The Purana Index v2.c7.s5.164

v2.c7.s5.164

Indra on the advice of Hari-Ajita sought an alliance with him and it was concluded, they also agreed to churn the ocean in a co-operative spirit, got exhausted in the Amṛtamathana, appropriated Uccaiśravas which came out of the Amṛtamathana, in the Devāsura war following the Amṛtamathana, Bali became the commander and was riding in an aerial car with the Asuras, finding it difficult to fight Indra and the Gods openly he took to illusory methods by resorting to creating fire storms rains etc, encouraged by Hari's presence, Indra again called him to battle and Bali fell down unconscious after a strenuous fight, taken to Aṣṭagiri where by Sañjīvinī Vidyā, Śukra brought him back to life, the Bhṛgu Brahmanas aided him in the completion of his Viśvajit sacrifice and anointed him with mahābhiṣeka, receiving gifts from all quarters Bali marched to the city of Indra on a chariot given by Bhṛgu and besieged it, on Indra and the Gods vacating the city on the advice of Bṛhaspati Bali took possession of it and performed 100 Aśvamedhas with the aid of the Bhṛgu Brahmanas,² once Bali was engaged in performing the Asvamedha in the Bhṛgukaccha on the northern bank of the Narmada Tither came the Vāmana Hari in the form of a dwarf and Brahmacārin, whom Bali welcomed and requested to accept some gift pleased with his speech Vāmana asked for 3 feet of ground, and though Bali offered to give more he declined it, Śukra knew that he was Hari and dissuaded Bali from agreeing to his request, Bali's resolve to keep his word resulting in his being cursed by Śukra to lose all Śrī, gift to Vamana helped by his wife Vindhyāvalī, Vāmana's viśvarūpa and his measuring the Earth and Heaven by two feet; seeing the Asuras beaten by Hari's attendants, Bali asked them not to fight, knowing Hari's mind, Garuda bound Bali with Varuna's cords, on the sutya day of the sacrifice Bali thought of Prahlāda, asked by Vāmana to show room for placing his third foot, Bali was unable to find any space except his head and, was doomed to hell, Bali's prayer to Hari, Prahlāda's arrival and prayer to the Lord, appeal of Vindyāvali and Brahmā, humbled by Vāmana, blessed by Hari to be the Indra of the Sāvarni epoch and in the meantime king of Sutala, attained permanent fame 4