Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 27

Vāmanadeva Praises Bali; the Measure of Three Steps; Śukrācārya Warns Against the Gift

Devanagari script

तस्मात् त्रीणि पदान्येव वृणे त्वद् वरदर्षभात् । एतावतैव सिद्धोऽहं वित्तं यावत्प्रयोजनम् ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

tasmāt trīṇi padāny eva vṛṇe tvad varadarṣabhāt etāvataiva siddho ’haṁ vittaṁ yāvat prayojanam

Translation

Darum, o König, du Bester unter den Spendern, erbitte ich von dir nur drei Schritte Land. Mit dieser Gabe allein bin ich zufrieden; denn Glück liegt darin, mit dem wahrhaft Notwendigen zufrieden zu sein.

Synonyms

• तस्मात्: therefore; from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे (contextual), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; ablative ‘from that/therefore’

• त्रीणि: three
• त्रीणि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पदानि: steps; paces
• पदानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

• एव: only; indeed
• एव: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; emphasis/restriction

• वृणे: I choose; I request
• वृणे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• त्वत्: your; of you
• त्वत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/genitive), एकवचन; ‘of you/your’ (used with following noun)

• वरदर्षभात्: from the best of boon-givers
• वरदर्षभात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरद-ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘वरदः’ (boon-giver) + ‘ऋषभः’ (bull/excellent one)

• एतावता: with this much
• एतावता: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतावत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/करण), एकवचन; instrumental ‘by/with this much’

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; emphasis

• सिद्धः: satisfied; accomplished
• सिद्धः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिद्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √सिध्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• वित्तम्: wealth
• वित्तम्: Karma/Viṣaya (कर्म/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; here as predicate/measure ‘wealth’

• यावत्: as much as
• यावत्: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय/सर्वनाम)
• Form: अव्यय (correlative), ‘as much as/so far as’

• प्रयोजनम्: need; purpose
• प्रयोजनम्: Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘purpose/need’

Characters & Entities

• Vāmana
• Bali Mahārāja

FAQs

What is the meaning of Vamana asking for three steps of land in Srimad Bhagavatam?

In this verse Vāmana requests only three steps, showing that a devotee (and the Lord’s own teaching) values necessity over greed; the ‘three steps’ also set the stage for the Lord measuring the universe and revealing His supremacy.

Why did Vamana say he needed only as much wealth as required?

Vāmana emphasizes that wealth has value only when it serves a proper purpose; asking for a small, sufficient gift highlights contentment and exposes the futility of pride in possessions.

How can this Bhagavatam teaching be applied in modern life?

Keep goals and consumption need-based, practice charitable giving without ego, and measure success by dharma and devotion rather than accumulation.