Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 177
Vāmana’s Advent, Aditi’s Hymn, Bali’s Gift, and the Mahatmya of Bhū-dāna
पश्येति वांदिदेशे च दर्भाग्रं शस्त्रसन्निभम् । बलिर्ददौ महाविष्णोर्महीं त्रिपदसंमिताम् ॥ ७७ ॥
paśyeti vāṃdideśe ca darbhāgraṃ śastrasannibham | balirdadau mahāviṣṇormahīṃ tripadasaṃmitām || 77 ||
Mit den Worten „Sieh!“ zeigte er die Spitze eines Darbha-Halms, scharf wie eine Waffe. Dann gewährte Bali dem Mahāviṣṇu die Erde, bemessen durch Seine drei Schritte.
Suta (narrating the Purana account; within the episode describing Bali’s donation to Vamana/Mahavishnu)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It highlights Bali’s surrender through dāna: even when confronted by Vishnu’s cosmic power (the three strides), Bali affirms dharma by honoring his gift, showing that true merit lies in steadfast truth and offering to the Supreme.
Bhakti here appears as humble submission—Bali recognizes Mahāviṣṇu’s supremacy and gives without retracting, turning an act of charity into devotion expressed as self-offering and trust in Vishnu’s will.
The mention of darbha points to ritual practice (kalpa/śrauta usage): darbha grass is employed as a purifying, sanctifying implement in yajña and dāna rites, indicating the formal Vedic context in which the gift is made.