The Story of Bali

Bali, the demon king, son of Virochana, taught earlier by his father and later guided in the assembly by his guru Shukra (Bhargava); narrated by Vasishtha to Rama.

Vasishtha tells Rama the story of Bali to illustrate discrimination through knowledge. Bali, son of Virochana, ruled the three worlds as king of the demons for ages, effortlessly conquering all realms. One day, surveying his wealth from his palace on Mount Meru, he grew disgusted with the endless repetition of daily pleasures, finding no lasting purpose in them. He recalled a question he had once put to his father Virochana about a place beyond sorrow and delusion, and his father's reply describing a silent king (the Self) served by a tireless minister (the mind) who acts without desire. Bali resolves to conquer this 'minister' by conquering himself. He sits in meditation and reasons his way to the truth that everything, himself included, is pure consciousness, so there is no real distinction of friend, enemy, or self to defend. He falls silent and motionless for a thousand years. His demon followers and his guru Shukra arrive, find him absorbed, and leave him undisturbed, predicting he will awaken enlightened. He wakes, resumes his royal duties from a settled inner state, performs a great sacrifice, and is eventually deceived and bound in the netherworld by Vishnu (as Vamana) for Indra's sake, remaining equanimous throughout. Vasishtha closes by urging Rama to gain the same discernment.

तस्मिन्नसुरदोस्तम्भधार्यमाणमहाभरे | बभूव दानवो राजा विरोचनसुतो बलिः || १७ ||

In that great burden held by the pillar of the asura's fault, Bali, the son of Virochana, became the king of the demons.

असुर के दोष के स्तंभ द्वारा धारित उस महान भार में, विरोचन के पुत्र बलि दानवों के राजा बने।

भोगादृते किमन्यत्स्यात्तद्भव्यमविनाशि यत्| एवं संचिन्तयाम्याशु दध्यौ मत्वेत्यसौ बलिः || ४१ ||

Except for enjoyment, what else could there be that is eternal and indestructible? Thus, Bali quickly pondered and concluded this.

भोग के अलावा और क्या हो सकता है जो अमर और अविनाशी हो? इस प्रकार, बलि ने शीघ्र ही यह सोचा और निष्कर्ष निकाला।

बलिनाम्नः शरीरस्य च्छिन्ने शिरसि भासुरे | चितः किं तद्भवेच्छिन्नं सर्वलोकावपूरणात् || १४ ||

If the head of the body named Bali is cut off, what happens to the consciousness that pervades the entire world?

यदि बलि नामक शरीर का सिर काट दिया जाता है, तो सम्पूर्ण जगत में व्याप्त चेतना का क्या होता है?

कुरुध्वं स्वामिकार्याणि सर्वे दानवनायकाः | बलिर्वर्षसहस्रेण समाधेर्बोधमेष्यति || १९ ||

All demon leaders, perform your duties | Bali, after a thousand years, will attain enlightenment from meditation

सभी दानव नायकों, अपने कर्तव्य करो | बलि, एक हजार वर्षों के बाद, ध्यान से जागरूकता प्राप्त करेगा

क्रममाणो बलेनात्र वञ्चयित्वा बलिं हरिः | बबन्ध पातालतले भूगेह इह वानरम् || २८ ||

Hari, moving in the form of Bali, deceived Bali and bound him in the netherworld, the earthly abode here of the monkey.

हरि, बलि के रूप में चलते हुए, बलि को धोखा देकर पाताल में बाँध दिया, यहाँ पृथ्वी पर वानर का निवास स्थान।

Read it in full

The story occupies chapters 22–29 of Book 5. Each link opens that chapter complete — Sanskrit in Devanagari and IAST, with a plain English and Hindi translation of every verse. The number under each link is its verse count.