Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 20
The Appearance of Vāmanadeva and His Arrival at Bali’s Sacrifice
श्रुत्वाश्वमेधैर्यजमानमूर्जितं बलिं भृगूणामुपकल्पितैस्तत: । जगाम तत्राखिलसारसम्भृतो भारेण गां सन्नमयन्पदे पदे ॥ २० ॥
śrutvāśvamedhair yajamānam ūrjitaṁ baliṁ bhṛgūṇām upakalpitais tataḥ jagāma tatrākhila-sāra-sambhṛto bhāreṇa gāṁ sannamayan pade pade
Als der Herr hörte, dass Bali Mahārāja unter der Schirmherrschaft von Brāhmaṇas aus der Bhṛgu-Linie mächtige Aśvamedha-Opfer darbrachte, begab sich der in jeder Hinsicht vollkommene Höchste Herr dorthin, um ihm Barmherzigkeit zu erweisen; bei jedem Schritt drückte sein Gewicht die Erde nieder.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is akhila-sāra-sambhṛta. In other words, He is the proprietor of everything essential in this material world. Thus although the Lord was going to Bali Mahārāja to beg something, He is always complete and has nothing to beg from anyone. Indeed, He is so powerful that in His full opulence He pressed down the surface of the earth at every step.
FAQs
This verse says that the Lord, hearing of Bali’s powerful Aśvamedha sacrifices arranged by Bhṛgu brāhmaṇas, personally went to Bali’s sacrificial arena to enact His divine purpose.
In the narrative, the Lord goes there as Vāmana to receive charity from Bali and thereby reclaim the universe for the devas while glorifying Bali’s devotion and vow-keeping.
It teaches that spiritual integrity and surrender are tested through giving—true charity means offering even what we consider “ours” to God’s will, with humility and faith.