Vamana Bali - Dashavatara series - The story

The Divine Story of Vamana and Mahabali

Multiple lifetimes ago, the souls of Vasudeva and Devaki engaged in long and grueling austerities. When Lord Shri Hari appeared, pleased with their devotion, and asked them, they wished for only one thing - to bear the Supreme Lord Himself as their child.

While we famously know them as the parents of Lord Krishna, their divine wish was first fulfilled when Shri Hari took avatar as Vamana, a brahmin boy, born to them in an earlier incarnation as Kashyapa and Aditi.

The Tale of King Mahabali

During the era of King Mahabali, a formidable ruler who had conquered the heavens, completed 99 grand yagnyas. As he began his 100th, Indra grew fearful. Completing a hundred yagnyas would automatically grant Mahabali the throne of Indra. Desperate to safeguard the balance, Indra approached Lord Shri Hari for help.

Responding to the prayers of the devas, Shri Hari took the form of Vamana. Shortly after His upanayana, the young Lord walked toward Mahabali’s yagnya arena to seek for alms.

The moment Vamana stepped onto the grounds, His divine radiance outshone everyone present, dimming the radiance of even the highest beings present for the pooja. Mahabali instantly recognized the Supreme Lord in this youthful form. Overjoyed that Shri Hari Himself had graced his doorstep as a seeker, Mahabali eagerly offered to grant Vamana whatever He wished.

Seeing through the divine play, Shukracharya, Mahabali’s guru and chief priest, leaped from his seat. He warned Mahabali to retract his offer immediately, cautioning him against making a promise to the Lord. But Mahabali, utterly shaken by Vamana's enchanting presence, refused to turn away a seeker.

Vamana made a simple request of just three paces of land, measured by His feet, showing him the small feet. Shukracharya pleaded with the king once more, but Mahabali’s resolve did not waver. He called his wife, took the sacred water in his palms, and let it flow to solemnize the vow of dana.

From Vamana to Trivikrama

As the holy water left Mahabali’s hands, Vamana began to expand beyond comprehension, assuming the magnificent form of Trivikrama. He grew so vast that the cosmic stars appeared like delicate anklets shimmering around His ankles.

With His first stride, He covered the entire earth, claiming all land as His own.

With His second stride, He spanned the vastness of the sky and the heavens, claiming all of space.

Having measured the cosmos, the Lord turned to the king and asked, "Where shall I place My third step?"

Realizing he had nothing left to give, Mahabali stood paralyzed with fear. Seeing his hesitation, Trivikrama bound him with the divine pasha. Observing this extraordinary unfolding, Prahlada, the legendary devotee of Shri Hari and Mahabali’s grandfather, descended to witness the scene.

Looking at Prahlada, the Lord asked, "Have you come to justify your grandson's actions, or to ask Me to forgive him?"

Prahlada simply bowed and replied, "I trust Your judgment completely, Lord. I am merely a spectator to Your divine play."

The Surrender of the Ego

Bound and stripped of his kingdom, Mahabali looked within and arrived at a profound realization - everything that exists belongs to Narayana. I am merely borrowing what I need to live. How can I claim ownership over anything when the cosmos itself is His?

With complete surrender, Mahabali bowed his head and prayed, "Lord, place Your third step upon my ego and crush it."

Shri Hari smiled and accepted his offering.

The Lord gently corrected Mahabali, reminding him that it was wrong to claim another's seat before the destined time. Yet, touched by Mahabali's absolute devotion and generosity, Shri Hari bestowed upon him a grand blessing. In the next cycle of Manvantara, Mahabali would indeed ascend to the position of Indra.

Until that time, the Lord granted him rule over Patala Loka, a realm of immense wealth and abundance. Also to protect His devotee, Shri Hari promised that He Himself would stand guard as Vamana at the gates of Mahabali’s realm. A promise He keeps to this very day and until the end of this Manvantara.