The
fourth lineal descendant of Hiranyakashyap named Bali through his devotion and
penance extended his authority over the three works. Once when the king was
making a great religious offering, Lord Vishnu in the Dwarf Avatar of Vaman
appeared before him. Bali was extremely pleased to see a holy man with such a
diminutive form and promised to give him whatever he should ask. Vaman askedonly
for as much land as he could measure by three steps. Bali laughingly agreed.
Lord Vishnu as dwarf stepped over heaven in first stride and earth in the
second stride. Then out of respect of Bali's kindness and his grandfather
Prahlad's great virtues, Lord Vishnu stopped short and left him in pathal.
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