Srimadbhagavtham skandha 8- chapters 21 to 23 - end of vamanavathara

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Chapter21to 23- Mahabali

vanquished yet blessed

 

When the foot reached the Brahmaloka the luminance

of the nails of the Lord dimmed the lustre of the abode of Brahma. Seeing the

foot of the lord Brahma washed it by the water in his kamandalu which became

the akaasa ganga. Rising from the feet of the Lord and borne by the head of

Siva when she was brought to earth by Bhageeratha, the river Ganges

became the purifier of all the three worlds.

 

The attendants of Bali got angry because the vamana

brahmahari deceived them all and started

to attack him since Bali himself could not do

so, owing to his austere vow taken during the performance of the yajna. But Bali told them that the same Lord who allowed him earlier

to defeat the devas, had now taken the opposite view and since it is His will ,

it had to be obeyed. In the meanwhile the attendants of the Lord from Vaikunta

defeated the asuras and they were sent to the nether world at the command of Bali since the whole world had been given to the Lord.

Then Garuda bound Bali to punish him since he

failed to do as he promised.

 

Mahabali was staggered and heartbroken that he could

not fulfil his promise and told the Lord that he would still make his promise

come true and said, " padham thrtheeyam kuru SeershNi me nijam," because he feared

nothing else more than swerving from one's promise. The question whether Bali could give the earth for the third step when all the

earth had already been given to the Lord, is answered that the possessor is

greater than the possessions. Hence his head will be suitable for the third

step.

 

Bali praised the Lord and

said that it was fortunate that he was born in the clan of Prahlada who was

blessed by the Lord. At that time Prahlada himself appeared and was very happy

to see the Lord in His cosmic form and said that the post of Indra was given to

Bali by the Lord only as nothing happens

without His will and now he has willed that it should be returned to Indra. To

separate Mahabali from his aisvarya is to secure the divine grace for him. Mahbali was pained that he could not

honour his grandfather as he was bound by varunapasa by Garuda and Brahma appeared

and requested the Lord to free him, because taking away all possessions from

him itself was a fitting punishment.

 

The Lord said that to whom He wanted to bless He takes

away all from that devotee. Mahabali was

a great devotee, who never swerved from dharma and truth and hence the Lord

wanted to bless him, which was the purpose for all the drama. Then the Lord

told Mahabali to go the Suthalaloka which is aspired even by the devas, assuring

him that He Himself will be present there and guard him from all the four

sides. The legend is that when Ravana came to Sutalaloka to conquer Bali the Lord flung him away by His big toe. Bali was chiranjeevi like Prahladha and lived in Suthala

loka with Prahladha happily enjoying the presence of the Lord always. The Lord

also promised that Mahabali will become Indra in saavarnamanvanthara.Prhlada ,

seeing the grace of the Lord shown to Bali said that even Braham and others

were not blessed thus by the placing of the foot on the head as the Lord did

for Mahbali.

 

Concluding the Vamanavathara, Suka says that only

the one who can count the particles of dust will be able to recount the glories

of Lord Thrvikrama and those who hears

this story will attain the supreme state.