Slokam 10

The Paramathma acknowledges the invaluable virtues and good attributes of Bali, and bestows on him the initial  ascendancy to a world superior to that of Sutala.

The Vishnu Purana,^[8] states the seven realms of Patala, which are located one above the other, are seventy-thousand yojanas (a unit of measurement) below the Earth's surface. Each of them extends ten thousand Yojanas. In Vishnu Purana, they are named as from the highest to the lowest as: Atala, Vitala, Nitala, Garbhastimat, Mahatala, Sutala and Patala. In the Bhagavata Purana and the Padma Purana, they are called Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talatala, Mahatala, Rasatala and Patala. The Shiva Purana, replaces Mahatala with Tala. The Vayu Purana calls them Rasatala, Sutala, Vitala, Gabhastala, Mahatala, Sritala and Patala.^[8] The seven Patalas as well as the earth above them is supported on the head of the tamasic (dark) form of Vishnu, the thousand-headed nāga Shesha.^[8][10] Sometimes, Shesha is described to reside in the lowest region of Patala instead of below it.^[4] Below the regions of Patala lies Naraka, the Hindu Hell – the realm of death where sinners are punished.^[8]

The Paramathma further assures Bali that ultimately, he will attain the status of Indira.

The implication in the slokam is that Bali will have to serve the sentence in Patala until his karma as an asura is washed away.  The rope used by varuna to tie him up is symbolic, and meant  to indicate that Bali cannot escape the ordeal of having to undergo the ordeal of suffering confinement in Patala. Being human and being subject to births and deaths, the ordeal might extend over many lifetimes. 

The clear message of Canto 31 is that the Paramathma has only one objective, and that is to elevate our level of existence to the next higher plane. Bali led the life of an asura. He however had qualities of commitment and respect for spiritual advancement that few others could match.  The Paramathma works to encourage his dharmic qualities while subduing his asuric nature. 

Bali has no hesitation in bowing down to the Paramthma to accept with dignity and respect, both the bestowment and the taking away of his possessions.

The typical asura would not respect anyone or accept being deprived of possessions. 

The Paramathma also assures Bali that after the tenure as Indira,  he would be inseparably merged with the supreme. 

The Paramathma has clearly charted the course in advance.  What if Bali becomes greedy again when he is in sutala or deva loka?  Will he be pushed down to the netherworld again?

It is very clear from the nature of life’s ordeals that we go through, that elevation does not take place unless the Paramathma is assured that the elevation is justified by our good qualities and attributes.

Moreover at each level, the lessons and tests administered will work to cleanse us of all undesirable qualities. 

When the Paramathma assures Bali that he will be ultimately merged with Himself,  the Paramathma is not saying the no more effort will be required on the part of Bali.  He is saying that Bali has been able to develop the requisite qualities that are necessary to pass through the higher level.

When Arjuna hesitates on the battlefield,  Sri Krishna asks him that if Arjuna is unsure of action even in this world,  how is he going to transcend the next world, and the world after that?  It is clear from the Paramathma’s question, that different worlds have been structured with increasing levels of challenges. We have to graduate by taking the test at each level before moving to the next.

To be clearly noted that in the Paramathma’s universe, there is no destruction of the atma.  The jiva atma is ever evolving to higher levels,  by taking on different bodies, different roles, until it reaches the most advanced stage of merging with the Paramathma.  Travails,  trauma, setbacks are all temporary situations that are meant to transform us and induce us to evolve to higher planes of existence. 

To fight a virus,  we cannot take pills that will destroy the virus in our body.  The body is injected with a vaccine,  which is a tiny sample of the virus,  so that the body develops its own mechanism to fight the virus.  Likewise,  the events of life that we are subjected to is the vaccine that is injected into us.  This vaccine has ingredients of desire such as greed, lust, dominance, which induces other undesirables such as conflict, confusion etc. in our minds and consciousness.  Like the body develops antibodies to fight the virus,  we have to develop the qualities of selflessness,  tyagam,  surrender to the Paramathma,  and tools such as prayer,  and tapas,  to rid ourselves of the disease of attachment to this world.

With Bali subdued and the three worlds restored to the rightful occupants,  the Paramathma continues on to bring the superb yagnya to a glorious conclusion and climax by the brahmins.

May we clearly understand the infinite power and compassion of the Paramathma,  the lessons that He administers and His expectation from us to meet the requirements for our elevation.