Three Steps That Covered Everything

He came as a small boy and asked for just three steps of land. The first step covered the earth. The second covered the sky.

King Bali was a kind and powerful demon king who had won everything, even the heavens. To gently restore balance, Vishnu came to his great yajna as a tiny brahmin boy named Vamana and asked for just three small steps of land. King Bali laughed and gave the gift. Then the little boy began to grow, and grew, and grew, until two of his giant steps covered the whole universe. Where would the third step go? Bali bowed his head and offered it himself. That bow turned a defeated king into one of the most beloved figures in Bharat.

A Demon King Who Was Loved

Long ago, there was a king named Bali. He was a demon king, an asura. But not the bad kind of demon. Not at all.

Bali was kind. He was wise. He was generous. He treated his people like family. There was no hunger in his kingdom. There were no thieves. There were no beggars at the gates. The crops grew tall, the rivers ran sweet, and the children laughed everywhere.

The people loved him. They sang songs about him in every village.

Bali was also very, very strong. Through years of meditation and great deeds, he had grown so powerful that he had defeated even Indra, the king of the gods. He had taken over the heavens. The gods had been pushed out of their own home.

Now you might think, "That sounds bad. The demons taking over heaven?" But here is the strange part. Bali ruled even the heavens with the same kindness he showed the earth. He was, by far, the best ruler the universe had ever seen.

There was only one small problem.

The gods needed to come home.

A Worried Mother

Up in the high palaces of the heavens, the goddess Aditi, the mother of all the gods, was sitting and crying. Her son Indra was in hiding. Her other children had nowhere to go. The houses they had built were now full of demons.

She prayed to her favourite god of all, Vishnu.

"O Vishnu, please. King Bali is a good king. I do not want him hurt. I do not want a war. I just want my children to come home. Please find a way that does not break anyone's heart."

Vishnu listened.

He thought for a long time. He could have sent a great army. He could have come down with his thunder mace and broken Bali's throne. He could have, but he did not want to. Because Bali was a good king, and Vishnu does not crush good kings.