Mahābali’s Surrender: When Ego Meets the Divine
प्रीत्या दैत्यस्तव तनुमह:प्रेक्षणात् सर्वथाऽपि
त्वामाराध्यन्नजित रचयन्नञ्जलिं सञ्जगाद ।
मत्त: किं ते समभिलषितं विप्रसूनो वद त्वं
वित्तं भक्तं भवनमवनीं वाऽपि सर्वं प्रदास्ये ॥१॥
priityaa daityastava tanumahaH prekshaNaat sarvathaa(a)pi
tvaamaaraadhyannajita rachayanna~njaliM sa~njagaada |
mattaH kiM te samabhilaShitaM viprasuunO vada tvaM
vyaktaM bhaktaM bhavanamavaniiM vaa(a)pi sarvaM pradaasye ||1||
This shloka teaches us about Bali’s unwavering devotion because, despite being a strong monarch, he willingly gives Lord Vishnu all of his belongings without question. After being mesmerized by Lord Vishnu’s divinely radiant form, the demon king Mahābali showed deep devotion to the deity. He humbly questioned, his hands folded and his heart full of reverence: “O son of a Brāhmaṇa! What do you want from me, Lord? Do you want riches or followers of my kingdom or the entire planet? I am willing to give up everything you ask me to have.
We can learn about the coexistence of genuine devotion and devotional generosity by studying Bali. The sloka demonstrates how spiritual values transcend the ego since total surrender via faith yields greater power than financial gain.
तामीक्षणां बलिगिरमुपाकर्ण्य कारुण्यपूर्णोऽ-
प्यस्योत्सेकं शमयितुमना दैत्यवंशं प्रशंसन् ।
भूमिं पादत्रयपरिमितां प्रार्थयामासिथ त्वं
सर्वं देहीति तु निगदिते कस्य हास्यं न वा स्यात् ॥२॥
taamakshiiNaaM baligiramupaakarNya kaaruNyapuurNO-
(a)pyasyOtsekaM shamayitumanaa daityavamshaM prashamsan |
bhuumiM paadatrayaparimitaaM praarthayaamaasitha tvaM
sarvaM dehiiti tu nigadite kasya haasyaM na vaa syaat ||2||
You, O Lord Mukunda, wanted to humble Bali’s arrogance, so You intervened compassionately in response to his generous declaration. After praising the Daitya lineage’s noble qualities, you asked for just three steps of land, which you would measure with your own feet. The irony here is that Bali had given everything, but requesting everything would have made everyone laugh. Since no mortal can really give anything to the infinite, this verse subtly humors the false notion of ownership. We only have temporary possession of everything; everything belongs to the Supreme One.
विश्वेशं मां त्रिपदमिह किं याचसे बालिशस्त्वं
सर्वां भूमिं वृणु किममुनेत्यालपत्त्वां स दृप्यन् ।
यस्माद्दर्पात् त्रिपदपरिपूर्त्यक्षम: क्षेपवादान्
बन्धं चासावगमदतदर्होऽपि गाढोपशान्त्यै ॥३॥
vishveshaM maaM tripadamiha kiM yaachase baalishastvaM
sarvaaM bhuumiM vR^iNu kimamunetyaalapattvaaM sa dR^ipyan |
yasmaaddarpaat tripadaparipuurtyakshamaH kshepavaadaan
bandhaM chaasaavagamadatadarhO(a)pi gaaDhOpashaantyai ||3||
After the Lord of the Universe asked for only three paces of land, the arrogant Bali mockingly challenged him and referred to Lord Jagannath as a foolish boy. The arrogant Bali teasingly asked, “Why such a small request, O foolish boy? Instead, ask for the whole Earth.” Despite his own ignorance, his inflated ego and power caused him to make fun of the Lord’s straightforward request. In spite of his honorable and deserving character, his conceit caused him to be accused and forced into bondage as he couldn’t keep up his word when Lord Ñarayana grew into a cosmic size . The incident was not meant as a punishment, but rather as a lesson in deep spiritual humility and peace. The verse illustrates how people’s pride prevents them from seeing reality or their own boundaries. Overestimating or underestimating circumstances out of ego will ultimately lead to failure or embarrassment. Self-awareness of boundaries combined with a modest commitment to all duties is the foundation of true greatness.
पादत्रय्या यदि न मुदितो विष्टपैर्नापि तुष्ये-
दित्युक्तेऽस्मिन् वरद भवते दातुकामेऽथ तोयम् ।
दैत्याचार्यस्तव खलु परीक्षार्थिन: प्रेरणात्तं
मा मा देयं हरिरयमिति व्यक्तमेवाबभाषे ॥४॥
paadatrayyaa yadi na muditO viShTapairnaapi tuShyedityukte(
a)smin varada bhavate daatukaame(a)tha tOyam |
daityaachaaryastava khalu pariikshaarthinaH preraNaattaM
maa maa deyaM harirayamiti vyaktamevaababhaaShe||4||
The Bestower of boons, Lord Govinda, requested only three paces of land from Bali, and Bali instantly agreed. The Lord’s remark that “not even the heavens will please me if I am not satisfied with the three steps” revealed the secret behind his modest request. At this crucial moment, Shukracharya, the wise preceptor of demons, intervened because he recognized Lord’s divine nature and his secret mission. Since You are Hari (Vishnu), Shukracharya cautioned Bali against making such a donation. Your will caused you to measure Bali’s detachment and test his devotion, which is why the guru tried to halt the offering.
याचत्येवं यदि स भगवान् पूर्णकामोऽस्मि सोऽहं
दास्याम्येव स्थिरमिति वदन् काव्यशप्तोऽपि दैत्य: ।
विन्ध्यावल्या निजदयितया दत्तपाद्याय तुभ्यं
चित्रं चित्रं सकलमपि स प्रार्पयत्तोयपूर्वम् ॥५॥
yaachatyevaM yadi sa bhagavaan puurNakaamO(a)smi sO(a)haM
daasyaamyeva sthiramiti vadan kaavyashaptO(a)pi daityaH |
vindhyaavalyaa nijadayitayaa dattapaadyaaya tubhyaM
chitraM chitraM sakalamapi saH praarpayattOyapuurvam ||5||
After the Supreme Lord requested three paces of land, Bali, the demon king, showed his devotion to Lord Vamana by vowing to give up all of his belongings. He remained devoted despite the curse that Shukracharya had previously placed on Bali. Water for the ritual foot washing (paadya) was provided by his adored wife Vindhyavali as he gave everything to You, O Lord. Bali performed the water ritual in total humility and surrender to You before ceding his entire kingdom and belongings. This verse exemplifies the ideal way to give selflessly and to hold fast to your faith in the face of ambiguous circumstances and opposition from others.
निस्सन्देहं दितिकुलपतौ त्वय्यशेषार्पणं तद्-
व्यातन्वाने मुमुचु:-ऋषय: सामरा: पुष्पवर्षम् ।
दिव्यं रूपं तव च तदिदं पश्यतां विश्वभाजा-
मुच्चैरुच्चैरवृधदवधीकृत्य विश्वाण्डभाण्डम् ॥६॥
nissandehaM ditikulapatau tvayyasheShaarpaNaM tat
vyaatanvaane mumuchurR^IShayaH saamaraaH puShpavarSham |
divyaM ruupaM tava cha tadidaM pashyataaM vishvabhaajaamuchchairuchchairavR^
idhadavadhiikR^itya vishvaaNDabhaaNDam ||6||
The Daitya clan ruler, Lord Bali, immediately gave up everything he owned to You, My Lord and as a result, the gods, celestial beings, and sages showered You with flowers of gratitude. All saw Your Trivikrama divine manifestation, which was the cosmic form of Vishnu, surpassing the boundaries of the cosmic sphere (Brahmāṇḍa) and transcending the universe. Everyone was able to witness Your divine manifestation in all its awe, demonstrating Your unparalleled omnipresence and supremacy.
त्वत्पादाग्रं निजपदगतं पुण्डरीकोद्भवोऽसौ
कुण्डीतोयैरसिचदपुनाद्यज्जलं विश्वलोकान् ।
हर्षोत्कर्षात् सुबहु ननृते खेचरैरुत्सवेऽस्मिन्
भेरीं निघ्नन् भुवनमचरज्जाम्बवान् भक्तिशाली ॥७॥
tvatpaadaagraM nijapadagataM puNDariikOdbhavO(a)sau
kuNDiitOyairasichadapunaadyajjalaM vishvalOkaan |
harShOtkarShaat subahu nanR^ite khecharairutsave(a)smin
bheriinnighnan bhuvanamacharajjaambavaan bhaktishaalii || 7||
Brahmaa washed Lord Achyuta’s foot with water from his kamandalu-jug as soon as the leg extended to the Satyalok realm. The holy water transformed into Aakaash Ganga cleaned every realm of existence. The Gandharvaas danced with joy in unending ecstasy. Using his drums, Jāmbavān, the divine bear-warrior, traveled the universe to inform people about this mighty divine event.
तावद्दैत्यास्त्वनुमतिमृते भर्तुरारब्धयुद्धा
देवोपेतैर्भवदनुचरैस्सङ्गता भङ्गमापन् ।
कालात्माऽयं वसति पुरतो यद्वशात् प्राग्जिता: स्म:
किं वो युद्धैरिति बलिगिरा तेऽथ पातालमापु: ॥८॥
taavaddaityaastvanumatimR^ite bharturaarabdhayuddhaaH
devOpetairbhavadanucharaissangataa bhangamaapan |
kaalaatmaa(a)yaM vasati puratO yadvashaat praagjitaaH smaH
kiM vO yuddhairiti baligiraa te(a)tha paataalamaapuH ||8||
Without Bali’s permission, Viṣṇu’s retinue and the accompanying Devas were attacked by the Asuras during the Trivikrama expansion of Vāmana’s incarnation. Those who had questioned the divine power were vanquished by the Lord’s divine entourage. Before they started to rebel, Bali warned them as he understood their desperate position in relation to divine fate. He said
“The ultimate force that has rendered us once-victory beings powerless is the Supreme Being Kāla (Time). Right now, there is no practical reason to engage in combat.”
After accepting their fate, the vanquished daityas accepted Bali’s wisdom and withdrew to the netherworld Pātāla. The text illustrates the futility of attempting to resist divine destiny. There are times in life when a peaceful surrender is preferable to a persistent fight. Knowing when to take action and when to relinquish control is the key to discovering true understanding.
पाशैर्बद्धं पतगपतिना दैत्यमुच्चैरवादी-
स्तार्त्तीयीकं दिश मम पदं किं न विश्वेश्वरोऽसि ।
पादं मूर्ध्नि प्रणय भगवन्नित्यकम्पं वदन्तं
प्रह्लाद्स्तं स्वयमुपगतो मानयन्नस्तवीत्त्वाम् ॥९॥
paashairbaddhaM patagapatinaa daityamuchchairavaadii
staarttiiyiikaM disha mama padaM kiM na vishveshvarO(a)si |
paadaM muurdhni praNaya bhagavannityakampaM vadantaM
prahlaadastaM svayamupagatO maanayannastaviittvaam ||9||
Bali was restrained by Garuda’s noose, and the king, unable to move, continued to speak boldly and fearlessly to Garuda. To the Lord, he said:
“O Lord of the universe! In response to your request for three steps of land, I have given up all of my land. Given that you got all the land I could give you, why would you be reluctant to take your last step on my head? You are truly the Vishweshwara (Lord of all) so why would You not place Your final step on my head?
Prahlada walked forward to greet Bali before he praised your divine acts while expressing admiration for Your divine nature. Before thanking You for Your divine acts and Your gracious nature, Prahlāda, Bali’s pious grandfather and ardent devotee of Vishnu, went to honor Bali.
दर्पोच्छित्त्यै विहितमखिलं दैत्य सिद्धोऽसि पुण्यै-
र्लोकस्तेऽस्तु त्रिदिवविजयी वासवत्वं च पश्चात् ।
मत्सायुज्यं भज च पुनरित्यन्वगृह्णा बलिं तं
विप्रैस्सन्तानितमखवर: पाहि वातालयेश ॥१०॥
darpOchChittyai vihitamakhilaM daitya siddhO(a)si puNyairlOkaste(
a)stu tridivavijayii vaasavatvaM cha pashchaat |
matsaayujyaM bhaja cha punarityanvagR^ihNaabaliM taM
vipraissantaanitamakhavaraH paahi vaataalayesha ||10॥
O Guruvayurappa! You told the asura king Bali that everything that had happened had been done to destroy his pride. Bali’s accomplishments resulted in perfect enlightenment (siddhi) due to his good deeds. Lord said, after achieving a heavenly realm, he will rise to the rank of Indra and ultimately become merge with the Supreme one. Lord gave him these blessings as Brahmins fulfilled his spiritual journey by completing the sacrificial rite.
Click here to read the Narayaneeyam Dhyana Slokam and immerse yourself in its divine verses, invoking peace, devotion, and spiritual enlightenment.