Vamana's taking to Virat form

Lord Visnu said — The yajna of the asura Bali is quite surprising. There are enough of establishments here and is blessed with auspicious Samskaras. This yajna is comparable with the yajna performed by Paramesthi-Brahma in earlier times.

О valorous lord of the Danavas, the yajnas performed by Indra, Yama and Varuna in earlier times, you have performed better than them.

Lord Visnu, who bestows the heaven, his Asvamadha sacrifice is the best of all and is the destroyer of all the sins. By performing this yajna, you have enhanced the importance of the same.

The Asvamadha sacrifice of lord Visnu fulfills all the desires and is honoured by the reciters of the vedas. This is ordained by the Srutis.

The yajna which is the cause of the universe, is quite auspicious. The head of the yajna in the form of the horse is gold like. Its influence is enormous. Its hoofs are as hard as the iron, the speed resembles the wind, the body is quite vast and casts its glance towards the heaven. Its complexion is white like the gold.

Taking refuge of the horse of the Asvamedha yajna so performed, a person, is freed of all his sins. The Brahmanas well- versed in the Vedas, term the sacrificial horse as lord Agni.

As the Grhasthasrama is the best of all the asramas, similarly, the Brahmana too is the best of all the humans. More so, as you are the best of the asura here, similarly Asvamedha sacrifice is the best of all."

Vaishampayana said — О Janamejaya, listening to the words so spoken by Vamana, Bali, the king of Daityas was extremely pleased and then he spoke to him.

Bali said — О best of Brahman, who is you father? What do you want? I shall bestow you whatever is desired by you, let you meet with welfare. You ask for a boon and have your task established.

Vamana said — О son of Danu, I am neither desirous of the kingdom nor the vehicle. I am neither desirous of gems, nor the damsels. In case you feel happy with me and in case your mind is devoted to Dharma, then to enable me to build the place of fire for my preceptor, I would need land measuring three feet of mine. This would be the best of boon for me."

Bali said — О Brahmana, you are the best of orators. What will you do with the three feet length of earth? You better ask for lakhs and crores of feet of land from me.

Sukra said — О valorous one, о great asara, don't give him anything. You are not aware of his identity. He is none else than lord Visnu — the foremost of the gods, who has arrived here concealing himself.

Lord Visnu can take to many forms, to benefit Indra. He has therefore arrived here just to cheat you."

At these words of Sukracarya, Bali thought over the matter for a long time and then spoke delightfully, "who else could the better receiver (of the alms) than him?

Bali said — О excellent Brahmana, stand up facing the east." Bali replied, "I am standing here." Then Bali said, "O lotus eyed one, you just have it." Vamana said, 'Very well give me." Bali said, "what should I give you?" Vamana said, "The land." Bali said, "what should be the length of the land?" Vamana said, "Three feet length of land." Bali said, "I give it to you." Vamana said, "you utter with sankalpa let the demand for my preceptor becomes infructuous.

Sukra said — "O king, this charity should not be excercised." Bali said, "Why"? Sukra, said "I have surely recognised him." Bali said, "who is he?" Sukra said, "He is Visnu."

Bali said, "It is a matter of immense delight." Sukra said, "Then you have surely been cheated." Bali said, "No I have not been cheated."

Bali said — Lord Visnu is the lord himself, then why has he arrived in my yajna for begging. Still in case the lord has surely arrived, then I shall definitely give him whatever is desired by him.

Who would be the begger better than this?" Thus speaking Bali dropped the water (of samkalpa) on the ground.

Vamana said — О sinless Daitya king, only three feet of land is enough for me. Whatever had been spoken by me earlier is correct. There is nothing false in the same.

Vaishampayana said — О Janamejaya, listening to the words of illustrious Vamana, Bali — the son of Virocana and Daitya king, wore the skin of the black buck as his upper garment, said, "Be it so". Thus speaking he held the water vase in his hand.

Lord Vamana intended to cause great harm to Bali — the Daitya king. Therefore he spread his hand, which killed the Daityas, before Bali.

Daitya Bali then stood facing east, and as soon he was about the pour water in the hand of Bali, the Prahlada stopped him.

Lord Hari had arrived there to usurp the fortunes of the Daityas, observing the incurable form of lord, Prahlada understood the intention of Vamana. He therefore stood before Bali and said to him.

Prahlada said — О Daitya king, don't pour the water in the hand of Vamana BrahmacarL He is same person, who in earlier times had killed your great grand father. He happens to be the immensely intelligent Visnu who has arrived here to cheat you.

Bali said — О excellent Asura, incase what you say is correct, then it is a matter of immense delight. I shall surely give the donation asked for by him. The one who is more glorious than Brahma besides being graceful, we find such a Jagadisvara as a beggar (It is a matter of great pride). Therefore, I having received dtksa for the yajha should surely give away, charity to Vamana."

Thus speaking in the crowd of asuras, Bali the son of Virocana was about to grant three feet of land to Vamana.

Prahlada said — О lord of charities, don't give away charity to this Brahmana, I do not believe him to be the son of a Brahmana, because a Brahmana can never be like him.

О lord of Daityas, I speak truthfully to you, that in him, I visualise Narasimha having arrived here again."

Bali said — О asura, one who begs for giving something, the giver gets poverty of the beggar when his prayer is turned down.

A person who denies charity to a Brahmana, after promising him to do so, such a sinful person falls into the hell with his family and friends.

I being afraid of powerty, am giving away the charity of land. I shall never get a Brahmana better than him for the giving of charity. О Danava, on finding the Vamana begging from me, I feel immensely satisfaction in heart. Therefore, I shall surely give charity give charity to him. Inspite of your stopping me to do so, I shall not stop giving charity to him.

Then Bali said to Vamana again, "O foolish Brahmana, what is the extent of land that will get with the tiny feet? I give you the entire earth surrounded by the ocean."

Vamana said — О foremost of the Danavas, I am not at all desirous of the entire land. I shall be satisfied with three steps alone, which is to my liking.

Vaishampayana said — Then Bali — the Daitya king said, "Be it so" and then he granted the earth measuring there steps to lord Visnu in the form of Vamana.

With the pouring of the water of sarhkalpa over the hand Vamana took suddenly to a gigantic (virat) form then the lord displayed himself in universal form.

Bhuloka was his foot, while the head was the heaven, the sun and the moon were his eyes, the pisacas represented his toes while Guhyakas were The fingers of the hands.

The Visvadevas were lodged in his knees and the excellent gods and the Sadhyas were lodged in his calves. The Yaksas, the Lekhana gods besides the Apsaras were lodged in his nails.

The lightning was his sight, the sun rays were his hair, the stars were the hair pits of the body, while the Rishis were the hair on his body.

The moon was the gratification for him, Dharma was his mind, truthful speech and the goddess Sarasvati served as his tongue.

Diti — the great goddess stood for his neck, the shining sun was his palate, Svargadvara stood for his navel, while Mitra and Tvasta both were his eyebrows.

Fire was his face, Prajapati stood for his testicles, lord Brahma was his heart and the sage Kasyapa was his productive organ.

Vasudeva was lodged at his back, while Marudganas were serving as the joints of the feet. All the metres stood for teeth and the planets and constillations were the rays.

Lord Rudra stood for both his thighs, the great ocean stood for patience. The Gandharvas and the serpents dwelt in his belly.

Laksmi, Medha, Dhrti, Kanti and all the Vidyas were his waist. The paramadhama of the lord was lodged over the forehead.

Devaraja Indra and all the Jyotirganas are conceived to be the lustre of the great lord.

All the four Vedas stood for his breasts as well as armpits, the yajnas stood for his lips, his desires, yiipas, and the efforts of the Brahmanas represented his various limbs.

Observing the divine form of Visnu, all the great asuras were enraged and advanced towards him, as the fire flies pouce upon the fire flames.

Here ends chapter — 71, of Bhavisya Parva of the Harivaihsa Purana a supplement of the epic of Mahabharata relating to Vamana's taking to Virat form.(Vrs. 1-56, P. T. = 12,898)

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