Possession of worldly objects and wealth entails their enjoyment; but the irony in this is the perennial discontent rather than contentment that curbs this enjoyment. Also, worldly prosperity easily affects even those who are well learned and established in self control to succumb to pride and arrogance that doom one to a state of spiritual blindness.
Such profound truths and wisdom necessary for human behaviour and character emerge when the Lord enacts a drama to divest Bali of his pride in his wealth and possessions. The Lord as Vamana speaks of exercising restraint over desires and opting to remain content with what one gets by chance and says that He wants nothing more than the three feet of ground. He adds that even if the three worlds are offered to a covetous Brahmin, it is very likely that he will still be desirous of more. Is not history replete with this truth when great rulers who have ruled the seven worlds with wealth and pleasure have not been content and have continued to desire for more and more? It is also true that through God’s grace alone many have remained free of pride in spite of being in favourable conditions, as in the case of the devout Dhruva, Prahlada and others.
Bali is also such a recipient for though warned by Sukracharya that he would bring about his own downfall by offering what Vamana asks since He is the very Lord, Bali overrules the acharya. Bali does not mind losing all his wealth in this rightful manner when he is fortunate to offer the very Lord. Bali remains firm in his vow of truth and does not break his promise even in the face of total downfall and persecution. The Lord as Trivikrama hails Bali who does not succumb to His Maya that is most difficult to cross.
Such profound truths and wisdom necessary for human behaviour and character emerge when the Lord enacts a drama to divest Bali of his pride in his wealth and possessions. The Lord as Vamana speaks of exercising restraint over desires and opting to remain content with what one gets by chance and says that He wants nothing more than the three feet of ground. He adds that even if the three worlds are offered to a covetous Brahmin, it is very likely that he will still be desirous of more. Is not history replete with this truth when great rulers who have ruled the seven worlds with wealth and pleasure have not been content and have continued to desire for more and more? It is also true that through God’s grace alone many have remained free of pride in spite of being in favourable conditions, as in the case of the devout Dhruva, Prahlada and others.
Bali is also such a recipient for though warned by Sukracharya that he would bring about his own downfall by offering what Vamana asks since He is the very Lord, Bali overrules the acharya. Bali does not mind losing all his wealth in this rightful manner when he is fortunate to offer the very Lord. Bali remains firm in his vow of truth and does not break his promise even in the face of total downfall and persecution. The Lord as Trivikrama hails Bali who does not succumb to His Maya that is most difficult to cross.
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