Sage Vasishtha
In another part of the world there is what is known as Patala (the netherworld). In it are found extremely beautiful demonesses, strange reptiles with many heads, demons with enormous bodies, huge elephants, places which are heavily polluted and where a terrible kata-kata noise constantly fills the air, caves or deep mines full of precious gems, places which have been hallowed or sanctified by the dust of the divine feet of the sage Kapila and places sanctified by lord Hatakeshvara who is adored by celestial damsels.
The demon-king Bali, son of Virocana, ruled over this region. The Lord of the Universe, Sri Hari, himself was the protector of this king; hence, even the king of heaven, Indra, adored him. Bali ruled for a very long time over the netherworld. In course of time, intense dispassion overcame him and he began to enquire thus:
"How long should I rule over this netherworld, how long shall I wander in the three worlds? What shall I gain by ruling over the kingdom? When all that is in the three worlds is subject to destruction how can one hope to enjoy happiness through all this? Again and again, the same disgusting pleasures are experienced and the same acts are repeated day after day in this world: how is it that even a wise man is not ashamed of this? The same day and the same night, again and again, life in this world revolves like a whirlpool. Doing all this every day, how can one reach that state in which there is cessation of this repetitive existence? How long should we continue to revolve in this whirlpool and of what use is it?"
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