Srimadbhagavatham skandha 8-chapter 18 to 21 vamanavathara

[Guest guest]

Chapter19- Vamana's request

to Bali and Sukra trying to prevent him

 

When Vamana entered the yajna sala , everyone felt

as though another Sun has risen and got up involuntarily. Mahabali honoured him

by offering him a seat and washing his feet and his sprinkling the water on his

head after washing his feet is described in srimadbhagavatham thus:

 

Yath dhevadhevo gireeSaH

chandhramouliH dhaDhaara moorDhnaa parayaa cha bhakthya, which holy water even the Lord

Siva wore on his head, adorned with the crescent moon, with devotion. Then Bali asked Vamana what he wanted.

 

The Lord here displays the manner in which one

should ask anything from a benefactor. He praised Bali first mentioning the

exploits of Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakasipu, his ancestors and extolled Prahlada,

his grandfather, may be that the Lord wished to remind Bali of the fate of

Hiranya kasipu and his brother due to their arrogance and the glory of Prahlada

the devotee whom the Lord describes as pithaamahaH kula vrdDhaH praSanthaH, "Your grandfather, the

aged of your clan who has equanimity."

 

Then Vamana asked Mahabali what he came for, namely,

three feet of ground measured by his feet. Naturally Mahbali was amused as well

as disconcerted to hear that. Amused to think of the extent of ground that may

be covered by the diminutive brahmachari, disconcerted because such a glorious

looking brahmin boy did not ask him for

more when he was capable of giving everything one needs. But Vamana said

that one who desires for more than what

he needed is a thief. Then Mahabali told him to ask for land and wealth enough

to make his livelihood, saying that one who had come to him should not go to

another patron.

 

Vamana replied that to some one who has no

contentment and has no control, even the riches of the whole world will not be

enough. The lustre of a Brahmin, who is

contented with what he has, grows. Further he said that he wished to have only

what I asked and there is no use of anything more for him. Then Mahabali

laughingly told him to take what he wanted.

 

At this moment . Sukracharya , the asuraguru, found

out by his yogic power who the visitor was and cautioned Mahabali thus;

 

esha vairochane

saakshaath bhagavaan vishNuravyayaH

 

This

is Lord Vishnu Himself. Further Sukra

said that the Vamana was going to take away everything from Mahabali and would

give it to Indra. Sukra predicted exactly what was going to happen and assured

Mahabali that to go back on his word is no sin because a lie is allowed in the event of marriage, for livelihood and

when life is in danger. Here Sukara said Mahabali could not live after giving

everything to Vamana, and there is nothing wrong to go back on his word to save

himself.

 

 

Chapter 20- Mahabali gives

the dhana

 

Mahbali refused to listen to his guru saying that he

could not go back on his words given to a Brahmin like a greedy and cunning

rogue, being the grandson of Prahlada. It is rare to find one who is willing to

sacrifice all ha has to a fitting recipient. He said,

Sa eva vishnuH varadho asthu vaa paro

dhaasyaami amushmai kshithim eepsitham mune , meaning that "If Vamana

is Vishnu Himself and whether He gives

boons or harms me , I am going to give him what he wanted. He implied that what

more could be freater than having the Lord Himself as the recipient of his

dhana.

 

Sukra got angry and calling him foolish and arrogant

cursed him that he would soon lose all that he possessed. But Mahabali was not

at all perturbed and performed the ritual of dhana along with his wife Vindhyavali

who brought the golden pot of water for that purpose. Seeinghow Mahbali stuck

to dharma the devas showered flowers

from above. When Mahabali performed the dhana, Vamana started growing. His from

soon filled the earth . sky and the directions, oceans and everywhere. Mahabali

was wonderstruck to see the cosmic form of the Lord without the divine eye like

Arjuna. When Mahabali told Vamana that he could have what all he wanted, the

Lord showed him that the entire universe is His, which Mahabali thought he

owned.

 

The Lord as Thrivikrama, filled the earth with one

foot and His form filled the sky and the directions and He placed the second

foot on the heavens. There was no space for Him to measure with third foot.