Continuing chronologically with the Dashavtaar intro to Ramanand Sagar's Shri Krishna…
Vaaman Bhagwan's speech to Raja Bali (Ramanand Sagar's Shri Krishna)
These are the dialogues between Vaaman Bhagwan – Shri Vishnu's dwarf incarnation – and Bali, the noble king of the demon race. He is in the middle of completing a great sacrifice when Vaaman Bhagwan arrives at his door as a Brahmin seeking alms. Bali himself receives him and right at the outset, gets treated to a lesson on greed versus contentment. It goes like this:
Bali (after having glorified Vaaman Bhagwan's innocent and luminous form for a bit) – Ab aap aagya kijiye, hum aapki kya seva karein?
Now please command me, what service can I offer you?
Vaaman – Raajan, hum aapke dwaar par ek yaachna lekar aaye hain.
King, I've arrived at your doorstep with a request.
Bali – He brahmachaari, aapki jo ichha ho, maang lijiye. Main usse avashya poori karunga! Gaaye, sona, mani, manik, bada ghar, sampattiyon se bhare huye gaon, haathi, ghode, rath, jo ichha ho maang lijiye! Hum vachan dete hai, aapki har ichha poorn karenge!
O pure ascetic, ask for whatever you'd like. I will definitely provide it! Cows, gold, precious gems, a mansion, villages full of wealth, elephants, horses, chariots… whatever you wish for, just ask for it! I promise you, I'll fulfill each and every wish!
V – Raajan, aapne jo kaha, who aapke kul parampara ke anuroop hi hai. Jinke guru param tejasvi Shukracharya jaise shaktishaali mahatma ho, aur jinke pitamah Maharaj Prahlad jaise bhakt, aur pita Maharaj Virochan jaise param daani aur veer purush ho, unhi mein aisi vinamrata… aisi shalinta, aisi daanveerta ke gun ho sakte hain. He Asur Raj, main jaanta hoon ki aap saare jagat ke swami hain. Teenon lokon mein aisi koi vastu nahin jisse aap na de sakte ho. Parantu shaastra kehta hai ki vidvaan Brahmin ko utna hi daan sweekar karna chahiye, jitni usse avashyakta ho. So he raajan, hamein yagya shaala ke liye thodi si bhoomi ki avashyakta hai. So aap kripa karke mujhe utni bhoomi de, jitni main apne pairon se teen dag mein naap sakun. To bas, main santusht ho jaaunga.
King, whatever you said was characteristic of your great family tradition. Whose teacher is the glorious and powerful Shukracharya, whose grandsire is a devotee like Prahlad, and whose father is the brave and generous King Virochan, only in him can one find such humility… such graciousness, such generosity. Oh King of Asurs, I know that you are the master of the whole universe. There is nothing in the three realms that you can't give me. But the scriptures say that a wise Brahmin should only ask for as much charity as he really needs. So dear king, I just need a bit of land for a sacramental altar. Kindly grant me just as much land as I can measure out in three of my footsteps, and I will be content.
B (laughing) – Teen dag bhoomi?! Aapke pairon se naapkar teen dag bhoomi? Brahmin kumar, baatein to budhon jaisi karte ho, par buddhi baalakon jaisi hi hai. Aap itna bhi nahin jaante, apne in chhote chhote pairon se keval teen dag bhoomi maangkar aap Raja Bali ka uphaas kar rahe hain! Hum teenon lokon ke ek-maatra adhipati hain. Hum satdweep, navkhand aapke charnon mein samarpit kar sakte hain. Humse itna maang lo, ki jeevan mein dobaara kisi aur se maangne ki avashyakta na pade. Hamaare saamarth anusaar maango, taaki tumhaari sab kaamnaayein poorn ho jaayein.
Three steps worth of land?! Three steps measured out by YOUR feet? Young priest, you speak like a wise old man, but your mind is just like a child's. Don't you realize that asking for just three steps of land measured out by your tiny little feet is a joke at King Bali's expense? I'm the sole sovereign ruler of the three realms. I can offer the seven continents, the nine regions at your feet! Ask me for so much that you will never need to ask anyone else for anything for the rest of your life! Ask according to my capacity, so that all your desires may be fulfilled.
V – Sansaar mein sab kaamnaayein kiski poori hoti hain, raajan? Manushya jitna paata hai, utni hi uski trishna badhti jaati hai. Aapke paas saari dharti hai, usse kya aapki kaamnaayein tript ho gayi hain? Nahin… aapko ab swarg ka adhipati banne ka lobh hai. So laalsa aur lobh jitna badhaao, utne hi badhte jaate hain. Shanti milti hai keval santosh se. Indriyon aur kaamnaaon ko vash mein rakhkar jo santoshi hoga, wahi jeevan mein tript aur anandmaye hoga. So he raajan, main aapki daanveerta ka sanmaan karte huye, apne liye keval teen pag dharti maangta hoon.
Who in the world gets all their wishes fulfilled, king? As much as man gets, his desires grow that much more. You have the whole earth to yourself, but are you satisfied yet? No, now you aspire to become the king of the heavens! The more greed and desire you chase, the more greed and desire you acquire. Peace only comes with contentment. Whoever can keep his senses and desires under control and remain content, only he shall have bliss and satisfaction in life. So dear king, while I respect your generosity, I again ask only for three steps worth of land.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
