Vāmanadeva Praises Bali; the Measure of Three Steps; Śukrācārya Warns Against the Gift
स तन्निकेतं परिमृश्य शून्य- मपश्यमान: कुपितो ननाद । क्ष्मां द्यां दिश: खं विवरान्समुद्रान् विष्णुं विचिन्वन् न ददर्श वीर: ॥ ११ ॥
sa tan-niketaṁ parimṛśya śūnyam apaśyamānaḥ kupito nanāda kṣmāṁ dyāṁ diśaḥ khaṁ vivarān samudrān viṣṇuṁ vicinvan na dadarśa vīraḥ
Finding Lord Viṣṇu’s residence empty, he roared in anger at not seeing Him. He searched the whole universe—earth, heavens, all directions, the sky, caves, and oceans—yet that mighty hero saw Viṣṇu nowhere.
Because the Lord, by His own divine potency (māyā), can remain unseen even when one searches everywhere; mere strength and anger cannot reveal Him.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating to King Parīkṣit, describing Bali Mahārāja’s frustrated search for Lord Viṣṇu.
When outcomes slip beyond control, anger and frantic searching often increase confusion; steadiness, humility, and turning toward devotion are more effective than ego-driven force.