Garuda rebuked Bali: “Why did you offer to Vishnu when you did not have enough to give? I shall now take it forcibly.” Saying this, he bound Bali in Varuna’s noose.

On seeing that her husband had been bound, Bali’s wife, Vindhyavali, stood in front of Vishnu. She realised that her husband had been tricked: he had been made to promise land equal to the dwarf’s three paces, but had been compelled to give land equal to Vishnu’s giant form’s three paces. Very thoughtfully, she pulled her son, Bana, to her side and said to Vishnu, “Three steps were promised by my husband. Do not worry, he shall still give three steps. Place one step on my head, the second on the head of my son, and the third on the head of my husband.”

Outsmarted, Vishnu praised Bali as the greatest of donors. He released Bali and embraced him. He also granted Bali the kingdom of Sutala and promised to stand forever as his doorkeeper. Thus, the intelligent Vindhyavali saved the day for her kind but naïve husband.

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