Shloka 82
धर्मस्य बहुद्वारत्वम् — Nārada’s Audience with Indra (Śānti-parva 340)
(जटी गत्वा यज्ञसद: स्तूयमानो द्विजोत्तम । यज्ञस्तवं करिष्यामि श्रुत्वा प्रीतो भवेद् बलि: ।।
jaṭī gatvā yajñasadaḥ stūyamāno dvijottama | yajñastavaṃ kariṣyāmi śrutvā prīto bhaved baliḥ || kim icchasi vaṭo brūhīty ukto yāce mahad varam | dīyatāṃ tripadīmātram iti yāce mahāsuram || sa dadyān mayi samprītaḥ pratiṣiddhaś ca mantribhiḥ | yāvaj jalaṃ hastagataṃ tribhir vikramaṇair vṛtam || tato rājyaṃ pradāsyāmi śakrāyāmitatejase | devatāḥ sthāpayiṣyāmi svasvasthāneṣu nārada ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Prenant l’apparence d’un brahmacārin aux cheveux nattés, loué par l’assemblée, j’irai dans la salle sacrificielle de Bali et j’exalterai son sacrifice ; en l’entendant, Bali sera comblé de joie. Lorsqu’il demandera : “Jeune ascète, dis-moi — que désires-tu ?”, je solliciterai de ce puissant Asura une grande faveur : “Accorde-moi seulement la terre que l’on peut couvrir en trois pas.” Bien que ses ministres cherchent à l’en détourner, dans son allégresse il consentira — jusqu’à ce que l’eau du don soit prise en main — et alors, en trois enjambées, le tout sera enveloppé. Ensuite je rendrai le royaume à Indra, d’une splendeur sans mesure, et je rétablirai les dieux dans leurs places respectives, ô Nārada.»
(भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how dharma can operate through measured request and ritual commitment: Bali’s generosity becomes binding once the gift is ritually affirmed, and the outcome serves restoration of rightful order (the gods reinstated). It also warns that counsel and impulse contend at moments of ethical decision, yet a vowed gift carries moral weight.
A divine figure (alluding to the Vāmana/Trivikrama episode) plans to approach Bali at his sacrifice disguised as an ascetic, praise the rite, and ask for only ‘three steps’ of land. Once Bali agrees and the donation is sealed with water, the requester expands to cover everything in three strides, after which Indra’s sovereignty is restored and the gods return to their stations.