Bali Mahārāja Conquers Lord Vāmanadeva through Surrender and Charity

This article presents a thematic survey of Bali Mahārāja's surrender, prayers, and philosophical instructions. It organizes the profound teachings found in the Vaniquotes category Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Verses Spoken by Bali Mahārāja.

Bali Mahārāja, the grandson of the great devotee Prahlāda Mahārāja, was a powerful demon king who conquered the heavenly planets. Despite his demonic lineage, he possessed a generous heart and deep respect for the brāhmaṇas. His encounter with Lord Vāmanadeva (the dwarf incarnation of Viṣṇu) is one of the most celebrated pastimes in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Through his ordeal—losing his kingdom, being arrested by the ropes of Varuṇa, and being rejected by his guru—Bali Mahārāja demonstrated the perfection of ātma-nivedanam, or total self-surrender. He is honored as one of the twelve mahājanas (great authorities) on the science of bhakti.

The Magnanimous Donor (The Offer to Vāmana)

When Lord Vāmanadeva appears at Bali's sacrifice as a beautiful dwarf brāhmaṇa, Bali welcomes Him with great respect. Unaware that the boy is Viṣṇu, Bali offers Him anything He desires, from villages and elephants to a beautiful wife, displaying the charitable nature of a king.

Welcoming the Brāhmaṇa

Bali Mahārāja is charmed by the effulgence of Vāmanadeva. He washes the Lord's feet and places the water on his head, acknowledging the sanctity of a true brāhmaṇa.

  • "Bali Mahārāja then said to Lord Vāmanadeva: O brāhmaṇa, I offer You my hearty welcome and my respectful obeisances. Please let us know what we may do for You. We think of You as the personified austerity of the great brāhmaṇa-sages."
  • "O son of a brāhmaṇa, it appears that You (Vāmanadeva) have come here to ask me (Bali) for something. Therefore, whatever You want You may take from me. O best of those who are worshipable."
  • "O my Lord, by the touch of Your small lotus feet the entire surface of the world has been sanctified."
  • "O my Lord, because You have kindly arrived at our home, all my forefathers are satisfied, our family and entire dynasty have been sanctified, and the sacrifice we are performing is now complete because of Your presence."
  • "O son of a brāhmaṇa, today the fire of sacrifice is ablaze according to the injunction of the śāstra, and I have been freed from all the sinful reactions of my life by the water that has washed Your lotus feet."

The Invitation to Vāmanadeva

Bali encourages Vāmanadeva to ask for something substantial. He argues that the Lord should take enough land to be self-sufficient and that a donor like himself is rare to find.

  • "You may take from me a cow, gold, a furnished house, palatable food and drink, the daughter of a brāhmaṇa for Your wife, prosperous villages, horses, elephants, chariots or whatever You desire."
  • "O small boy, one who approaches me to beg something should not have to ask anything more, anywhere. Therefore, if You wish, You may ask from me as much land as will suffice to maintain You according to Your needs."
  • "By giving charity, a benevolent and merciful person undoubtedly becomes even more auspicious, especially when he gives charity to a person like your good self. Under the circumstances, I must give this little brahmacārī whatever charity He wants from me."
  • "If the brāhmaṇa Vāmanadeva is not satisfied by whatever gifts one has given, why not please Him with the riches one is destined to lose at death?"

Critique of Indra and Demigods

When Vāmana asks for only three steps of land, Bali is astonished. He criticizes the intelligence of Indra and the demigods, who possess great opulence but lack the wisdom to ask for the highest spiritual benefit.

  • "Alas, how pitiable it is for Indra, the King of heaven, that although he is very learned and powerful and although he chose Bṛhaspati as his prime minister to instruct him, he is completely ignorant concerning spiritual advancement."
  • "Lord Vāmanadeva was standing at Indra's door, but King Indra, instead of begging Him for an opportunity to render transcendental loving service, engaged Him in asking me for alms to gain the three worlds for his sense gratification."
  • "Bṛhaspati is also unintelligent because he did not properly instruct his disciple Indra."
  • "Sovereignty over the three worlds is very insignificant because whatever material opulence one may possess lasts only for an age of Manu, which is but a tiny fraction of endless time."

Truthfulness Above All (Rejecting the Guru)

When Vāmanadeva asks for only three steps of land, Bali is surprised but agrees. However, his guru Śukrācārya realizes Vāmana is Viṣṇu and warns Bali that he will be cheated of everything. Bali Mahārāja famously rejects his guru's advice, prioritizing truthfulness over property and safety.

Determination to Give

Bali Mahārāja argues that he cannot withdraw his promise. He declares that while he can tolerate hell or poverty, he cannot tolerate the stigma of being a liar or a cheater.

  • "I am the grandson of Mahārāja Prahlada. How can I withdraw my promise because of greed for money when I have already said that I shall give this land? How can I behave like an ordinary cheater, especially toward a brāhmaṇa?"
  • "There is nothing more sinful than untruthfulness. Because of this, mother earth once said, 'I can bear any heavy thing except a person who is a liar.'"
  • "I do not fear being deprived of all my possessions, living in hellish life, being arrested for poverty by the ropes of Varuṇa or being punished by You as much as I fear defamation."
  • "I do not fear hell, poverty, an ocean of distress, falldown from my position or even death itself as much as I fear cheating a brāhmaṇa."
  • "I am able to give You an entire island because I am the proprietor of the three divisions of the universe. You have come to take something from me and have pleased me by Your sweet words, but You are asking only three paces of land."

Defying Śukrācārya

Bali Mahārāja respectfully disagrees with his spiritual master, noting that great souls like Dadhīci sacrificed their lives for others. He reasons that if the beggar is indeed Lord Viṣṇu, then surrendering everything to Him is the perfection of life, not a loss.

  • "As you have already stated, the principle of religion that doesn't hinder one's economic development, sense gratification, fame & means of livelihood is the real occupational duty of the householder. I also think that this religious principle is correct."
  • "If this brāhmaṇa really is Lord Viṣṇu, who is worshiped by Vedic hymns, He would never give up His widespread reputation; either He would lie down having been killed by me, or He would kill me in a fight."
  • "Whether that same Lord Viṣṇu has come here to give me all benedictions or to punish me as an enemy, I must carry out His order and give Him the requested tract of land without hesitation."
  • "Dadhīci, Śibi and many other great personalities were willing to sacrifice even their lives for the benefit of the people in general. This is the evidence of history."
  • "O great sage, great saintly persons like you, being completely aware of the Vedic principles for performing ritualistic ceremonies and yajñas, worship Lord Viṣṇu in all circumstances."
  • "O best of the brāhmaṇas, certainly the great demoniac kings who were never reluctant to fight enjoyed this world, but in due course of time everything they had was taken away, except their reputation, by which they continue to exist."
  • "O best of the brāhmaṇas, many men have laid down their lives on the battlefield, being unafraid of fighting, but rarely has one gotten the chance to give his accumulated wealth faithfully to a saintly person who creates holy places."

Bali Mahārāja's Perfection of Surrender (The Third Step)

Lord Vāmana expands His form and covers the entire universe with two steps. He then arrests Bali Mahārāja and demands to know where to place the third step. Instead of protesting, Bali Mahārāja surrenders completely, offering his own head.

Offering His Head

Bali Mahārāja welcomes the Lord's punishment. He invites the Lord to place His foot on his head, thus fulfilling his promise and achieving the perfection of ātma-nivedanam.

  • "O best Personality of Godhead, most worshipable for all the demigods, if You think that my promise has become false, I shall certainly rectify matters to make it truthful. I cannot allow my promise to be false. Please, therefore, place Your third lotus footstep on my head."
  • "Your Lordship can perform one work to serve many purposes, and consequently, although You have punished me in many ways, I do not feel ashamed of having been arrested by the ropes of Varuṇa, nor do I feel aggrieved."
  • "Although a father, mother, brother or friend may sometimes punish one as a well-wisher, they never punish their subordinate like this. But because You are the most worshipable Lord, I regard the punishment You have given me as most exalted."
  • "Under the circumstances, because He has assumed the form of a brāhmaṇa, even if He irreligiously arrests me or even kills me, I shall not retaliate, although He is my enemy."

Following Prahlāda's Footsteps

Bali draws strength from his grandfather, Prahlāda Mahārāja. He reflects that Prahlāda was the only truly intelligent person in his family because he chose the Lord over material power.

  • "Bali Mahārāja said: My grandfather Prahlāda Mahārāja is the only person who understood his own self-interest."
  • "My grandfather Prahlāda Mahārāja is famous, being recognized by all Your devotees. Although harassed in many ways by his father, Hiraṇyakaśipu, he still remained faithful, taking shelter at Your lotus feet."
  • "Upon the death of Prahlada's father, Hiraṇyakaśipu, Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva wanted to offer Prahlāda his father's kingdom and even wanted to grant him liberation from material bondage, but Prahlāda accepted neither."
  • "Consequently, instead of accepting the results of karma and jñāna, Prahlāda Mahārāja simply begged the Lord for engagement in the service of His servant."
  • "Bali Mahārāja said: What a wonderful effect there is in even attempting to offer respectful obeisances to You! I merely endeavored to offer You obeisances, but nonetheless the attempt was as successful as those of pure devotees."
  • "Being fully convinced of the substantiality afforded by shelter at Your lotus feet, he (Prahlāda) took shelter of Your lotus feet, against the will of his father and demoniac friends, who were killed by Your own self."

Philosophy of Time and Destiny

Prior to his surrender, Bali Mahārāja instructs his demoniac soldiers who were defeated by the demigods. He exhibits a profound understanding of the supreme control of Time (kāla) and Providence, advising equanimity in both victory and defeat.

Supreme Time Factor

Bali explains that victory is not due to personal prowess but due to the favor of the Supreme Lord in the form of Time. He advises his followers to wait for a favorable time rather than struggle uselessly.

  • "Bali Mahārāja replied: All those present on this battlefield are certainly under the influence of eternal time, and according to their prescribed activities, they are destined to receive fame, victory, defeat and death, one after another."
  • "O Daityas, by human efforts no one can supersede the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who can bring happiness and distress to all living entities."
  • "The supreme time factor, which represents the Supreme Person, was previously in our favor and not in favor of the demigods, but now that same time factor is against us."
  • "No one can surpass the time representation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead by material power, by the counsel of ministers, by intelligence, by diplomacy, by fortresses, by mystic mantras, by drugs, by herbs or by any other means."
  • "Seeing the movements of time, those who are cognizant of the real truth neither rejoice nor lament for different circumstances. Therefore, because you (Indra) are jubilant due to your victory, you should be considered not very learned."
  • "Unless providence is in our favor, we shall not be able to gain victory. Therefore we must wait for that favorable time when our defeating them will be possible."
  • "Previously, being empowered by providence, you defeated a great number of such followers of Lord Viṣṇu. But today those same followers, having defeated us, are roaring in jubilation like lions."
  • "You demigods think that your own selves are the cause of your attaining fame and victory. Because of your ignorance, saintly persons feel sorry for you. Therefore, although your words afflict the heart, we do not accept them."

Realization of Mercy

After being blessed by the Lord and given the planet Sutala, Bali Mahārāja offers prayers expressing his gratitude. He realizes that his material downfall was actually Lord Vamadeva's mercy to save him from the blind well of false prestige.

The Danger of Opulence

Bali Mahārāja explains that material wealth and power are obstacles to spiritual life. He thanks Lord Vamanadeva for forcibly removing these impediments.

  • "Only by providence have I been forcibly brought under Your lotus feet and deprived of all my opulence."
  • "People in general, who live under material conditions, facing accidental death at every moment, do not understand that this life is temporary, because of the illusion created by temporary opulence. Only by providence have I been saved from that condition."
  • "What is the use of the material body, which automatically leaves its owner at the end of life? And what is the use of all one's family members, who are actually plunderers taking away money that is useful for the service of the Lord in spiritual opulence?"
  • "Liberation and material opulence, he thought, are obstacles to devotional service, and therefore such gifts from the Supreme Personality of Godhead are not His actual mercy."
  • "What is the use of a wife? She is only the source of increasing material conditions. And what is the use of family, home, country and community? Attachment for them merely wastes the valuable energy of one's lifetime."

The Causeless Mercy

Bali acknowledges that he, a demon, received mercy that even the demigods rarely attain. He glorifies the Lord for revealing Himself even to His enemies.

  • "The causeless mercy You have shown to me, a fallen demon, was never achieved even by the demigods or the leaders of the various planets."
  • "Seeing You Lords is a rare achievement for most living beings. But even persons like us, situated in the modes of passion and ignorance, can easily see You when You reveal Yourself by Your own sweet will."
  • "Please be merciful to me so I may get out of the blind well of family life—my false home—and find the true shelter of Your lotus feet, which selfless sages always seek."
  • "O Lord of all subordinate creatures, please tell us what to do and thus free us of all sin. One who faithfully executes Your command, O master, is no longer obliged to follow the ordinary Vedic rites."
  • "Since Your Lordship is indirectly the greatest well-wisher of us demons, You act for our best welfare by posing as if our enemy. Because demons always aspire for a position of false prestige, by chastising us You give us the eyes to see the right path."
  • "Many demons who were continuously inimical toward You finally achieved the perfection of great mystic yogīs."

Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani

This article is a thematic compilation of the teachings presented in the Vaniquotes category Bhagavatam Verses Spoken by Bali Maharaja. We invite you to visit the link to read the complete collection of verses presented in alphabetical order.

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