NARAYANEEYAM DASAKAM - 31 - MAHABALI GARVASAMANAM

Dasakam - 31 - Mahabali Garvasamanam

Mahabali attracted by the Lord's luster, did the welcoming rituals and offered him seat. He then requested Vamana with folded hands as to what he desires to have, wealth or house or food or land or all the above. Vamana, hearing Bali's words was moved with compassion, praised the asura clan with sweet words and with intention of removing his pride, asked for three steps of land, measured with his foot. 

Mahabali was taken aback by this and asked Vamana, why he is asking so less, when Mahabali who is conqueror of three worlds can even give him, the entire earth. Thus his pride got exposed. He was completely unaware that he will not be even able to fulfill three foot land in the end. Though Mahabali, a true devotee of Lord did not deserve this, Lord did this to free him from detachment.

Vamana replied that one who is not satisfied with three steps of land, will not be satisfied with anything more. Bali was about to pour water and confirm his giving, when Guru Sukracharya objected to the gifting and said that it is Lord, who has come in the Brahmin form. 

Having promised to give, Mahabali did not want to go back on his words. He told Shukracharya that if Lord himself has come, asking for land to him, then he will definitely give. Shukracharya cursed Mahabali for refusing to listen to him. Mahabali's wife Vindhyavaali took the pot of water to pour and confirm the gift. 

Doubtlessly, Mahabali was best in Diti's descent, who gave everything to Lord as per his promise without any hesitation. As the water was poured, divine sages and Gods showered flowers on the Lord. Vamana immediately grew to a giant size spanning the entire cosmos and beyond with his feet until it touched satyalokha, Brahma's abode, covering the two steps. Brahma washed Lord's feet with water in his kamandala, which then fell as Akaasha ganga purifying the entire universe. Gandharvas danced in ecstasy and the great devotee of Lord, the Jaambhavan went around the world, beating his drum.

Asuras learning that Lord has come as trivikrama and taken away everything from Mahabali, inorder to protect and restore power to devas, started to fight with devas without Mahabali's permission. But they were killed by Lord's emissaries and so Bali instructed them not to fight anymore as the Time-incarnate (Lord) who gave him the power to conquer the three worlds, has now become against their clan. There is no use in fighting further and asked the Asuras to go to paatala loka. 

Garuda tied Bali with ropes and brought him before the Lord. Lord questioned Bali where he can keep his third step. Bali with all humility, requested Lord to keep the foot on his head. Grandfather Prahalada came to Bali's side and praised him with hymns at his humble act. 

Lord happy with Mahabali, told him that all this was done only to destroy his pride. He will get to rule Sutala world which is more superior than even Indraloka. At the next Manvantra, He would attain the position of Indra and ultimately merge with Lord himself. With the help of Brahmin priests, Lord helped the Vishavajit yagnya of Mahabali to get completed.

Bhattathiri prayed to Lord Guruvayoorappan, who removed Mahabali's pride and gave salvation to protect everyone in this world.

PS: After blessing Mahabali with Sutala loka, Lord himself went there and stood as a watch man at his palace gate. Even though Mahabali was an asura, Lord was attracted to him because he was a humble devotee. - From the explanation of Sengalipuram Brahmasri AnanthaRama Dikshithar.

Lyrics of Dasakam 31

प्रीत्या दैत्य:-तव तनुमह: प्रेक्षणात् सर्वथाऽपि

त्वामाराध्यन् अजित रचयन्-अञ्जलिं सञ्जगाद ।

मत्त: किं ते समभिलषितं विप्रसूनो वद त्वं

वित्तं भक्तं भवनम् अवनीम् वाऽपि सर्वं प्रदास्ये ॥१॥

priityaa daitya: tava tanumaha: prekshaNaat sarvathaa(a)pi

tvaamaaraadhyann ajita rachayann a~njaliM sa~njagaada |

matta: kiM te samabhilaShitaM viprasuunO vada tvaM

vittaM bhaktaM bhavanam avaniiM vaa(a)pi sarvaM pradaasye || 1 ||

ताम्-अक्षीणां बलिगिरम् उपाकर्ण्य कारुण्यपूर्णोऽपि

अस्योत्सेकं शमयितुमना दैत्यवंशं प्रशंसन् ।

भूमिं पादत्रय परिमितां प्रार्थयामासिथ त्वं

सर्वं देहीति तु निगदिते कस्य हास्यं न वा स्यात् ॥२॥

taam akshiiNaaM baligiram upaakarNya kaaruNyapuurNOpi

asyOtsekaM shamayitumanaa daityavamshaM prashamsan |

bhuumiM paadatraya parimitaaM praarthayaamaasitha tvaM

sarvaM dehiiti tu nigadite kasya haasyaM na vaa syaat || 2 ||

विश्वेशं मां त्रिपदमिह किं याचसे बालिशस्त्वं

सर्वां भूमिं वृणु किम्-अमुनेति आलपत्-त्वां स दृप्यन्

यस्मात्-दर्पात् त्रिपद परिपूर्त्यक्षम: क्षेपवादान्

बन्धं चासौ अगमत् अतदर्होऽपि गाढो पशान्त्यै ॥३॥

vishveshaM maaM tripadamiha kiM yaachase baalishastvaM

sarvaaM bhuumiM vR^iNu kim amuneti aalapat-tvaaM sa dR^ipyan |

yasmaat-darpaat tripada paripuurtyakshama: kshepavaadaan

bandhaM chaasov agamat atadarhO(a)pi gaaDhOpashaantyai || 3 ||

पादत्रय्या यदि न मुदितो विष्टपैर्नापि तुष्येत्

इत्युक्तेऽस्मिन् वरद भवते दातुकामेऽथ तोयम् ।

दैत्याचार्य: तव खलु परीक्षार्थिन: प्रेरणात्तं

मा मा देयं हरिरयमिति व्यक्तमेवा बभाषे ॥४॥

paadatrayyaa yadi na muditO viShTapairnaapi tuShyet

ityukte(a)smin varada bhavate daatukaame(a)tha tOyam |

daityaachaarya: tava khalu pariikshaarthina: preraNaattaM

maa maa deyaM harirayamiti vyaktamevaa babhaaShe|| 4 ||

याचत्येवं यदि स भगवान् पूर्णकामोऽस्मि सोऽहं

दास्याम्येव स्थिरमिति वदन् काव्य शप्तोऽपि दैत्य: ।

विन्ध्यावल्या निजदयितया दत्त पाद्याय तुभ्यं

चित्रं चित्रं सकलमपि स प्रार्पयत्-तोय-पूर्वम् ॥५॥

yaachatyevaM yadi sa bhagavaan puurNakaamO(a)smi sO(a)haM

daasyaamyeva sthiramiti vadan kaavya shaptO(a)pi daitya: |

vindhyaavalyaa nijadayitayaa datta paadyaaya tubhyaM

chitraM chitraM sakalamapi sa praarpayat-tOya-puurvam || 5

निस्सन्देहं दितिकुलपतौ त्वय्यशेषार्पणं तत्

व्यातन्वाने मुमुचु:-ऋषय: सामरा: पुष्पवर्षम् ।

दिव्यं रूपं तव च तदिदं पश्यतां विश्वभाजाम्

उच्चैरुच्चै: अवृधत् अवधी कृत्य विश्वाण्ड भाण्डम् ॥६॥

nissandehaM ditikulapatau tvayyasheShaarpaNaM tat

vyaatanvaane mumuchu: R^IShaya: saamaraa: puShpavarSham |

divyaM ruupaM tava cha tadidaM pashyataaM vishvabhaajaam

uchchairuchchai: avR^idhat avadhii kR^itya vishvaaNDa bhaaNDam || 6 ||

त्वत्पादाग्रं निजपदगतं पुण्डरीकोद्भवोऽसौ

कुण्डीतोयै: असिचत् अपुनात् यज्जलं विश्वलोकान् ।

हर्षोत्कर्षात् सुबहु ननृते खेचरै: उत्सवेऽस्मिन्

भेरीं निघ्नन् भुवनम् अचरत्-जाम्बवान् भक्तिशाली ॥७॥

tvatpaadaagraM nijapadagataM puNDariikOdbhavO(a)sow

kuNDiitOyai: asichat apunaat yajjalaM vishvalOkaan |

harShOtkarShaat subahu nanR^ite khecharai: utsave(a)smin

bheriin nighnan bhuvanam acharat Jaambavaan bhaktishaalii || 7 ||

तावद्दैत्या: त्वनु-मतिमृते भर्तुरारब्धयुद्धा:

देवोपेतै: भवदनुचरै: सङ्गता: भङ्गमापन् ।

कालात्माऽयं वसति पुरतो यद्वशात् प्राग्जिता: स्म:

किं वो युद्धै: इति बलिगिरा तेऽथ पापातालम्-आपु: ॥८॥

taavaddaityaa: tvanu-matimR^ite bharturaarabdha-yuddhaa:

devOpetai; bhavadanucharai: sangataa bhangamaapan |

kaalaatmaa(a)yaM vasati puratO yadvashaat praagjitaa: sma:

kiM vO yuddhai: iti baligiraa te(a)tha paataalamaapu: || 8 ||

पाशैर्बद्धं पतगपतिना दैत्यमुच्चैरवादी:

तार्त्तीयीकं दिश मम पदं किं न विश्वेश्वरोऽसि ।

पादं मूर्ध्नि प्रणय भगवन् इत्यकम्पं वदन्तं

प्रह्लाद्स्तं स्वयम्-उपगतो मानयन्-अस्तवीत्त्वाम् ॥९॥

paashairbaddhaM patagapatinaa daityamuchchairavaadii:

taarttiiyiikaM disha mama padaM kiM na vishveshvarO(a)si |

paadaM muurdhni praNaya bhagavann ityakampaM vadantaM

prahlaadastaM svayam-upagatO maanayann-astaviittvaam || 9 ||

दर्पोच्छित्त्यै विहितम् अखिलं दैत्य सिद्धोऽसि पुण्यै:

र्लोकस्तेऽस्तु त्रिदिव विजयी वासवत्वं च पश्चात् ।

मत्सायुज्यं भज च पुन: इत्यन्वगृह्णा बलिं तं

विप्रै: सन्तानित-मखवर: पाहि वातालयेश ॥१०॥

darpOchChittyai vihitam akhilaM daitya siddhO(a)si puNyai:

lOkaste(a)stu tridiva vijayii vaasavatvaM cha pashchaat |

matsaayujyaM bhaja cha puna: ityanvagR^ihNaa baliM taM

viprai: santaanita-makhavara: paahi vaataalayesha ||10 ||

--------Sri Krishnarpanam-------