Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 32
The Appearance of Vāmanadeva and His Arrival at Bali’s Sacrifice
यद् वटो वाञ्छसि तत्प्रतीच्छ मे त्वामर्थिनं विप्रसुतानुतर्कये । गां काञ्चनं गुणवद् धाम मृष्टं तथान्नपेयमुत वा विप्रकन्याम् । ग्रामान् समृद्धांस्तुरगान् गजान् वा रथांस्तथार्हत्तम सम्प्रतीच्छ ॥ ३२ ॥
yad yad vaṭo vāñchasi tat pratīccha me tvām arthinaṁ vipra-sutānutarkaye gāṁ kāñcanaṁ guṇavad dhāma mṛṣṭaṁ tathānna-peyam uta vā vipra-kanyām grāmān samṛddhāṁs turagān gajān vā rathāṁs tathārhattama sampratīccha
O Sohn eines Brāhmaṇa, es scheint, dass Du hierher gekommen bist, um mich um etwas zu bitten. Deshalb magst Du alles, was Du willst, von mir nehmen. Du kannst von mir eine Kuh, Gold, ein möbliertes Haus, schmackhaftes Essen und Trinken, die Tochter eines Brāhmaṇa zur Frau, wohlhabende Dörfer, Pferde, Elefanten, Streitwagen oder was immer Du begehrst, annehmen.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Eighteenth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Lord Vāmanadeva, the Dwarf Incarnation.”
FAQs
This verse shows Bali offering every kind of material gift—wealth, property, comforts, and status—to a holy petitioner, illustrating the Vedic ideal of generous charity when approached by a worthy brāhmaṇa or ascetic.
Seeing Vāmana as a brāhmaṇa youth who had come to beg, Bali expresses royal generosity and dharmic hospitality, offering anything He might desire—before Vāmana states His specific request.
Practice purposeful giving—support sincere spiritual and charitable causes, offer resources with respect and humility, and remember that generosity is meant to be guided by dharma rather than pride.