Vamanas Three Steps - Humbling King Bali

Dadi: "Guddu, tonight I'll tell you one of my favorite stories - about a dwarf who became as big as the universe!"

Guddu: "A dwarf? Like in fairy tales?"

Dadi: "This dwarf was Lord Vishnu himself, come to earth as Vamana. And the story is about King Bali, who was so generous that he gave away his entire kingdom!"

Guddu: "Why would anyone do that?"

Dadi: "Bali was the grandson of Prahlad - you remember him? Through great austerities, Bali had conquered heaven itself. The gods were homeless! They begged Vishnu for help."

Guddu: "What did Vishnu do?"

Dadi: "He was born as a small brahmin boy named Vamana. Carrying an umbrella and a water pot, he walked to where Bali was performing a great sacrifice."

Guddu: "Did Bali know who he was?"

Dadi: "Bali's guru, Shukracharya, recognized Vishnu immediately! "Don't give him anything!" he warned. "This is a trap!""

Guddu: "What did Bali say?"

Dadi: ""How can I refuse a brahmin who has come to my door? My honor and my word are more important than my kingdom!" Bali asked Vamana what he wanted."

Guddu: "What did Vamana ask for?"

Dadi: "Just three paces of land - measured by his own small feet! Bali laughed. "You could ask for continents! Why just three steps?""

Guddu: "That seems like a tiny request."

Dadi: "Vamana said, "If a person cannot be satisfied with three paces, he won't be satisfied with an island." Bali agreed and poured sacred water to confirm the gift."

Guddu: "Then what happened?"

Dadi: "The moment the water touched Vamana's hand, he began to grow. First to normal size, then taller than trees, then taller than mountains..."

Guddu: "How big?"

Dadi: "His feet stood on earth while his head touched heaven! The sun and moon became his eyes. This cosmic form was called Trivikrama - the Lord of Three Strides."

Guddu: "Wow!"

Dadi: "With his first step, he covered the entire earth. With his second step, he covered all of heaven. Then he turned to Bali: "Where shall I place my third step? You still owe me one pace.""

Guddu: "There was nothing left!"

Dadi: "Bali understood now. He had been face to face with the Supreme Lord all along. He bowed his head and said, "Place your foot on my head. That is all I have left.""

Guddu: "He gave himself?"

Dadi: "Completely. And Vishnu was so pleased that he didn't punish Bali - he blessed him! He gave him lordship of a realm better than heaven and promised to guard his door personally forever."

Guddu: "So by losing everything, Bali got more?"

Dadi: "That's the secret, beta. When you surrender completely, you don't become empty - you become full. Bali gave three steps of land and received eternal divine protection."

Guddu: "It's like that saying - the more you give, the more you get?"

Dadi: "Exactly. Bali's generosity wasn't a weakness - it was his greatest strength. He could have refused, could have listened to his guru's warning. But his heart wouldn't let him turn away a guest."

Guddu: "He was a good king."

Dadi: "One of the best. Even as a demon, he showed what true dharma means. Not following rules blindly, but having a generous heart that gives without calculating."