The Great King Bali

In our previous blogs, we discussed "Putana" and "Who was Putana". In this blog, we will discuss her great lineage. Although Putana and Ratnamala were born in the demon clan, their lineage was filled with great devotees of Narayan.

To understand the lineage, let's talk about Ratnamala's forefathers.

Ratnamala was the daughter of the great demon Maharaj Bali. Maharaj Bali was robbed of his glory and wealth by Indra, the king of heaven. To regain his glory and wealth, he approached his Guru Shukracharya and surrendered to him.

The Path to Power: The Vishvajit Yagya

Bali said: "My lord, you are my guru, my saviour, my everything. I will do whatever you say. I know a guru never abandons his disciple who comes to him pleading for help."

Guru Shukracharya knew that Bali desired to conquer the three worlds. He said to Bali, "We will perform a great yagya that will grant you immense power, allowing you to defeat King Indra and conquer his abode - the heavens."

To empower Bali, the Vishvajit Yagya was successfully conducted. Lord Brahma, pleased with Bali's devotion, granted him the rewards of this yagya. A magnificent golden chariot adorned with a lion-embellished flagstaff emerged from the sacrificial fire along with a beautifully inlaid bow, an endless supply of arrows, and divine armour. To honour Bali further, Lord Brahma gifted him an ever-fresh flower garland, while his guru Sukracharya proudly presented him with a conch. Grateful for the blessings he received, Bali humbly paid his respects to all the revered personalities involved in the grand yagya.

Empowered by the success of the yagya, Bali assembled his vast army and marched toward the celestial city of Indra. Bali arrived at the gates of heaven resplendent in his golden chariot, adorned with divine armour and bearing the sacred bow bestowed upon him by Lord Brahma; Radiant with power and majesty, Bali's presence alone struck fear into the hearts of all who beheld him.

The Conquest of Amaravati

Bali descended from his magnificent golden chariot and marched towards Indra's city, Amaravati. Renowned for its breathtaking beauty, Amaravati served as the heavenly lord's pleasure ground, adorned with lush gardens and vibrant vegetation. The soothing sounds of birds and bees filled the air, creating a tranquil atmosphere for its celestial inhabitants.

With a fierce determination to conquer the city, Bali hastily and confidently approached Amaravati. He lifted his conch to his lips and sounded it with thunderous force at the gates of heaven, proclaiming to all that Bali had arrived. Upon seeing Bali’s magnificent chariot, powerful divine weapons, and formidable army, Indra quickly grasped the gravity of the situation and rushed to seek counsel from his guru, Brihaspati.

Indra said to his guru, “My lord, our old enemy is here again, and I doubt we can defeat him.”

Indra further inquired, “What gives him such power—physically, morally, and spiritually? He radiates strength. I’m curious to know why.”

Brihaspati replied, "Bali's strength comes from his guru Shukracharya. Opposing Bali now is unwise—only Lord Narayan can challenge him. You and the devas should leave Amaravati; in time, Bali will lose his power due to his guru's anger."

Indra was shocked. "Abandon Amaravati? I cannot give it up to the enemy. We are devas, and Bali is only a demon —I will stay and fight."

Seeing the terrible power amassed by Bali and the inevitable destruction that war would bring, Guru Brihaspati urgently implored Indra to abandon the city. He warned that if the devas chose battle, heaven itself would descend into chaos beneath the fury of the asuras. Though unwilling to surrender Amaravati, Indra recognised the wisdom in his guru’s words. With a heavy heart, he and the devas reluctantly departed from the celestial city.

Bali then easily took control of the empty city, mocking the devas' retreat. He ruled from the heavens and became the lord of the three worlds. With nothing left to conquer, Maharaj Bali performed many Ashvamedha yagyas. He became renowned for his goodness, generosity, and admirable qualities; his fame and virtues spread everywhere.

Aditi’s Grief and the Payovrata Ritual

After Maharaj Bali conquered Amaravati, Aditi, the mother of Indra and the devas, was extremely distressed. Her husband, Kashyap, returning from meditation notice the great pain that Aditi was experiencing and asked the reason for her sorrow. She explained that her children had lost their home and glory to the demons. Kashyap consoled his wife and advised her to worship Lord Narayan through the Payovrata—a twelve-day observance of drinking only milk and reciting the mantra: "AUM NAMO BHAGAVATE VASUDEVAYA."

Aditi performed the ritual with deep devotion. At the conclusion of Payovrata, the benevolent Lord Narayan, who is always willing to grace his ardent devotees, appeared before her. Overwhelmed, she pleaded for compassion for her sons. The Lord, pleased with Aditi's devotion, promised to be born as her son and restore her children's lost fortunes, but He instructed her to remain silent about his incarnation as her son.

Soon after, Lord Narayan was born to Aditi. Lord Narayan appeared before her in his full glory, retaining all his divine features before assuming a child’s form. The event brought joy across the earth and heavens because the Lord had incarnated on the earth to restore the devas to their rightful abode and power. The child was short in height and was indeed a Vaman (a dwarf). He was also known as Upendra.

A Divine Guest at the Ashvamedha Yagya

To fulfil the boon that was promised to Mother Aditi, Vaman Bhagwan proceeded to the holy ground of Bhrigukachha, where Maharaj Bali was performing the hundredth Ashvamedha yagya under the direct guidance of his guru and his Bhrigu clan.

Vaman Bhagwan approached the yagyashala, capturing everyone's attention with his unusual transcendental glow. Though small in stature, he radiated with the brilliance of a thousand suns. Everyone speculated about his divine identity as he entered the yagyashala: Vamana Bhawagan, the young brahmin, adorned with sacred symbols, humbly stood before the assembly. Maharaj Bali welcomed him respectfully, washing his feet, offering a seat, expressing gratitude for his presence, and finally asking what gift he might wish for.

Praising a Heritage of Generosity

Vaman Bhagwan praised Maharaj Bali’s noble lineage. "Your grandfather was the esteemed Prahlad, and your father, Virochan, was renowned for his generosity. Historically, no one from your family has denied a request from those seeking assistance, nor has any promise been rescinded once given. Hiranyaksha, another of your ancestors, wielded only the mace as his weapon and, with this, conquered all three worlds."

The Lord further said, "Hiranyakashipu, the father of Prahlad, sought to confront Lord Narayan in Vaikunth. Observing Hiranyakashipu's relentless pursuit, Lord Narayan chose to enter his mind as a minute particle through his breath. Hiranyakashipu’s intense hatred for the Lord led him to think of Him constantly, which ultimately resulted in his demise at the hands of the Lord when He manifested as Narsingh Bhagwan.

Regarding your father, Virochan, his reputation for generosity stands unrivalled. On one occasion, the devas approached him disguised as Brahmins and requested alms. Recognising their true identity yet adhering to his principle of never refusing aid, he granted them even his life. Given such distinguished ancestry, your righteousness comes as no surprise. Therefore, I shall respectfully request a boon: I ask you to grant me three paces of ground, measured by my own stride."

A Humble Request for Three Paces

Maharaj Bali stood in astonishment, rendered temporarily speechless. Composing himself, he addressed Vaman Bhagwan with a gentle smile:

"Truly, you are but a child. Your words reflect wisdom and are pleasing to those who are learned. However, I am concerned that your youth leads to choices not aligned with your best interests. You appear unaware of what would be most advantageous for you. Observe my position: as the sovereign of the three worlds, I have the means to grant you anything that you ask from me. Yet, rather than requesting islands or great riches, you ask merely for three paces of land measured by your small feet. I urge you to reconsider and request a tract of land sufficient to provide lifelong comfort."

Vamana Bhagwan replied, "O King, I appreciate your thoughtful words and generosity. However, it is understood that one who has not mastered desire can never be satisfied, regardless of how much wealth or territory is acquired. A person discontented with three paces of ground will likewise remain unsatisfied even if granted possession of seven islands. True happiness comes to those who accept what they have; continual dissatisfaction only breeds sorrow. As you are renowned for your generosity, I respectfully request only three paces of ground, covered by my stride."

Defying the Guru’s Warning

Maharaj Bali’s guru immediately intervened and tried to prevent him from granting Vaman Bhagwan the requested gift. Guru Shukracharya cautioned Maharaj Bali, telling him that the Brahmin boy standing before him was actually Lord Narayan in disguise and warned him not to trust Vaman, who had come with deceptive intentions. Despite these warnings, Maharaj Bali chose to disregard his guru’s advice. Guru Shukracharya, in anger, pronounced a curse on Maharaj Bali.

" Bali, I curse you, you will lose all your fortune and glory."

Maharaj Bali humbly bowed to his guru and then redirected his attention to Vaman Bhagwan. Maharaj Bali poured water from the kamandal in his hand and said,

"It shall be so. I hereby grant you three paces of land measured by your diminutive foot," while glancing at Vamana Bhagwan's small, lotus-like feet.

Summary

Maharaj Bali, after conquering the three worlds through the Vishvajit yagya, encountered Lord Narayan, who assumed the form of Vaman Bhagwan to restore Indra's power. Although Maharaj Bali’s guru warned him, Bali’s generosity prevailed, and he honoured his noble devotional heritage by granting Vaman Bhagwan's request for three paces of land. This narrative also illustrates that Putana belonged to a family devoted to Lord Narayan; this is not surprising given her deep devotion to Lord Narayan as well.