17. Bali the son of Virochana, reigned in this place as the king of demons, who supported the burden of his kingdom, on the pillars of their mighty arms.
18. He forced the gods, Vidyádharas, serpents, and the king of the gods, to serve at his feet like his vassal train, and they were glad to serve him as their lord.
19. He was protected by Hari, who contains the gemming worlds in the treasure of his bowels (brahmánda—bhándodara), and is the preserver of all embodied beings, and the support of the sovereigns of the earth.
20. His name struck terror in the heart of Airávata, and made his cheeks fade with fear; as the sound of a peacock petrifies the entrails of serpents (because the peacock is a serpivorous bird).[8]
21. The intense heat of his valour, dried up the waters of the septuple oceans of the earth; and turned them to seven dry beds, as under the fire of the universal Conflagration.
22. But the smoke of his sacrificial fire, was an amulet to the people for supply of water; and it caused the rains to fall as profusely from above as the seas fallen below from the waters above. (This alludes to the dynamite which was ignorantly believed to be a talisman).
23. His frowning look, made the high heads of mountains stoop low to the ground; and caused the lofty skies to lower with water, like the high branches of trees when overloaded with fruits. (It means, that the mountains and skies were obedient to his bidding).
24. This mighty monarch reigned over the demons for myriads of years, after he had made an easy conquest of all the treasures and luxuries of the world.
25. Thus he lived for many ages, which glided on like the course of a river rolling about like the waters of whirlpool; and witnessed the incessant flux and reflux of the generations of gods, demons and men, of the three worlds.
26. The king of the demons felt at last, a distaste to all the enjoyments of life, which he had tasted to surfeit; and he felt also an uneasiness amidst the variety of his pleasures.