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Harivaṃśa
227. The beginning of the dwarf incarnation: Bali becomes king
VAISHAMPAYANA said:—I have thus described to you the Man-lion incarnation. I will now describe the dwarf in carnation. Formerly the powerful Vishnu, assuming the form of a dwarf,
occupied the kingdom of the three worlds with three footsteps in the sacrifice of the powerful Bali. Having released the earth he conferred it on the king of the celestials (1–3).
Kashyapa, the well-dressed son of Marichi, espoused two sisters of Prajapati, Diti and Aditi. The great Kashyapa begat on Aditi the twelve classes of the celestials, Dhātā, Aryamā, Mitra, Varuna, Angsha, Bhaga, Indra, Vivashwān, Pusha, Parjanya, Twasthā and Vishnu.
He began on Diti the powerful Hiranyakashipu. The Daitya-chief Hiranyāksha was his younger brother. Hiranyakashipu had five highly powerful sons, namely Pralhāda, Hlāda, Sangrāda, Jambha and Anuhrāda.
Pralhāda's son was Virochana whose son was Bali. Their sons and grand-sons were all very powerful. Thousands of the descendants of these highly powerful daityas are seen all over the land.
Having seen Hiranyakashipu slain by the Man-lion the Daityas made Bali their chief for the destruction of the gods. He was heroic, powerful, pious and self-controlled like Hiranyakashipu and therefore was installed as their king by the Daityas.
They said: “O Daitya king, it is well known to you that the entire universe consisting of the three worlds, mobile and immobile, was under Hiranyakashipu.
O slayer of gods, the celestials, having killed your grand-father, have stolen the three worlds and appointed Indra as their king. Therefore, O lord, try to rescue your ancestral kingdom with our help.
May you fare well and regain your ancestral kingdom. Encircled by thousands of Asuras do you vanquish the celestials in their own region. Unlimited is your prowess and strength and by your accomplishments you have excelled even your grand-father (4-15).
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