Bali and Vāmana in the Padma Purāṇa

The Uttara Khaṇḍa of the Padma Mahā Purāṇa tells the story of Trivikrama, the three steps of Bhagavān Vishṇu. It gives Bali’s family: he was the son of Virocana and the grandson of Prahlāda. After Bali had won the three worlds, he performed yajñas. Kaśyapa and Aditi did tapas (austerity), and Bhagavān Vishṇu was born as their son, the dwarf Vāmana. Śukrācārya warned Bali, but in vain. Vāmana took three steps. Brahmā washed Vishṇu’s foot, and from that water the Gaṅgā flowed. Bali was given Pātāla as his realm.

Bali’s conquest

Bali, son of Virocana and grandson of Prahlāda, was a king of great courage and generosity. He won the three worlds and ruled over svarga, Bhūloka and the lower worlds, and so became the universal ruler (cakravartī). Under his rule the asuras held all the worlds.

Kaśyapa and Aditi’s tapas

Aditi, the mother of the devas, was deeply sad that her sons had lost their kingdom. She did great tapas with her husband Kaśyapa. They sought the grace of Bhagavān Vishṇu so that her sons might get their kingdom back. Vishṇu was pleased with their devotion and agreed to be born as their son.

The birth of Vāmana

Bhagavān Vishṇu was born as Vāmana, a tiny and beautiful dwarf student, the son of Aditi and Kaśyapa. He came to Bali’s great yajña, where the asura king was giving rich gifts to everyone who asked.

Śukra’s warning

Śukrācārya, the teacher of the asuras, saw through Vāmana’s disguise and knew him to be Bhagavān Vishṇu. He warned Bali not to give the gift. He said: “This small brāhmaṇa is Vishṇu himself, come to take your kingdom.”

Bali was proud of his name for generosity and kindness to guests. He would not take back his offer to a brāhmaṇa who had already asked. He gave the gift in spite of Śukra’s warning.

The three steps of Trivikrama

Vāmana asked for three paces of land. Bali smiled at the small request of the tiny dwarf and agreed.

Vāmana then grew into the cosmic form of Trivikrama. His body filled the universe. One foot measured the whole earth, and the second measured all of svarga and the worlds above. With two steps he had measured all the worlds, and there was no room for the third.

Bali understood the divine play. He offered his own head as the place for the third step. Bhagavān Vishṇu placed his foot on Bali’s head and pressed him down to Pātāla.

Gaṅgā’s origin from the washing of Vishṇu’s foot

When Bhagavān Vishṇu lifted his cosmic foot to measure svarga, Brahmā washed that divine foot with water from his kamaṇḍalu (water pot). That water had touched the foot of Bhagavān Vishṇu. It became supremely holy and flowed as the divine river Gaṅgā.

Gaṅgā first came down to svarga. Later she came down to the earth through the efforts of Bhagīratha and, in another account, through Gautama. This is the Padma Purāṇa’s account of where the Gaṅgā first came from: Bhagavān Vishṇu’s foot.

Bali is given Pātāla

Bhagavān Vishṇu did not destroy Bali. Bali had shown the highest generosity, and he was the grandson of the great devotee Prahlāda. Instead Vishṇu gave him the realm of Pātāla (the lower world) as his kingdom. Vishṇu also promised to serve as his doorkeeper. Bali went to Pātāla and has ruled there in righteousness ever since.

Sources

• Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Uttara Khaṇḍa, Chapter 239
• Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Uttara Khaṇḍa, Chapter 240