate it, and as far as the rain-god was sending showers of water, was yours.

31. With one step I have covered the region of the earth, the sky and the quarters by my body, the celestial regions were covered by the second step as witnessed by you.

32. If you are not able to give what is promised, it is inevitable that your stay should be in the hell. Hence, you do enter the hell as approved of by your spiritual preceptor.

33. All the aspirations of that person fail. The celestial region is far away (from him). He falls down into hell who deceives a person seeking his help, by failing to give what is promised.

34. Proud of your riches as you were, you deceived me with the words “I shall give you” (three paces of land). Suffer, therefore, for some years in hell as a punishment for uttering falsehood.”

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Vide Supra Bhāgavata Purāṇa 4.22.24.

[2]:

viz. (1) Śikṣā—phonetics or Science of proper articulation and pronunciation (2) Chandas— science of Prosody, (3) Vyākaraṇa—Grammar, (4) Nirukta— Etymology of Vedic words, (5) Jyotiṣa—Astronomy, (6) Kalpa—code of rituals.

[3]:

paṭṭiśo lohadaṇḍo yas tīkṣṇadhāraḥ kṣuropamaḥ—Vaijayantī quoted in ASD. p. 310.

[4]:

Bhāvāratha Dīpikā explains: The Lord wanted to shower grace on Bali by depriving him of all his property and freeing him from his egoistic claim on his body. Or the Lord wanted to lower Bali’s position to exhibit Bali’s greatness etc.