In plain words
Because it is the place where the vision of God was attained, it came to be called Siddhāśrama. Through the influence of such an āśrama alone, the land of Kerala went on living a peaceful life. In those days the great king who was its ruler was Prahlāda's grandson. His father was Virocana. This very king was Emperor Bali. In the days of this Emperor Bali, in that kingdom, people enjoyed Ānanda in happiness and peace, with no want of any kind. He ruled the people as dear as his own life. In that land of Kerala the word "no" for those who asked did not exist. Whatever was asked, that Kerala kingdom had the power to give it gladly and with all its heart. Seeing the Bhakti and surrender of such an Emperor Bali, and wishing to test them, God comes down as an Avatāra. One who asks becomes very small. Though He was the very form of Mahāviṣṇu, He was going to look to others. So He became very short. Seeing Him come, Emperor Bali asks, "Swami! Why have You come? What do You need in my kingdom? Will You give me the chance to do You some service?" he said. "My dear! I need nothing. Give Me ground of three paces," He said. Then: "What, Swami! Having graciously come to me, You ask for three paces of land? This does not satisfy me. Whatever You need, be it diamonds, be it beryls, be it gold, whatever You ask I will give," he said. Vāmana said, "I need nothing." Beside him stood his guru, Śukrācārya. He said to Emperor Bali, "Master! You must not give your word so quickly. The one who has come is not merely a brāhmaṇa. You are deluded into thinking He is a brāhmaṇa. He is the very form of God," he said. But Bali said, "Come what may, even if the earth turns into the sky and the sky into the earth, I am not one to break my word," he said. Here there is one thing in Emperor Bali's words that we must note well. Paṇḍits may be paṇḍits, men of great learning. They may be gurus to many. But when it comes to practice, they cannot. That is why they said that devotees who practise are better than gurus who do not. "Setting aside the guru's command, I am ready to give God anything at all," he said. "You said He is the very form of God. If this Vāmana is the very form of God, I shall become supremely blessed. For when that Lord, the Paramātma Himself, comes to His servant and stretches out His hand, saying 'I want this', His hand will be below, and the hand of the giver above. That itself is my good fortune," he said. Emperor Bali was one who recognised this truth. In those days it was a time when the rains fell season after season, the crops ripened, and people passed their lives in happiness. Even now the beauty of nature gives Ānanda in Kerala alone. Many rains fall there through the year. Wherever you look, banana groves. Coconut groves. All the beauty of nature seems to spring up there. In the land of Kerala, "Beauty is Ānanda;