Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 8 Chapter 15:1-12

Book 8: Chapter 15

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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 8: Chapter 15: Verses 1-12
Conquest of heaven by Bali

The king (Pariksit) submitted: (Himself) being the almighty Lord, wherefore did Sri Hari ask, like a miserable person, three paces of land of the demon Bali? (And) why did He bind him even though He had attained the object sought for (by Him)? This we desire to know (from you); for the very fact that the Lord of sacrifices, who is perfect (in Himself), should have asked something of Bali and then bound the innocent demon is a great wonder to us. Sri Suka replied: Since Bali, who had been worsted (in battle) and (thus) divested of (his royal) splendour (nay,) even deprived of (his) life by Indra, O Pariksit, was brought back to fife by the Bhrgus (Sukracarya and other descendants of the sage Bhrgu), that high-souled demon, their disciple, served the Bhrgus with all his being by offering (them) all that they desired. Having consecrated him with a grand ablution (appropriate to Indra) conducted with due ceremony (as laid down in the Bahvrca Brahmana of the Rgveda), those Brahmanas of the Bhrgu race, (who were all) possessed of extraordinary power and favourably disposed (towards their disciple), helped him propitiate the Lord by means of a Viswajit sacrifice (in the course of which one is required to give away all one's possessions), anxious as he was to conquer (the dominion of) heaven.

Thereupon arose from the fire, worshipped by means of sacrificial offerings, a chariot covered all over with plates of gold as well as horses of the same colour as those of Indra (viz,green) and an ensign adorned with the emblem of a lion, also an ethereal bow plated with gold, a pair of quivers containing an inexhaustible stock of arrows and an ethereal coat of mail (too). Again, his grandfather (Prahrada) gave him a wreath of never-fading flowers and Sukra (his preceptor), a conch. Thus equipped with the necessaries of war procured (for him) by the Brahmanas (the Bhrgus) and having the (necessary) auspicious rites performed (for him) by them, Bali forthwith went round the Brahmanas keeping them (always) to his right (as a mark of respect); and, having bowed low to them, he asked leave of Prahrada and saluted him. Presently mounting the ethereal chariot bestowed (on him through the sacrifice) by the Bhrgus, Bali (the great car-warrior) wore the excellent garland (offered to him by Prahrada); and putting on the armour, he then armed himself with a bow and sword and (further) equipped himself with a quiver. Mounted on the chariot with His arms resplendent with gold armlets, and adorned with radiant alligator-shaped ear-rings, he shone like a fire burning in the sacrificial pit. Surrounded by his own retinue in the person of Daitya generals- generals who were equal to him in wealth, strength and splendour and were drinking in the sky and burning the quarters as it were with their eyes-and leading a huge army of the Asuras, the powerful Bali marched against the most prosperous capital of Indra (in heaven), shaking as it were earth and heaven (both). The city looked charming with (its) splendid orchards and gardens, such as Nandana, crowded with warbling pairs of birds and black bees humming in intoxication, and full of celestial trees whose boughs were overloaded with leaves, fruits and flowers.

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