Bali was the son of Virochana and the grandson of Prahlad, the great bhakt of Vishnu ji. He was an asura king, but a generous one: whoever came to his door asking was never sent away empty. He served his guru, Shukracharya, with devotion, and the Bhrigu brahmins, pleased with him, had him perform the Vishvajit yajna. From its fire came a chariot, horses, a banner, a bow and armour. His grandfather Prahlad gave him a garland that never faded, and Shukracharya gave him a conch.
With these Bali marched on Amaravati, the city of Indra, and blew his conch at its gates. Indra went to his guru Brihaspati and asked what to do. Brihaspati said that the brahmins' blessing had made Bali too strong to be fought; only Bhagwan Vishnu could help, and until then the devas should leave heaven and keep out of sight. So the devas went into hiding, and Bali ruled the three worlds.
Aditi, the mother of the devas, longed to see her sons home again. Bhagwan Vishnu was born to her and to the rishi Kashyapa, on Shravana dvadashi, and took the form of a small brahmin boy: Vamana. He wore a belt of munja grass and a deerskin, and carried a staff, an umbrella and a water pot. The sages performed His thread ceremony, and Vamana Bhagwan set out for the place on the northern bank of the Narmada where Bali was performing a great yajna.
When the boy entered, His light was so great that the priests rose from their seats. Bali welcomed Him, washed His feet, and said, "Ask me for whatever You wish: land, gold, a house, a village."
Vamana praised Bali's family, the valour of his forefathers and the devotion of Prahlad. Then He said, "From a king so generous I ask only this: three steps of land, measured by My own feet." Bali laughed. "You are only a child. You have come to the lord of the three worlds and You ask for three steps? Take enough land to live on." But Vamana said that a man who is not content with three steps is not content with a whole island, and asked again for three steps.
Shukracharya saw who the boy was. He took Bali aside and said, "This is Vishnu Himself, come to take everything from you for the devas. With one step He will take the earth, with the second the heavens, and there will be nowhere for the third. Take back your word: a promise may be withdrawn to save one's life." Bali was silent for a while. Then he said, "I am Prahlad's grandson. I have given my word to a brahmin, and I will not break it. If He is truly Vishnu, and takes all I have, I will bear Him no ill will." Shukracharya, angry, cursed him to lose his kingdom. Still Bali did not turn back.
His queen, Vindhyavali, brought a golden pot of water. Bali washed Vamana Bhagwan's feet, put that water on his own head, and with water in his hand gave Him the three steps of land. At once the small boy began to grow. His body filled the earth, then the sky, then all the directions. With one step He covered the earth; with the second He reached the highest heavens, where Brahma ji himself washed His foot. There was no place left for the third step.
Bali's asuras took up their weapons in anger, but Bali stopped them, saying that time had turned against them. Garuda bound Bali with the ropes of Varuna. Then Vamana Bhagwan said to him, "You promised Me three steps. Where shall I place the third?"
Bali folded his hands. "My word shall not be false. Place Your third step on my head." Vamana Bhagwan placed His foot on Bali's head. Then Prahlad came and bowed to Bhagwan; Vindhyavali prayed for her husband; and Brahma ji said, "You have taken everything from him; now let him go."
Bhagwan said, "To one I favour, I first take away his wealth, so that pride leaves him. Bali has lost his kingdom and been cursed by his guru, and still he has kept his word. He will be Indra in the age of Savarni Manu. Until then let him live in Sutala, a world finer than heaven, with his family, free of sorrow. I Myself will guard its door." Bali bowed with tears in his eyes, and with Prahlad he went down to Sutala. Indra had heaven again.
Before Bali went below, Bhagwan granted him one thing more. On this pratipada, the first day of the bright fortnight of Kartik, Bali's puja would be done on earth, and a festival held in his name. So every year on this morning a house bathes early, draws Bali and his queen Vindhyavali on the floor in five colours, or builds him a fort of cow dung beside the tulsi, lights its diyas, and welcomes him as a king come home to see his people.
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