5 September 2025
Friday
If someone comes in the way of your sacrifice, whoever he may be, you should disown him. Emperor Bali noticed Vamana entering the Yajnashala. He welcomed him, offered him a seat with respect and said, “Swami, what is your desire that I can fulfill?” Vamana replied, “I don’t want anything else, I just want three steps of land.” Emperor Bali said, “What is this? Do you need to come all the way just for three steps of land which anybody else would have given you?” Vamana said, “I want three steps of land only from you.” Bali’s preceptor Sukracharya who was standing behind, cautioned him, “Oh king! He is not an ordinary man. Do not make the mistake of granting his request.” Then Bali said, “Is there a greater mistake than going back on one’s promise? I have already given him my word. I can disobey even my Guru, but I cannot go back on my promise.” Accordingly, Emperor Bali fulfilled his promise to Vamana. He was the embodiment of truth. He was the one who would never go back on his word. That is why the people of Kerala enshrine his memory in their heart and celebrate the festival of Onam every year.
From Swami’s discourse of 27 August 1996
If someone comes in the way of your sacrifice, whoever he may be, you should disown him. Emperor Bali noticed Vamana entering the Yajnashala. He welcomed him, offered him a seat with respect and said, “Swami, what is your desire that I can fulfill?” Vamana replied, “I don’t want anything else, I just want three steps of land.” Emperor Bali said, “What is this? Do you need to come all the way just for three steps of land which anybody else would have given you?” Vamana said, “I want three steps of land only from you.” Bali’s preceptor Sukracharya who was standing behind, cautioned him, “Oh king! He is not an ordinary man. Do not make the mistake of granting his request.” Then Bali said, “Is there a greater mistake than going back on one’s promise? I have already given him my word. I can disobey even my Guru, but I cannot go back on my promise.” Accordingly, Emperor Bali fulfilled his promise to Vamana. He was the embodiment of truth. He was the one who would never go back on his word. That is why the people of Kerala enshrine his memory in their heart and celebrate the festival of Onam every year.