King Bali and challenge with Vamana avatar

[paul linus]

Bali was a powerful asura king. He was performing a sacrifice that would make him invincible. Before he could complete it Vamana appeared and asked for land that he could cover in three steps. Shukracharya, the preceptor of the demons, warned Bali against accepting this request. However the proud king said how much land can the dwarf cover in three steps and agreed. The dwarf then grew in size and covered the earth in one step, the heavens in the next and placed the third step on King Bali's head and pushed him into the netherworld. But before doing so he lauded Bali’s valor and strength of character and gave him advice, which has come down to us as the Vamana Purana.