Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 17
Bhagavān’s Avatāras, Their Protections (Poṣaṇa), and the Limits of Knowing Him
ज्यायान् गुणैरवरजोऽप्यदिते: सुतानां लोकान् विचक्रम इमान् यदथाधियज्ञ: । क्ष्मां वामनेन जगृहे त्रिपदच्छलेन याच्ञामृते पथि चरन् प्रभुभिर्न चाल्य: ॥ १७ ॥
jyāyān guṇair avarajo ’py aditeḥ sutānāṁ lokān vicakrama imān yad athādhiyajñaḥ kṣmāṁ vāmanena jagṛhe tripada-cchalena yācñām ṛte pathi caran prabhubhir na cālyaḥ
مع أن الربّ ظهر كأصغر أبناء أديتي، فقد فاق الآديتيّين جميعًا في الصفات؛ وبصفته أدهِيَجْنْيَا اجتاز العوالم وغطّاها. وفي هيئة فامانا، وبحيلة طلب ثلاثة أقدام من الأرض، أخذ من بالي مها راجا كلَّ الأراضي، لأنّه من دون طلبٍ لا يحقّ حتى لذي السلطان أن ينتزع ملكًا مشروعًا من صاحبه.
The history of Bali Mahārāja and his charity to Vāmanadeva is described in the Eighth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Bali Mahārāja conquered all the planets of the universe by rightful possession. A king can conquer other kings by strength, and such possession is considered to be rightful. So Bali Mahārāja possessed all the lands of the universe, and he happened to be charitably disposed toward the brāhmaṇas. The Lord therefore pretended to be a beggar brāhmaṇa, and He asked Bali Mahārāja for a measurement of three footsteps of land. The Lord, as the proprietor of everything, could take from Bali Mahārāja all the land he possessed, but he did not do so because Bali Mahārāja possessed all those lands by king’s rights. When Bali Mahārāja was asked by Lord Vāmana for such small charity, Bali Mahārāja’s spiritual master, namely Śukrācārya, objected to this proposal because he knew that Vāmanadeva was Viṣṇu Himself, pretending to be a beggar. Bali Mahārāja did not agree to abide by the order of his spiritual master when he understood that the beggar was Viṣṇu Himself, and he at once agreed to give Him in charity the land requested. By this agreement Lord Vāmana covered all the lands of the universe with His first two steps and then asked Bali Mahārāja where to place the third step. Bali Mahārāja was very glad to receive the Lord’s remaining step upon his head, and thus Bali Mahārāja, instead of losing everything he possessed, was blessed by the Lord’s becoming his constant companion and doorman. So, by giving everything to the cause of the Lord, one does not lose anything, but he gains everything that he could never otherwise expect.
FAQs
This verse says the Lord, though appearing as the youngest son of Aditi, took back the earth as Vāmana by asking for three steps—an act that displays His supreme authority and divine strategy.
He is called Adhiyajña because He presides over and is the ultimate goal of sacrifice; His avatāra acts establish dharma and reveal that all yajña is meant for Him.
The verse highlights integrity and higher purpose: keep truthful commitments, remain humble in appearance, and recognize that real greatness lies in character and divine alignment—not status.