Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.3793

c9.3793

Though he was cursed, he did not deviate from the path of truth. He gave the promised ground to Vāmana by pouring water with the water brought in golden pot by his queen Vindhyāvali. The names, Aśanā and Koṭarā also are used in the Purāṇas for Vindhyāvali the wife of Mahābali. She came out for the purpose wearing golden ornaments. Mahābali himself washed the feet of Vāmana, who instantly began to grow and became large beyond imagination. Everybody on the spot was amazed at the unimaginable bigness of Vāmana. On that huge figure, Mahābali saw the priest, the performers of sacrificial rites, the sacrificial hall, the universe, the elements, the qualities the senses, the mind, the individual spirits, and at the feet of the figure the world Rasātala. He saw the earth on its feet, mountains below the knees, birds on its knees, the Maruts on its thighs, evening on its clothes, the Prajāpatis on its privities, the noble and mighty asuras on its loins, the sky on its navel, the oceans on its stomach, Dharma (duty) in its heart, rightness and truth on its breasts, Mahālakṣmī holding lotus on its chest, songs of Sāman and all other voices in its neck, all the gods beginning with Indra on its hands, the points (directions) on its ears, the ether on its head, the clouds on its hair, breaths in its nose, the sun in its eyes, fire on its face, the Vedas in its words, Varuṇa in its tongue, day and night agreement and disagreement in its winking and anger on its forehead. In its touch there was desire, in its radiance there was water, in its buttocks lawlessness, sacrifice in its steps, death in its shadow, illusion in its laugh, medicines in its hairs, rivers in its veins, stones in its nails, Brahmā in its intelligence, hermits, devas etc. in its life-breaths. Thus the figure was seen by Mahābali. Vāmana had trodden on the whole of the earth, which was completely under the control of Mahābali, with one foot, filled the whole of the sky with his large body and the four points were filled with his hands. The second step was put on Maharloka, Janaloka and Tapoloka (three worlds). No spot was left in the universe for a third step.