Demon-king Bali continued, “In this world, wealth and all other forms of prosperity discard the person at the time of death. If one cannot please a Vedic Brahmin using such wealth, what benefit will he obtain by sacrificing them at the time of death?

Hence in my opinion giving anything less than what this boy seeks is a waste. In case he remains unhappy, what benefit will we get? Dadhici, Śibi and other noble persons sacrificed even their lives for the well-being of other living entities. Why then should we vacillate whether we should part with the land or not?

O Maharishi! The great demon warriors who never backed out from any war, enjoyed every possible earthly comfort. Eventually time swallowed all their comforts. Nevertheless it could not take away the renown that they had obtained in this world. Fame remains permanently.

O Brahmarishi! There are many warriors who have fought valiantly and given up their life during the war. But rarely do we come across people who, with full faith, donate their wealth when they get the right opportunity.

By fulfilling the desires of the person seeking alms, a compassionate, self-respecting person will obtain renown even if he falls to lowest levels in this process. This being the case, do I need to specifically mention that I will obtain auspiciousness when I fulfill the demands of Vedic Brahmins of your cadre, even if I become a pauper in the process? Therefore I shall fulfill this boy’s demand.

O Maharishi! You are adept in completing fruitive rituals as stipulated by the Vedas. With great reverence you worship Srihari through the medium of Yagnas and other associated rituals. Irrespective of whether this boy is the Lord who fulfills desires or not, I shall fulfill his demand. I shall give him the land he seeks.

Perhaps, as you mentioned, this little boy will take on an unimaginably huge form and may bind me, who am faultless. Even then I will not harm him even if he is my enemy who has approached me in the form of a Brahmin. In case he is Srihari, the Lord of great renown, he will never seek to destroy his fame. If he were to be Vishnu, then he would have killed me in battle. In case he is not Vishnu he would have been killed by me in battle”- said Bali.

Bound by the rule of truthfulness, the self-respecting Bali did not heed the advice of his Guru and instead chose to go against him. Then, influenced by God’s will, Guru Śukracharya cursed Bali saying,

“You have become self-conceited considering yourself to be supremely learned. The truth however is that you are ignorant. You lack humility. For this reason, you have transgressed my dictates. For having ignored me, you will lose all your prosperity very shortly”.

Even though his Guru cursed him, the great king Bali chose to strictly abide by his vow of truthfulness. He remained undeterred. He worshipped the little Vāmana and then, taking water into his hands, gave him the land as promised.

Bali’s wife Vindhyāvali brought a golden pot full of water to wash Vāmana’s feet. In great joy demon-king Bali washed the lotus feet of Vāmana with that water. He sprinkled those waters, which sanctify the entire universe, on his head.

The Devatas, Gandharvas, vidyadharas, Siddhas and Cāraṇās then profusely extolled Bali’s determination towards truthfulness. In great happiness they showered flowers upon him. At that moment, celestial drums were heard from the skies. Gandharvas, Kinnaras and Kimpuruṣās sang in great happiness,

‘This self-respecting King Bali has accomplished that deed which otherwise is difficult to accomplish. Although he was fully aware that the person seeking alms is his enemy, he gifted away the three worlds to him in charity”.

Vamana obtained three feet of land from Bali. Then Lord Vāmana, the dwarf form of Lord Srihari who holds this world composed of the three attributes of Nature within Him, suddenly grew unimaginably huge. At rapid speed He enveloped the earth, skies, heavens, all the directions and the lower planetary systems. He also covered all the oceans, animals, birds, humans, celestials and Maharishis, who exist within Him alone.

Together with the priests, Śukracharya and the assembled guests, King Bali witnessed the Universal body of Lord Srihari, who is of limitless energy. He saw within the Universal Lord, this world which is composed of the three attributes of Nature. Within this Universal body, Bali saw the five basic elements. He saw speech and all other senses (indriyas); sound and other subtle elements; the four-fold mind and this world which is filled with living entities.

Srihari alone pervades this entire creation. King Bali who had usurped the position of Indra, the Lord of heaven, now saw the lower planetary system Rasatala, in the soles of the Lord’s feet. He saw earth situated in both His ankles. The mountains were situated in both His knees. Birds were situated in both His thighs. He also saw the Marut-gaṇās. In the garments of the all-pervading Lord Srihari, who possesses gigantic feet, he saw the twilight times. In the Lord’s genitals he saw himself along with all the demons. In the waist, Marichi and other Prajapatis were located. In the navel he saw the outer space. In the abdomen of the Lord he saw the seven oceans and in the chest he saw the constellations of stars.

In the heart of the Supreme Lord, he saw dharma. In two locations truthfulness and equal-mindedness could be seen. In His mind he saw the Moon. In his chest, Mother Goddess Lakshmi was seated holding a lotus in her hand. In His throat he saw Sāma Veda along with all sounds. In the shoulders of this Universal Lord he saw Indra and all other Devatas. In His ears he saw the directions. On His head the heaven was situated. In His hair he saw the clouds. In His nostrils he saw the wind. In His eyes was the Sun. In His mouth was the Fire. In His speech he saw the Vedas. On His tongue was situated Varuna, the Lord of all waters. In His eyebrows he saw the scriptures as well as the lawful and forbidden actions. On His eyelids he saw night and day. On His forehead was anger. On His lower lip greed was located.

O Emperor Parikshit! On the skin of the Universal Lord he saw Manmatha, the Lord of lust and other desires. In His semen were the waters. On His back was unrighteousness. His footsteps were Yagna. His shadow was death. His laugh was the illusory energy. In the hair on his skin were innumerable kinds of herbs, trees and creepers”.

Narayana narayana