Daily Devotion -Mar 9, 2026 (English)- Beyond Logic
God once descended on earth as Vāman. Prahlād was the son of Hiranyakashyap. Prahlād's son was Virochan, and Virochan's son was King Bali.
Although Bali was born in a demonic lineage, he surpassed even the greatest philanthropists in generosity. He was such an extraordinary donor that no one who came to his court as a supplicant ever returned empty-handed. By the power of his charity, even the celestial gods - such as Indra, Varun, Kuber, Yamraj, Surya, and Chandra - were influenced by him and sought his favor. He ruled over all three realms: Swarg (heaven), Mrityulok (the earthly realm), and Pātāl Lok (the netherworld).
However, although King Bali possessed the great virtue of generosity, his actions still reflected his demonic nature. His demonic followers would not allow anyone to perform yajna, charity, vows, or any other Vedic rituals. If someone was caught performing 'sandhya vandan,' they would be beheaded. Because of this, Bali had become a thorn in the eyes of the Lord.
Lord Vāman appeared in the form of a young brahmachari and was only fifty-two angulas tall (about three feet). In this form, He approached Bali to ask for charity. Seeing Him, King Bali thought, "This is just a small Brahmin boy. What could he possibly ask for? He will probably request something very small."
Vāman said, "O King, I too have come to ask for charity."
Bali replied, "Ask, my child. Ask for whatever you desire."
Vāman then said, "I need to perform sandhya worship and other rituals. For that, I require three paces of land in your kingdom - three steps long and three steps wide."
Hearing this, Bali burst out laughing and said, "Never before has anyone come to my court asking for such a small gift!" Then he added, "Very well. I have authority over Swarg and Mrityulok. You want only three paces of land - take it wherever you like."
Shukracharya was Bali's guru. As the guru of the demons, he possessed all the mystical powers, including the siddhis such as aṇimā, laghimā, and garimā. He immediately realized that God Himself had appeared in the form of Vāman. However, the remarkable thing was that despite having the ability to recognize God, his intellect remained demonic. He tried to dissuade Bali from giving the charity, saying, "This is God. With just three steps, He will measure your entire kingdom."
Bali understood that Shukracharya could not be wrong, yet he still felt compelled to give the charity. He chose not to follow his guru's advice because he thought, "Until today, I have never turned away anyone who came to me for charity. If I refuse now, all the charities I have given so far will lose their value. People will say, 'How can someone be called a great donor if he cannot even give three paces of land?'" Moreover, it seemed to him that God Himself had come to his door as a beggar. How could he possibly refuse such a request? Many poets have expressed this idea in dohas:
rahimana ve nara mara cuke, je kahum̐ mām̐gana jāhiṁ।
unate pahile ve mue, jina mukha nikasata nāhiṁ॥
rahimana yācakatā gahe, baḍe choṭa hoi jāta।
nārāyaṇa hūm̐ ko bhayo, bāvana aṁgura gāta॥
Begging is such an act that it makes even the self-respecting appear small. God is infinitely great, yet when He came to beg, He appeared as a small boy only fifty-two angulas tall. Therefore, Bali said to Shukracharya, "I will give the charity."
In Vedic rituals performed before giving charity, water is offered while making the vow. Accordingly, Bali began to pour water from a vessel as the mantras of the vow were recited. At that moment, Shukracharya secretly entered the spout of the vessel from which the water was supposed to flow and blocked it. He thought, "My disciple is foolish and will not listen to me. When he tries to complete the vow by offering water, I will prevent the water from coming out." When the water did not flow, Lord Vāman immediately understood that Shukracharya was causing the obstruction. He picked up a straw and said to Bali, "Some dirt seems to be blocking the spout. Let me clean it." When He inserted the straw into the vessel, it pierced Shukracharya's eye. Thus, Shukracharya became blind in one eye, and the water began to flow out, mixed with blood. In this way, Bali completed the act of charity.
Now the Lord began His divine play. He started growing taller and taller, expanding into an immense form that pierced through Swarg and reached Golok. As His form expanded, His feet also became proportionally vast. Then He said, "Bali, look - I am about to measure the three paces of land you promised. With this first step, I have measured the entire Mrityulok."
Bali replied, "Yes, my Lord, I accept it."
Then Vāman said, "With the second step, I measure your Swarglok." Bali again accepted.
After this, Vāman said, "You promised to give Me three paces of land. But with just two steps, I have already measured your entire dominion up to the heavens. Now tell Me - where shall I place My third step?"
Shukracharya said to Bali, "Fool! I warned you from the beginning. Now tell me, what will you do? What will you give Him?"
Bali replied, "I will give, Gurudev. I will give."
Then he stood before Vāman and said, "My Lord, I still have my body. Please place Your third step upon my head." In this way, he surrendered completely. After this, God bound Bali and sent him to rule in Pātāl Lok. Bali then said, "Maharaj, I have given charity. Should I not receive some blessing in return?" Vāman replied, "Yes, you will receive a blessing. However many gates your palace has, you will find Me standing at each one." Bali exclaimed with joy, "In all of creation there has never been such a saintly fortune - to see Shri Krishna standing at every gate of one's palace. What extraordinary grace has come to me!"
After narrating this episode, Shri Maharaj Ji addresses Shri Krishna in the kirtan and says, "Maharaj, once You appeared as Vāman and deceived Bali, binding him and sending him to Pātāl Lok. Do You remember that?"
Shri Krishna replies, "Yes, I remember."
Then Shri Maharaj Ji asks Him, "During that same incarnation, did You also dance with the Gopis?"
But Vāman is a brahmachari (a celibate brahmin). He considers even looking at a woman to be improper. So how could He possibly dance with the Gopis? That would appear to be contradictory.
Recommended books by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj related to this topic:
