Unlike one would expect, the Lok of Patal is filled with splendid jewels, beautiful groves and lovely lakes. Although here is no sunlight, but the darkness is dissipated by the shining of the jewels that the residents of Patala wear.

The sweet fragrance is in the air and is fused with sweet music. The soil here is white, black, purple, sandy, yellow, stony and also of gold.

Great sages like Narad Muni have claimed that Patal Lok is even more beautiful than Swargalok. Here there is no old age, no sweat, no disease and no distress.

This realm filled with wealth, luxury and pleasures is being ruled by Nagas, Daityas and Danavas under the sovereignty of Raja Mahabali.

But today the opulance of this 'Bila-swarg' or Subterranean Heaven increased when the divine feet of Mata Laxmi fell on it.

She had come to take her husband, Bhagwaan Vishnu from Raja Mahabali. As she reached in front of his marvellous palace, she saw the palanhaar standing outside as the gatekeeper.

Standing in front of him, Mata Laxmi smiled and then joined her hands in front of him.

"Hey Dwarpal, mujhe Raja Mahabali se milne hetu andar jaane ki anumati de, woh Raja Mahabali jo asur hone ke paschat bhi vedo mei nipurn, dayalu aur daanveer hai. Jinhone swayam Bhagwan ko daan dene ka saubhagya prapt kiya, jinhone teeno loko ka tyag kar ishwar par swamitya sthapit kiya. Mujhe uss pujniya aur dev-tulya Raja Mahabali se milne ki anumati de." Mata Laxmi asked for permission.

She knew that to obtain permission to enter she must make dwarpal Narayan happy, and what will please a gatekeeper if not the praises of his master.

"Aapko andar jaane ki anumati hai devi." Narayan allowed stepping aside.

Mata Laxmi gave him a grateful smile and walked inside the grand palace, where Raja Mahabali came running to her coming to know her presence as the opulence of his realm increased even more.

"Mere Aradhyadev ki patni, Mata Laxmi ko mera pranaam." Mahabali bowed to her.

"Kalyanmastu Raja Mahabali." She smiled blessing him.

"Aho Bhagya humare ! Jo swayam aap ne apne shri-charan mere Mahal mei rakhe hai. Swayam Mata Laxmi mere ghar aayi hai." Bali said gratefully.

"Jaha mere pad-chinn padte hai waha sadev sukh, shaanti aur samriddhi bani rehti hai. Aapke bhakti-bhav se prabhavit ho mai aapko kuch Dena chahti hu." Mata Laxmi said.

"Mujhe jo kuch chahiye tha, woh toh mil gaya. Ab mujhe kisi vastu ki awashyakta nahi. Kintu aapki bhet Mai aashirwad samajh ke swikar karta hu." Mahabali said humbly.

Mata Laxmi smiled and held his right hand up, she took out a red sutra she was carrying and tied it around the wrist of Mahabali. He looked at it confused and then at her.

"Iss Rakshasutra se mai aapko Bhai-behen ke pavitra rishte mei baandh rahi hu. Aaj se aap mere Bhrata aur mai aapki behen." Mata Laxmi said with a smile.

Mahabali looked at her and then at the red Rakshasutra in his hand. He was completely overwhelmed that a supreme goddess like her has deemed him worthy to be her brother.

"Aapne toh mujhe duvidha mei daal diya devi. Bhai hone ke naate mujhe aapko koi bhet dena chahiye, kintu jo sarvasva ka shrot hai unhe mei kya du ? Ek Bhrata ka dharm aur kartavya hai apni behen ko uphaar dena, batayiye devi mai aapko kya de sakta hu ?" Mahabali asked.

"Yadi dena hi hai, toh mujhe aapke dwarpal de dijiye Bhrata." Mata Laxmi smiled.

Mahabali became speechless for a moment and then smiled. Like his aradhya his wife also mastered the leela.

"Bhul huyi mujhse, anjaane mei Laxmi Narayan ko alag kardiya. Bhagwaan Vishnu Sarvayapi hai kintu unka sthan Vaikunth mei hai, aapke saath." Mahabali said.

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A/N

Unlike what is portrayed in serials, Patal is actually a beautiful place. Narad Muni says it is more beautiful than Swargalok.

I think most people confuse Patal with Narakloka. The actual hell is Narakloka, which is located below Patal.