Lord Vishnu’s transformation into Lord Vamana
शक्रेण संयति हतोऽपि बलिर्महात्मा
शुक्रेण जीविततनु: क्रतुवर्धितोष्मा ।
विक्रान्तिमान् भयनिलीनसुरां त्रिलोकीं
चक्रे वशे स तव चक्रमुखादभीत: ॥१॥
shakreNa sanyati hatO(a)pi balirmahaatmaa
shukreNa jiivitatanuH kratuvardhitOShmaa |
vikraantimaan bhayaniliina suraaM trilOkiiM
chakre vashe sa tava chakramukhaadabhiitaH || 1||
After being restored by his preceptor Shukracharya after losing the battle to Indra, the noble Bali Maharaja went on to perform a number of yanjas, which increased his spiritual strength. The Devas fled and hid in terror as a result of Bali’s incredible bravery in taking control of all three worlds. Bali’s unwavering spiritual superiority inspired him to act fearlessly even before Vishnu’s Sudarshana Chakra.
Bali exhibited dharmic devotion, righteousness, and noble character despite his Asura ancestry. His life served as evidence that a commitment to morality transcends all social identities and birthrights. The narrative demonstrates how the Lord steps in to restore dharma when one side acquires undue power, upsetting the divine balance.
The Lord decided to take the form of Vāmana because Bali rose to such power without displaying any evil or oppressive traits, demonstrating his legitimacy as a king with immense strength, courage, and spiritual merit.
पुत्रार्तिदर्शनवशाददितिर्विषण्णा
तं काश्यपं निजपतिं शरणं प्रपन्ना ।
त्वत्पूजनं तदुदितं हि पयोव्रताख्यं
सा द्वादशाहमचरत्त्वयि भक्तिपूर्णा ॥२॥
putraarti darshana vashaadaditirviShaNNaa
taM kaashyapaM nijapatiM sharaNaM prapannaa |
tvatpuujanaM taduditaM hi payOvrataakhyaM
saa dvaadashaahamacharattvayi bhaktipuurNaa || 2 ||
Ma Aditi, the Devas’ divine mother, is deeply saddened by Bali’s takeover of her divine children’s position of authority. She turns to her husband Kashyapa, a revered sage and her spiritual equivalent, after experiencing overwhelming maternal grief. She follows Kashyapa’s instructions to complete the Payo-vrata, which entails worshiping Lord Vishnu and fasting for twelve days on milk. Following the Asuras’ assertion of supremacy through their rule, Ma Aditi devoted her prayers to restoring cosmic order. Ma Aditi proves through her performance of the Payo-vrata that one can call upon divine intervention even in times of helplessness when one is completely devoted and has faith. This vrata makes Lord Vāmana the divine embodiment of Vishnu, whose brilliant and modest wisdom and divine play will restore harmony to the world.
तस्यावधौ त्वयि निलीनमतेरमुष्या:
श्यामश्चतुर्भुजवपु: स्वयमाविरासी: ।
नम्रां च तामिह भवत्तनयो भवेयं
गोप्यं मदीक्षणमिति प्रलपन्नयासी: ॥३॥
tasyaavadhau tvayi niliinamateramuShyaaH
shyaamashchaturbhujavapuH svayamaaviraasiiH |
namraaM cha taamiha bhavattanayO bhaveyaM
gOpyaM madiikshaNamiti pralapannayaasiiH || 3 ||
Aditi’s total devotion to Lord Vishnu had consumed her thoughts, and during the last days of her vrata, the Lord appeared before her. As she knelt before him in reverence, Lord revealed that he would be her child. Bhagavan spoke to her in a low voice and gave her instructions to keep this sacred vision a secret. The verse demonstrates how the Lord directly responds to sincere love and faith with divine blessings. Divine interventions are often sacred experiences that people should keep to themselves rather than share with others.
त्वं काश्यपे तपसि सन्निदधत्तदानीं
प्राप्तोऽसि गर्भमदिते: प्रणुतो विधात्रा ।
प्रासूत च प्रकटवैष्णवदिव्यरूपं
सा द्वादशीश्रवणपुण्यदिने भवन्तं ॥४॥
tvaM kaashyape tapasi sannidadhattadaaniiM
praaptO(a)si garbhamaditeH praNutO vidhaatraa |
praasuuta cha prakaTa vaiShNavadivya ruupaM
saa dvaadashii shravaNa puNyadine bhavantam ||4||
Aditi’s devotion is accepted by Lord Vishnu, who becomes her child by entering her womb. The Lord is delivered by Aditi as a divine entity in His Vaishnava form on the auspicious day of Dwadashi, under the Shravana star. This illustrates how fervent devotion and spiritual practice can call forth divine manifestations.
पुण्याश्रमं तमभिवर्षति पुष्पवर्षै-
र्हर्षाकुले सुरगणे कृततूर्यघोषे ।
बध्वाऽञ्जलिं जय जयेति नुत: पितृभ्यां
त्वं तत्क्षणे पटुतमं वटुरूपमाधा: ॥५॥
puNyaashramaM tamabhivarShati puShpavarShairharShaakule
surakule kR^itatuuryaghOShe |
badhvaa(a)~njaliM jaya jayeti nutaH pitR^ibhyaaM
tvaM tatkshaNe paTutamaM vaTuruupamaadhaaH || 5 ||
All cosmic beings rejoiced and celebrated when the Lord took on his divine form. The Devas showed their happiness by blessing the Lord’s birthplace with flower petals. The air was filled with celebration as the divine music filled the air. Aditi and Kashyapa both folded their hands in prayer before singing victory hymns and paying thanks to the Lord. By transforming into a remarkable Brahmachari boy who was prepared to carry out his holy mission, the Lord made his divine purpose clear. The divine act of cosmic birth caused the Lord to immediately assume the form that would enable him to accomplish his mission in the world. Instead of demonstrating a person’s physical strength, the Vaamana transformation demonstrated his spiritual and intellectual prowess. As the universe delivers genuine fresh starts, people on spiritual or meaningful paths should confidently embrace their transformations and missions.
तावत्प्रजापतिमुखैरुपनीय मौञ्जी-
दण्डाजिनाक्षवलयादिभिरर्च्यमान: ।
देदीप्यमानवपुरीश कृताग्निकार्य-
स्त्वं प्रास्थिथा बलिगृहं प्रकृताश्वमेधम् ॥६॥
taavatprajaapatimukhairupaniiya mau~njiidaN
DaajinaakshavalayaadibhirarchyamaanaH|
dediipyamaanavapuriisha kR^itaagnikaaryastvaM
praasthithaa baligR^ihaM prakR^itaashvamedham || 6 ||
O Lord of the Universe! Following Your divine appearance, You were formally introduced to Brahmacharya by the world’s great sages and leaders, including Prajāpatis. They placed on you the traditional vedic student items, such as the sacred girdle and staff, as well as the rosary, armlets, and deer skin. In that sacred form, you performed fire worship and shone with divine radiance, marking the beginning of your spiritual journey. After that, you went to King Bali’s sacrificial site, where he performed the Ashvamedha Yajña to demonstrate his regal might and control. The verse demonstrates how Lord Vishnu, the ultimate incarnation, willingly performed Vedic rites and customs while exhibiting humility, in an act that places a premium on education and traditional discipline.
गात्रेण भाविमहिमोचितगौरवं प्रा-
ग्व्यावृण्वतेव धरणीं चलयन्नायासी: ।
छत्रं परोष्मतिरणार्थमिवादधानो
दण्डं च दानवजनेष्विव सन्निधातुम् ॥७॥
gaatreNa bhaavimahimOchitagauravaM praagvyaavR^
iNvateva dharaNiiM chalayannayaasiiH |
ChatraM parOShmatiraNaarthamivaadadhaanO
daNDaM cha daanavajaneShviva sannidhaatum || 7 ||
Upon approaching King Bali’s sacrificial ground in his divine Vāmana form, the earth started to tremble because it seemed that the Lord’s future cosmic form (as Trivikrama) would be too strong for the planet to handle. The divine power which Lord would soon manifest became visible through the proud manner in which he moved. The Lord’s umbrella served as a symbol that he would shield the world from both spiritual heat and adversity. Using his staff, the Lord demonstrated his authority and humility while announcing his capacity to subdue even the formidable demon Bali. This sloka states that gentle and dignified behavior is the manifestation of true strength. People who truly change the world do not brag about their greatness; instead, they let their deeds do the talking, just like the Lord did as a little Brahmachari. The verse illustrates that truth and righteousness can be found in even the most basic forms, they retain their power despite their appearance.
तां नर्मदोत्तरतटे हयमेधशाला-
मासेदुषि त्वयि रुचा तव रुद्धनेत्रै: ।
भास्वान् किमेष दहनो नु सनत्कुमारो
योगी नु कोऽयमिति शुक्रमुखैश्शशङ्के ॥८॥
taaM narmadOttarataTe hayamedhashaalaamaaseduShi
tvayi ruchaa tava ruddhanetraiH |
bhaasvaan kimeSha dahanO nu sanatkumaarO
yOgii nu kO(a)yamiti shukramukhaiH shashanke || 8 ||
The Lord’s divine radiance caused the wise and perceptive to lose their composure in utter awe when he arrived at the northern banks of the Narmada, the site of the Ashwamedha Yajna. Due to the overwhelming brightness of the deity, the assembled priests and sages, led by Shukracharya, were unable to recognize him. The observers pondered whether the individual before them might be the Sun-god. Is it the God of fire? The divine brilliance manifested as either a remarkable yogi or the great sage Sanatkumara. In His Vāmana form, Lord Mukunda appeared before everyone, hiding His identity behind His divine splendor.
आनीतमाशु भृगुभिर्महसाऽभिभूतै-
स्त्वां रम्यरूपमसुर: पुलकावृताङ्ग: ।
भक्त्या समेत्य सुकृती परिणिज्य पादौ
तत्तोयमन्वधृत मूर्धनि तीर्थतीर्थम् ॥९॥
aaniitamaashu bhR^igubhirmahasaabhibhuutai
stvaaM ramyaruupamasuraH pulakaavR^itaangaH |
bhaktyaa sametya sukR^itii pariNijya paadau
tattOyamanvadhR^ita muurdhani tiirthatiirtham || 9 ||
Bali, the asura king, experienced ecstasy and goosebumps all over his body when he saw Your divine splendor and unparalleled beauty in Your Vāmana form. The sages of the Bhṛigu lineage were so impressed by your brilliance that they brought You before Bali right away. As a virtuous person, Bali treated You with utmost devotion and respect. After reverently washing Your sacred feet, the king placed the blessed water on his head to consecrate himself. Bali regarded that blessed water as “Thīrtham,” the most revered holy water. The verse demonstrates how humility and devotion can triumph over any influential person. Being a strong ruler did not prevent Bali from acknowledging the divine, and he bowed with sincere devotion. This teach us that respecting sacred powers is the path to ultimate greatness.
प्रह्लादवंशजतया क्रतुभिर्द्विजेषु
विश्वासतो नु तदिदं दितिजोऽपि लेभे ।
यत्ते पदाम्बु गिरिशस्य शिरोभिलाल्यं
स त्वं विभो गुरुपुरालय पालयेथा: ॥१०॥
prahlaadavamshajatayaa kratubhirdvijeShu
vishvaasatO nu tadidaM ditijO(a)pi lebhe |
yatte padaambu girishasya shirO(a)bhilaalyaM
sa tvaM vibhO gurupuraalaya paalayethaaH ||10 ||
Despite having a demon ancestry, Bali inherited Prahlada’s divine bloodline and a deep devotion to Lord Vishnu. His divine heritage and his intense devotion to Brāhmaṇas during his yajñas gave him the opportunity to wash Your feet, and your blessing resulted from both. This asura’s pious behavior and moral integrity made the water from Your feet, which Lord Śiva respectfully placed on his head, available to him. The verse shows that our true worth is established by our actions, coupled with humility and devotion, rather than by the linage of our birth. Despite being born as a demon, Bali received divine blessings from the Lord through his virtuous deeds, devotion, and service. O Guruvayoorappa! I ask for Your everlasting protection while You continue to be filled with divine grace and reside in the holy town of Guruvayoor.
Click here to read the Narayaneeyam Dhyana Slokam and immerse yourself in its divine verses, invoking peace, devotion, and spiritual enlightenment.