King Bali – History as one of 12 Mahajanas!
Srimad Bhagavatham Canto 8, Chapters (18-23) describes the story of Bali Maharaja in detail.
Because of his outstanding qualities, King Bali is also added among 12 Mahajanas.
Since all these six chapters are long, Let us read the glories of Bali Maharaja and the Lord’s Vamana Avatar briefly.
(Bhishma Deva Life History -Diary (One of the 12 Mahajanas)! READ HERE!)
In the Treta-yuga there once was a king of the name Bali. Though born in a family dynasty of demons (daityas), he was very devoted to Krishna/ Vishnu.
He sang many Vedic hymns to Krishna and performed the homa rituals (fire sacrifices) just to satisfy Krishna.
He respected the twice-born Brahmins and engaged them in performing sacrifices daily.
This great soul had a quarrel with Indra.
However he eventually defeated him in the battle.
King Bali took over Indra’s entire celestial kingdom, which Krishna had given to Indra.
Therefore, Indra and all the other devas (demigods), along with many great sages, approached Krishna and complained about Bali Maharaja.
(King Janaka – History as a Mahajana in Diary form! READ HERE!)
Bowing their heads to the ground and offering many sacred prayers from the Vedas, they worshipped Krishna along with their spiritual master, Brihaspati.
Krishna agreed to appear on their behalf as a dwarf Vamanadev, Krishna/Vishnu’s fifth incarnation.
Though a dwarf, Lord Vamana was a Brahmana, and He approached that pious king Bali to ask him for alms in the form of land.
Lord Vamana in the form of dwarf brahmana said, ‘Oh Bali, please give Me just three steps of land in charity. Such a small piece of land will be good as all the three worlds for Me.’
Bali agreed to grant the Brahmana’s request without lengthy consideration.
But as soon as he vowed to give Him the land, the Brahmana’s body began to expand into a gigantic transcendental form.
(SWAYAMBHUVA MANU – HISTORY AS A MAHAJANA – DIARY! READ HERE!)
The Brahmana covered the entire Earth with His feet, all the Bhuvarloka with His thighs, the Swarga heavens with His waist, Maharloka with His stomach, Janaloka with His chest, Tapoloka with His neck, and Satyaloka with His head and face.
Thus, the Brahmana covered the entire material creation.
Indeed, all the planets of the universe, including the Sun and the Moon, were encompassed by His gigantic form.
Seeing this astonishing pastime of the Lord Vamana, all the demigods, including Indra and Shesha, the king of the snakes, began to sing Vedic hymns and offer prayers to Him.
Then the Brahmana took Bali by the hand and said to him:
“Oh sinless one, I have covered the whole Earth with one step and all the heavenly planets with the second. Now where shall I place My foot to measure the third step of land you promised Me?”
Upon hearing this, Bali Maharaja bowed down in humility and offered the Brahmana his head to place His third step.
(Prahlad Maharaja – History as One of the 12 Mahajanas! READ HERE!)
Lord Vamana placed His foot on his head and sent him all the way to Patalaloka.
Seeing him thus humbled, Lord Vamana became very pleased and told Bali that henceforth I would permanently reside in his palace.
Bali Mahārāja, along with his grandfather Prahlāda Mahārāja, entered the planet Sutala.
Srimad Bhagavathan ends this story thus in Canto-8, Ch-23:
“O King Parīkṣit, thus having taken all the land of Bali Mahārāja by begging, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Vāmanadeva, delivered to His brother Indra all the land taken away by Indra’s enemy (Bali).”
(HISTORY OF KAPILA MUNI or LORD KAPILA, AS A MAHAJANA! READ HERE!)