Now a word about Sutala. The âgavataPurâarrangement of Pâtâlas as given in the text is the reverse of what they should be in point of spirituality, for Atala is the most and Pâtâla the least removed from spirituality.
The influence of Vishnu does not extend beyond Sutala, and nothing can save those that transgress the limits of this nether plane. For in Vitala the destructive Purusha reigns and a passage to that plane is only a door to utter extinction. And in Atala there is not a trace of spirituality, the work of destruction is already done, and mother Nature dissolves the material elements for some better use in future.
The special provision for Sutala is therefore a cyclic necessity. For Jivas have to be preserved from an undesirable end. Therefore Bali was given a post, the proud privilege of seeing that Jivas do not undergo utter extinction. Sutala was also fortified with an accession of spirituality.
The example of self-abnegation, the ideal of self-sacrifice, Bali is to become the king of Devas in the succeeding Manvantara.
Towards the end of the previous Kalpa, Brahmâ was falling asleep and the Vedas fell from his mouth. The Asura Hayagrîva took them up. Seeing this Vishnu became a small fish. King Satyavrata was making Tarpana (_i.e._ offering libations of water), when the fish found its way into his hands. He threw it into the river. The fish implored the King to preserve him. So he took it home and placed it in a small waterpot. The fish increased in size so much that all tanks and rivers were tried, but they could not contain it. At last the king took the fish to the sea, but it implored him not to throw it away into the sea. The king then said: -- "This fish must be the Deity Himself, otherwise how could it grow so large?" The fish then addressed the king thus: "On the seventh day from this, the Trilokî shall be plunged into the Pralaya waters. Then a big Ark shall come to thee. Take all plants, all seeds, all animals, and the seven Rishis with you and get into that ark. When the wind shakes that ark, tie it with a serpent to myself. I will remain with that ark in the Pralaya Ocean till the awakening of Brahmâ. I will manifest supreme wisdom in thee."
So saying the fish disappeared and on the seventh day the Pralaya waters deluged the Trilokî. Satya Vrata did as he was told. He got the highest wisdom from the Fish Incarnation.