Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

न पुमान् मामुपव्रज्य भूयो याचितुमर्हति । तस्माद् वृत्तिकरीं भूमिं वटो कामं प्रतीच्छ मे ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

na pumān mām upavrajya bhūyo yācitum arhati tasmād vṛttikarīṁ bhūmiṁ vaṭo kāmaṁ pratīccha me

Translation

O small boy, one who comes to me to beg should not have to ask again elsewhere. Therefore, if You wish, ask from me as much land as will suffice to maintain You according to Your needs.

Synonyms

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• pumān: a man
• pumān: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• upavrajya: having approached
• upavrajya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vraj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), with prefix उप-; ‘having approached’

• bhūyaḥ: again/more
• bhūyaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūyas (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• yācitum: to ask
• yācitum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Infinitive purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yāc (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), ‘to beg/ask’

• arhati: is fit/ought
• arhati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arh (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasmāt: therefore/from that
• tasmāt: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• vṛttikarīm: livelihood-providing
• vṛttikarīm: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛtti (प्रातिपदिक) + karī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with bhūmim; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: वृत्तेः करिणी (making livelihood)

• bhūmim: land
• bhūmim: Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vaṭo: O brahmacārin boy
• vaṭo: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaṭu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• kāmam: as you wish
• kāmam: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Idiomatic indeclinable use (अव्ययीभाववत्/क्रियाविशेषण) meaning ‘as you wish/indeed’

• pratīccha: accept
• pratīccha: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); with prefix प्रति-

• me: of me/from me
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Vāmana
• Bali Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about approaching Lord Vishnu and never needing to beg again?

This verse states that one who truly approaches the Lord should not have to beg again, implying the Lord’s protection and complete provision for the surrendered devotee.

Why did Vamana-deva ask Bali Maharaja for land sufficient for His livelihood?

Speaking as a brāhmaṇa boy, Vāmana frames His request as a simple, dharmic ask for maintenance—while setting the stage for His divine purpose of curbing Bali’s dominance and revealing the Lord’s supremacy.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life according to Bhagavatam wisdom?

Practice sincere surrender and integrity—seek the Lord’s shelter through devotion and live simply; trust that righteous dependence on God reduces anxious “begging” for security and fulfillment.