Bali’s Humility and Trivikrama’s Third Step: Divine Grace

As Vamana began to take his steps, his body expanded to cosmic proportions. He grew so tall that his head reached the heavens, and his feet touched the farthest ends of the universe. This form of Vishnu is known as Trivikrama, the conqueror of the three worlds.

In his first step, Vamana covered the entire earth. His foot spanned continents, mountains, and oceans, leaving no part of the land uncovered.

In his second step, Vamana stretched across the heavens. His foot reached the highest realms of the gods, including Indraloka, which Bali had conquered. The gods who had been displaced from their heavenly abode watched in awe as Vamana restored their realms.

But now, Vamana had no space left for his third step. He turned to Bali, whose eyes were wide with realization, and asked, “O great king, where shall I place my third step? I have covered the earth and the heavens. There is no space left.”

Bali, recognizing that he had been humbled by the divine, smiled and bowed before Vamana. “O Lord, place your third step upon my head,” Bali offered.

Vamana, pleased with Bali’s humility, placed his foot gently on the king’s head. In that moment, Bali was sent to the Patala Loka (the netherworld), but not as a punishment. Vishnu, pleased with Bali’s devotion and integrity, granted him sovereignty over the netherworld and gave him immortality. Bali was also promised that he would one day rise again as Indra, the king of the gods, in a future age.

Thus, even though Bali lost his rule over the heavens, he gained the eternal grace of Vishnu, and his generosity was immortalized in legend.

Moral: Humility in the face of defeat brings divine grace, and even in loss, there can be great reward.