Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 8 Chapter 23:15-31

Book 8: Chapter 23

Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 8: Chapter 23: Verses 15-31 Freed from bondage, Bali enters the region of Sutala Sukra replied: How could there be any defect in the sacrificial performance of one by whom You, the Prompter of (all) actions and the Lord (the Bestower of the fruit) of sacrifices, nay, the deity presiding over sacrifices, have been propitiated with all his substance (in all devotion)? The very chanting of Your Name neutralizes all defects relating to (the correct intonation of) Mantras (sacred texts employed in a sacrifice), procedure, time and place (of sacrifices) as well as those relating to (the qualifications of) the priests (officiating at the sacrifice or receiving gifts on that occasion) or the material (or money) used. Nevertheless, since it is You who are saying so, 0 infinite Lord, I shall do Your bidding. (For) to obey Your command-this constitutes the highest good of men. Sri Suka continued : Gladly accepting in these words the behest of Sri Hari, the glorious sage Usana with the help of other Brahmana sages accomplished what was wanting in the sacrificial performance of Bali. Having thus begged the earth (as well as heaven), that had been usurped by his enemies (the demons), Lord Sri Hari, disguised as a dwarf, gave them (back) to His (elder) brother, the mighty Indra. For the gratification of the sage Kasyapa and Aditi (his wife) as well as for the welfare of all created beings Brahma, the lord of Prajapatis, together with the gods, seers, manes and the Manus (the protector of the earth) as well as with Daksa, Bhrgu, Angira and others, the sage Sanatkumara and Lord Siva (the Source of the universe) made the divine Dwarf the (suzerain) Lord of (ail) the worlds and their guardians. (Nay,) for the prosperity of all he further made Lord Vamana (the younger Brother of Indra), the custodian of the Vedas as well as of all the gods, of righteousness, wealth and fame, of (all) blessings and sacred vows, nay, of heaven and final beatitude (too), capable as He was to protect them (all). On that occasion all created being rejoiced much, O protector of human beings ! Then, permitted by Brahma (the creator), Indra along with the (other) guardians of the (different) worlds placed the divine Dwarf before him and actually took Him in a heavenly car to heaven. Having recovered (the sovereignty of) all the three worlds, Indra, whose fear was (now) gone, protected as he was by the arms of Lord Vamana (his younger Brother), was invested with supreme glory and rejoiced. Brahma, Lord Siva (the Destroyer of the universe) and Sanatkumara, sages headed by Bhrgu, O protector of men, the manes and all (other) created beings, the Siddhas and whatever (other) heavenly beings (moving about in aerial cars) there were, (all) returned each to his own sphere, celebrating the aforesaid extraordinary and most wonderful deed of Lord Visnu, and extolled Aditi (as well). All the story of Lord Visnu of wide strides, which takes away the sins of those who listen to it, has been narrated to you, O delight of your race ! The mortal who presumes to describe the fullest extent of the glory of Lord Visnu (who took long strides as aforementioned) must as well (be said to) have counted the particles of dust of the (entire) globe (which is impossible). Can any mortal (already) born or going to be born (hereafter) reach the end of the glory of that perfect Person?-so says the seer Vasistha. Whosoever hears (or recites or remembers) this story of the descent (as Vamana) of Sri Hari, the god of gods, of marvellous deeds attains the highest (divine) state. In the course of whatever religious performance, intended to propitiate the gods, the manes or any human being (such as one's own preceptor) this story will be repeatedly recited by the performers, the wise declare that performance of theirs as well-executed. Thus ends the twenty-third discourse, comprised in the story of the descent of the divine Dwarf, in Book Eight of the great and glorious Bhagavata-Purana, otherwise known as the Paramahamsa-Samhita..