Vāmana and Bali in the Skanda Purāṇa
Bhagavān Vishṇu came as the avatāra Vāmana, a small brāhmaṇa boy, born to Aditi and Kaśyapa. He asked the asura king Bali for three steps of land and then grew to fill all the worlds. The Kedāra Khaṇḍa of the Skanda Mahā Purāṇa tells how Bali gave everything he had and was made lord of Sutala, with Bhagavān Vishṇu himself standing at his door.
Aditi’s Payovrata
Again and again the asuras had taken svarga and driven out the devas. The devas went to Kaśyapa and Aditi for refuge. Aditi was their mother, and she grieved at the suffering of her sons. Kaśyapa told her to keep the Payovrata, a twelve-day vrata in which one drinks only milk, does pūjā of Bhagavān Vishṇu, and keeps perfect purity of thought, word and deed. Aditi finished the vrata with full śraddhā (faith). Bhagavān Vishṇu appeared before her and offered her a vara (boon). Aditi asked: “Be born as my son and win back the rule for my sons the devas.” Bhagavān Vishṇu agreed. (Chapter 18)
The birth of Vāmana
Bhagavān Vishṇu was born to Aditi and Kaśyapa as Vāmana, a tiny child of great radiance, with all the marks of a divine birth. His upanayana (thread ceremony) was done with the sun, Bṛhaspati and the sacred fires as witnesses. Even as a child, the dwarf form of Bhagavān Vishṇu was bright and complete in itself. The text takes the word vāmana (dwarf) to mean this completeness: all greatness held in a small form, as fire is held in a small ember.
Bali’s great yajña
At this time the asura king Bali was holding a yajña of giving to all. He had said that anyone who came and asked for anything would receive it, and that no one who begged would ever be turned away from his gate. Śukrācārya knew what was at stake. He warned Bali that a divine being would come to trick him. Bali answered with his usual nobility: “If Bhagavān Vishṇu himself comes asking for a gift, should I say no? What greater fortune could I have than Bhagavān Vishṇu coming to my yajña as a beggar? Whatever follows, I will not break my vow.” (Chapter 18)
The three steps
Vāmana came to Bali’s yajña. Bali saw the great radiance in the tiny brāhmaṇa boy and received him with honour. He gave him a seat, water for the feet (pādya), water of welcome (arghya), and every courtesy due to a brāhmaṇa guest. Bali asked what gift would please the boy. Vāmana asked only for three steps of land, as much earth as he could cover in three paces.
Śukra at once warned Bali: “Do not give this. This is Bhagavān Vishṇu himself in disguise.” Bali smiled and said: “Even so, if Bhagavān Vishṇu has come as a poor brāhmaṇa boy to ask a gift at my yajña, I am the most fortunate person alive. I will give it.”
The moment Bali made the gift with the ritual pouring of water (saṅkalpa), Vāmana began to grow. He became Trivikrama, the form of Bhagavān Vishṇu that fills all space. His first step covered the whole earth and everything on it. His second step covered all of svarga and the higher realms. No space was left for a third. (Chapter 19)
Bali’s gift of himself
Bali saw that he could not fill his pledge with a third step. He offered his own head, the only place that was still his. He bowed before Bhagavān Vishṇu and said: “Place your third step on my head. I promised to give you what you asked. I will not become a man who breaks his word.” Bhagavān Vishṇu was moved by Bali’s great-heartedness. He placed his foot on Bali’s head, not to crush him but to bless him. (Chapter 19)
Gaṅgā from the foot of Bhagavān Vishṇu
When the foot of Bhagavān Vishṇu rose toward the highest realm in the second step, a stream of water flowed from his Vaikuṇṭha foot. Falling from the highest realm, it became the Mandākinī in svarga, the Gaṅgā on earth and the Bhogavatī in pātāla. So Gaṅgā is called Vishṇupadī, “she who flows from the foot of Vishṇu.” (Chapter 19)
Bali in Sutala
Bhagavān Vishṇu did not destroy Bali. A devotee so generous and so noble could not be harmed. He sent Bali to Sutala-loka, one of the seven pātālas, which is described as more beautiful and blessed than svarga itself. Bhagavān Vishṇu himself became Bali’s dvārapāla (doorkeeper). So Bhagavān Vishṇu served the asura king he had just bound. (Chapter 19)
Sources
- Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Māheśvara Khaṇḍa, Kedāra Khaṇḍa, chapters 18–19