Vāmana and Bali

Vāmana is Bhagavān Vishṇu born as a small brāhmaṇa boy, the son of Kaśyapa and Aditi. This is the account of the Vāmana avatāra in the Bhavishya Parva of the Harivaṃśa. Bali, a daitya king, ruled all three worlds, and the devas fled to Brahmaloka. Kaśyapa Maharshi did tapas (austerity) and recited a Sanskrit stotra (hymn of praise) to Bhagavān Vishṇu. Bhagavān Vishṇu gave a vara (a boon) that he would be born as Kaśyapa’s son. As Vāmana he asked Bali for three paces of land, grew into Trivikrama, and covered all the worlds. Bali was sent down to Pātāla. Nārada then recited a Sanskrit stotra for Bali’s moksha (liberation).

The devas in exile

Bali now ruled all three worlds, and the devas had lost everything. Indra had lost his throne. Svarga was held by the daitya forces. The devas wandered without a home or power. They gathered and went to Brahmaloka, the world of Brahmā, to ask for advice and refuge. There, in the presence of Brahmā, the devas did tapas and prayed for someone to set them free.

Kaśyapa’s stotra to Vishṇu

Kaśyapa Maharshi, the great Prajāpati and father of both the devas and the daityas, found the way forward. He made and recited a Sanskrit stotra to Parātmā, the Supreme Self, Bhagavān Vishṇu, on behalf of the devas in exile. This stotra praises Bhagavān Vishṇu as the highest reality beyond all that appears. It praises him as the source of creation and dissolution, as the ātman (self) within all beings, and as the only refuge of those who seek moksha.

Bhagavān Vishṇu was pleased with Kaśyapa’s stotra and moved by the trouble of the devas. He gave a vara: he would come down to the earth as the son of Kaśyapa and Aditi and put the order of the cosmos right.

The birth of Vāmana

In due time Bhagavān Vishṇu was born as Vāmana, the divine dwarf, from the womb of Aditi, the wife of Kaśyapa. The devas rejoiced at his birth. He came in the form of a brahmachārī (a young student): small and gentle, with a sacred staff and a water pot, and wearing the sacred thread. Even so, his divine glow was clear to those who had eyes to see it.

Bṛhaspati takes Vāmana to Bali’s yajña

Bṛhaspati, the teacher of the devas, knew at once who this young brāhmaṇa boy was and what his coming meant. He took Vāmana to the place of Bali’s great Aśvamedha yajña (fire ritual). Bali was a conqueror, but he was also a man of great generosity. He had been holding this great yajña and giving richly to everyone who came.

Vāmana asks for three paces

At the yajña, Vāmana came to Bali and made his request: only three paces of land, and no more. The request was so small that it seemed almost funny. Bali, in his spirit of unlimited giving, which was his great virtue, agreed at once to give whatever the young brāhmaṇa asked.

Śukrācārya, Bali’s guru, knew Vāmana’s true identity. He warned Bali urgently not to make this gift. The one who asked was Bhagavān Vishṇu himself, and the “three paces” would cover everything. But Bali kept to his vow of giving. He answered that even if the one asking were Vishṇu himself, he could not take back a gift once he had offered it. He poured out the water of saṅkalpa (the solemn vow) to make the dāna (gift) final.

Trivikrama measures the three worlds

As soon as the dāna was sealed, Vāmana began to grow. He grew beyond all measure. The divine dwarf became Trivikrama, the one who strides across the three worlds. With his first step he covered the whole earth. With his second he covered svarga and all the upper worlds. For the third step there was no space left. Bali saw that his end was near, yet he did not waver from his word. He offered his own head for the third step. Bhagavān Vishṇu placed his third step on Bali’s head and pressed him down to Pātāla.

Nārada’s stotra for Bali’s moksha

At the moment Bali seemed to be defeated, pressed under the foot of Bhagavān Vishṇu and sent to the underworld, Nārada Maharshi recited a Sanskrit stotra for Bali’s moksha. Nārada knew that what looked like punishment was the highest grace. Bali had given everything to Bhagavān Vishṇu, and Bhagavān Vishṇu takes completely what is given to him. The stotra praises Bali as a great example of dāna and dharma. It also praises Bhagavān Vishṇu, who received his devotee’s offering with the full measure of divine compassion.

Bali was given the rule of Pātāla. He was also given the promise that in the eighth Manvantara, the Sāvarṇi Manvantara, he would become Indra.

Svarga restored

With Bali held down in Pātāla, the devas went back to their rightful places. Indra took his throne in svarga again. The three worlds returned to the order set for them, under the care of the devas. Bhagavān Vāmana had done what he came to do, and the great setting right of the cosmos was complete.

Sources

• Hari Vaṃśa Purāṇa, Bhavishya Parva, Chapters 66–67 (the devas in exile)
• Hari Vaṃśa Purāṇa, Bhavishya Parva, Chapter 68 (Kaśyapa’s stotra and the vara)
• Hari Vaṃśa Purāṇa, Bhavishya Parva, Chapter 69 (the birth of Vāmana)
• Hari Vaṃśa Purāṇa, Bhavishya Parva, Chapter 70 (Bṛhaspati takes Vāmana to the yajña)
• Hari Vaṃśa Purāṇa, Bhavishya Parva, Chapter 71 (the request for three paces)
• Hari Vaṃśa Purāṇa, Bhavishya Parva, Chapters 72–73 (Trivikrama, Nārada’s stotra)
• Hari Vaṃśa Purāṇa, Bhavishya Parva, Chapter 73 (svarga restored)