Vishnu Incarnates as Vamana

Shri Mahadeva said:

1-5a. Then at the end of a thousand years Aditi gave birth to Vamana, Vishnu, Acyuta, Hari, the lord, who was the great lord of all the worlds, who had Shrivatsa and Kaustubha on his chest, whose lustre was like that of the full moon, who was handsome, whose eyes were like lotuses, whose body was very short, who was dressed like a lad, who could be known by means of the Vedas and the Vedangas, who was marked with such signs as a girdle, a (piece of) deer-hide, and a staff. Seeing him of a great vigour, all deities led by Indra, along with great sages, praised and saluted him. Then the lord who was pleased, said to the best gods: Vamana said:

5b. O best gods, tell me what I should do today. Shri Shankara said:

6a. Then the gods who were delighted, spoke to that highest lord: The gods said:

6b-7. O Madhusudana, Bali's sacrifice is going on now. O lord, this is the time for the lord of demons not to turn down (any request). Having asked for the three worlds from him, (please) give them to us. Shankara said:

8-10. Thus addressed by all gods, Vishnu went to Bali, seated at the place of the sacrifice along with eight sages. Seeing him having come as a guest, the king of demons suddenly got up. Seeing (as if) Vishnu himself had corneas a guest, he, with a smile, seated him on a seat of flowers and properly honoured him. Having bowed before him and saluted him, he said in a faltering voice: Bali said:

11-12. I am fortunate, I am blessed. My life is fruitful. O best brahmana, having honoured you, what dear to you, should I do? O best brahmana, I shall give you that for which you have come to me. O best among those who know the Vedas, speak quickly. Shankara said:

13a. Then with a delighted mind (Vishnu) spoke to the king: Vamana said:

13b-18. O best king, listen. I shall tell you the reason for my arrival. O lord of demons, O you who remove the pride (of others, or you who respect others), give me (that much piece of) land measured by my three steps, for an enclosed place for keeping the fire-vessel. I do not desire anything else. Of all gifts, the gift of (a piece of) land is the best. That king who gives even that much piece of land measured by his thumb, to a poor brahmana, would be the lord of the world. In this world there is no other gift like that (of a piece) of land. Both of them — he who receives (a piece of) land and he who gives (a piece of) land — are meritorious and, after death, go to heaven. Therefore, O great king, give me that much piece of land measured by my three steps. O king, do not hesitate to give such a small (piece of) land. O king, that will indeed be (tantamount to) the gift of the three worlds. Shankara said:

19-20. Then the king, with his face delighted, said, " All right." He intended to make him the gift of land in the proper way. Seeing the king of demons, his priest, Usanas, said to him (these) words, " O king, do not give him the land."

Shukra said:

21-22. O king, this is Vishnu, the highest lord, who was requested by the gods. He has come here to take the entire earth after deceiving you. Therefore, land should not be given to the noble one. O king, by my word, give him some other object. Shri Shankara said:

23a. Then having laughed the king firmly said to his preceptor: Bali said:

23b-25a. To please Vishnu, I have done all meritorious acts. Today I am fortunate that Vishnu himself has come (to me). Today I shall very happily give (even) my life to him. Therefore, I shall give him even the three worlds. Shri Shankara said:

25b-27a. Speaking like this, the king devoutly washed his feet and first (offering him) water, gave him the land in the proper manner. Taking him round, and having saluted him he gave him wealth as a present. With his heart delighted, he again said to the brahmana: Bali said:

27b-28a. O brahmana, I am fortunate, I am blessed having given you land. O best brahmana, take this land as desired by you. Shri Shankara said:

28b-35. To the king Vishnu said: " Near you, in your presence, I shall get the land measured with my steps." Saying so, the highest lord abandoned his dwarfish form, and taking up the body of Vishnu, extending up to fifty crores (of yojanas) he seized the earth along with the seas and mountains, along with the oceans, islands, gods, demons and human beings. With one step of his body he crossed the entire earth. Then he said: " O best among the demon-kings, what do I do now? " It was the very powerful Trivikrama-form of the lord. It was good for the wellbeing of even the gods and the noble sages. It would not be possible even for Brahma or S" iva to see it. O auspicious Girija, having occupied the entire earth, that step became a hundred yojanas long. The ancient one gave the demon-king a divine sight. He showed him his Janardana-form.

36-37. Seeing that universal form of the god, Bali, the lord of demons, got matchless joy, and was covered with tears of joy. Seeing the god, having saluted him, having praised him with eulogies, he, with his heart delighted, spoke in a faltering voice: Bali said:

38, Seeing you, the highest god, I am fortunate, I am blessed. O highest lord, accept these three worlds. shrl Shankara said:

39-48. Then Vishnu, Acyuta, the lord of all, spread up his other immutable foot along with stars and planets, and covering all gods, up to Brahma's world. He was full of the foot of Acyuta, O you of an auspicious face. Then Brahma, the grandsire, (seeing) that foot of the god of gods, which was marked with (the signs of) a disc, a lotus etc. saying, with his heart full of joy, " I am blessed, " took his pot (of water), and with devotion washed the foot with the water from it. Due to Vishnu's majesty that water became inexhaustible. That pure holy water fell on the peak of Meru. For purifying the world it flowed in four streams: Sita, Alakananda, Caksu andBhadra in due order. Alakananda is said to be (flowing) to the south of Meru in three streams; she, purifying the world, and having three streams is called Tripathaga. The auspicious river is called MandakinI in heaven, Bhogavati in nether world, and the speedy Ganga in between (i.e. on the earth flowing) for purifying human beings. O you of an auspicious face, seeing her flowing over the Meru mountain, I held her on my head to purify myself. Having held (on my head) the auspicious water of Ganga for a thousand divine years, I obtained bliss, and am adored in all worlds.

49-53. There is no doubt that he who would carry on his head the water of Ganga rising from Vishnu's foot, or would drink it, would be respected by the world. He who would utter (the words) 'Ganga, Ganga' even from (a distance of) hundred yojanas, is freed from all sins, and goes to Vishnu's heaven. Then king Bhagiratha and Gautama having a great penance (to his credit) worshipped me with penance and asked for Ganga. O goddess, then I affectionately gave that auspicious best river Ganga, (rising from the foot) of Vishnu to them for the good of the entire world. Since she was brought by Gautama, she was called Gautami. Since she was chosen by king (Bhagiratha), she was known as Bhagirathi.

54-60. I have in course (of the narration) told you the excellent greatness of Ganga. Then that glorious lord Narayana loving his devotees, gave the auspicious nether world to Bali, the lord of demons. He made Bali the king of all the demons, serpents and the aquatic animals till the (final) inundation (of the earth). In the guise of a lad the immutable Vishnu, the killer of demons, the son of Kasyapa, affectionately gave the worlds to Indra. Then gods with gandharvas and the very powerful sages praised Vishnu with divine eulogies and worshipped him. For them to see his form, he contracted it; and being honoured by them Vishnu vanished. Vishnu, the mighty one, thus protected Indra well. The lord of the three worlds (i.e. Indra) obtained the three worlds and great affluence. I have thus told you the account of the auspicious splendour of Vishnu's incarnation as Vamana. The rest of the splendour I shall narrate in due order.

 

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