The gods congratulate Hari; Bali is bound by Garuda and then reproached by Vishnu for not fulfilling his promise. "Asura, three paces of ground were given to me by thee; with two paces the entire world has been traversed; find a place for the third. As thou hast not given what was promised, it is my pleasure that thou shouldst dwell in the infernal regions. That man falls downward who, after promising a Brahman, does not deliver to him what he had solicited. I have been deluded by thee." Bali offers his head as a place for Vishnu's foot, saying, "I fear not the infernal regions so much as a bad name." Bali goes to Patala, and is there

visited by his grandfather Prahlada. First Vishnu's wife and then Brahma intercede with him on the demon's behalf, who, in reply, promises that Bali shall again become Indra; but that in the mean time he must dwell in Sutala, where "by my will, neither mental nor bodily pains, nor fatigue, nor weariness, nor discomfiture, nor diseases afflict the inhabitants." Bali gladly left Patala, and went to Sutala, to wait until the time came when, in accordance with the promise of Vishnu, he should again rule over gods and men.

Another legend teaches that Vishnu gave Bali the choice of going to heaven, taking with him five ignorant people, or of going to hell with five wise. He chose the latter, for there is no pleasure anywhere in the company of the ignorant; whilst a bad place with good company is enjoyable.

Footnotes

^155:* Ward, ii. 7, 8.

^156:* Kennedy's "Hindu Mythology," p. 363.

^158:* Muir, O. S. T., iv. 63-156.

^158:+ Ibid.

6. THE PARASURAMA AVATARA.

The incarnation of Parasurama, or Rama with axe, was undertaken by Vishnu for the purpose of exterminating the Kshattriya, or Warrior caste, [**] which had tried to assert its authority over the Brahmanical. Twenty-one times Rama is said to have cleared the earth of these men, but by various means some few were preserved alive who were able to perpetuate the race.

[paragraph continues] The story of this incarnation evidently points to a time when there was a severe and prolonged struggle for supremacy between the members of these two classes. Eventually success lay with the Brahmans. It should be noticed that the scene of Vishnu's exploits in this Avatara, and in those which follow it, was the earth; and not, as in those preceding, the abode of the gods.

The following legend of the birth of Parasurama is from the "Vishnu Purana." [**] A prince named Gadhi, who was himself an incarnation of Indra, had a daughter named Satyavati. Richika, a descendant of Bhrigu, [*+] demanded her in marriage. The king asked from the decrepit old Brahman a thousand fleet white horses, each having one black ear, as a wedding present. These horses were obtained, by the help of Varuna, and the Brahman received the hand of the princess.