There once lived a matchless king of Asuras named Bali who reigned over Patala as an emperor over it. Having ascended the topmost story of his palace he gave vent to the following train of reflections with a mind disgusted with material pleasures and contemplating upon Samsara (this mundane existence).
Of what avail to me is Kingdom which has enabled me to enjoy from a long time the wealth of all these three incomparable worlds? When I begin to contemplate upon the pleasures of wealth which flit away at once, I find I am but repeating the same actions as yesterday, yielding but momentary happiness.
Through what shall I be able to come into the indubitable possession of that, after which I shall be action-less? What is that path which will enable me to go higher up to “ That” which is free from the illusory sensual objects ?”
I enquired of my father, the omniscient Virochana in this very spot and about this very point. He then explained to me the manner in which I can remove my doubts. What is the seat where all the illusions of pleasures and pains fade away ? What is that seat where the minds delusions will wear away ? What is that seat where all desires are eradicated to their root ? Please enlighten me with answers to these questions.
To which my father replied. A beautiful country there is which is illimitable, and all- pervading. That is the source from which all mundane eggs arise and into which all are absorbed. In this country, there exist neither the grand five elements, nor hills, nor forests, nor holy places, nor the pure Gods, nor the other ancient souls.
Great Luminosity is the name of the king existing therein alone. He is omniscient, all-pervading, the cause of all and stainlessly quiescent and all full. He is Silence itself. He will without fail cause all acts to be performed through the minister appointed by him.
The moment the minister thought of a thing, such an idea though non-existent, arose instantaneously as a tangible thing ; it, though existent, disappeared as mysteriously. Though the minister does all acts in the presence of the king, yet the latter is always alone.”
Bali questioned his father thus “ What is the nature of the country which is without mental disease and all-pervading? What are the means by which it can be reached ? Through what, can it be attained? Who is the imperishable king in that country? and who is the minister? And who is that potent king with his minister that cannot be controlled by my puissant arms which brought under my subjection, as if in sport, all the earths in this universe ?”
To which the father replied thus “Who will be able to over-step the rigorous law of the speedy and powerful minister ? When overpowered by the King, the minister will pay obeisance to him. Otherwise one can more easily move the highest mountains than this person. He will never be completely subdued otherwise than through an intelligence of much experience and skill.
In order to remove the doubts under which you are laboring, I will now proceed to state what the king, his minister, country, etc do symbolize.
The country represents the incomparable and eternal Moksha (Liberation). The king mentioned is the Self Knowledge inseparable from liberation. The creation of his, minister typifies the mind (or intelligence). The real supreme skill lies in the thorough eradication of sensual pleasures and the complete development of dispassion and detachment. When the mind is overpowered by non-desires, what remains of it is Peace attained by No-mind.
Through a determined subjugation of desires, Self enquiry is induced; and this Self enquiry breeds again renunciation of desires. They are both mutually dependent upon one another, like the full ocean and the clouds. One should resort to the wise and attain dispassion through which he should develop Atmic enquiry. When thus he is illumined with true Self Knowledge through Self enquiry, then Jivanmukti (liberation) is attained.”
Bali said "Thus did my father enlighten me before. Through divine grace, I have been able to remember now all that my father told me and attain Knowledge thereby. I will pray for my teacher Sukracharya to give me the Self Knowledge".
Thereupon Sukracharya came to see the King told thus “All the manifestations here before us are Knowledge only ; all that are now external to us (or above our present perception) are Knowledge only ; that which is conditioned is Knowledge ; that which is not conditioned is Knowledge also ; The I that speak am Knowledge ; you that hear are Knowledge only ; and all the universe is nothing butthe all-full Knowledge only. This in brief is the Truth.”
Sukracharya continued “Being impressed with this firm conclusion in your mind, may you meditate upon the one Reality of Knowledge with the intelligence that is requisite for it. If without any modifications of the mind, you cognize and perceive it, then you will attain your goal of the supreme seat”.
Thereafter, the king fell to meditating upon the universe and became convinced of the truth of the words of his Acharya exclaiming thus “This supreme earth is no other than Knowledge ; the three Lokas are Knowledge ; my real nature is Knowledge ; all the ordained Karmas are Knowledge only. I have now become that resplendent Brahmic One which shines in its real nature, devoid of the visibles and the visual. I have now become that all-full Principle which, being of the nature of Knowledge without any objects to bind it, pervades all objects at one and the same time and is the quiescent Knowledge-Akas and intelligence, itself.”
Then contemplating upon {or uttering) Pranava (Om) mentally which is the real significance of the Absolute-Knowledge, he entered trance-like into Dhyana (meditative) state and then freed from Sankalpas, karmas, the three kinds of desires (for wife, sons and wealth), doubts, contemplation, intelligence and objects as well as their substratum the knower, he was statue-like in Sama- dhi for a long period.
Thus did the Emperor Bali remain immobile like the light of a lamp in a windless place. And .since he shone as the Absolute Truth without the stains of love and hatred and with a replete mind, such a state can best be likened to a clear sky in the autumnal season, when no clouds mantle it.
After spending a long time in in Nirvikalpa Samadhi, he awoke and began to perform the regal duties with a mind free from desires and egoism. Through his stainless mind, he was never flurried in adversity or prosperity ; neither did he sink nor swim amidst pleasures or pains. Thus was he with an equal eye over all.
However unlimited were the armies of good and bad thoughts that cropped up unceasingly in his mind, however countless were the objects, imaginary. and real that manifested themselves before him, yet he was able to control them all in one centre. So also, shall you, oh Rama, control your mind, roving amidst the pleasures of this world and the higher, in the centre of your heart.
In whatever places your mind totters like a child and sinks into sensual objects, from that place shall the mind have to be lifted up to the partless Knowledge and be made to attain it. Having reduced this to a regular practice, may you bind this terrible elephant of mind so as to be untrammelled by pains and enable it to reach Moksha through discrimination.
