Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच इत्युक्त: स हसन्नाह वाञ्छात: प्रतिगृह्यताम् । वामनाय महीं दातुं जग्राह जलभाजनम् ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca ity uktaḥ sa hasann āha vāñchātaḥ pratigṛhyatām vāmanāya mahīṁ dātuṁ jagrāha jala-bhājanam

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: When the Supreme Lord spoke thus, Bali smiled and replied, “Accept whatever You desire.” To seal his promise of granting Vāmanadeva the requested land, he took up the waterpot for the ritual gift.

Synonyms

• श्री-शुकः: Śrī Śuka
• श्री-शुकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री-शुक (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘श्रीमान् शुकः’ (venerable Śuka)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात (quotative particle)

• उक्तः: addressed; spoken to
• उक्तः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √वच्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘having been spoken to’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हसन्: smiling; laughing
• हसन्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हस् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आह: said
• आह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/ब्रू (धातु; ‘to say’)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• वाञ्छातः: as desired; from (your) wish
• वाञ्छातः: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाञ्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ablative ‘from desire/according to wish’ (idiomatic)

• प्रतिगृह्यताम्: let it be accepted; please accept
• प्रतिगृह्यताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (आज्ञार्थे; polite passive-like usage)

• वामनाय: to Vāmana
• वामनाय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• महीम्: the earth
• महीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• दातुम्: to give
• दातुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘to give’

• जग्राह: took; seized
• जग्राह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• जल-भाजनम्: water-vessel
• जल-भाजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल-भाजन (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘जलस्य भाजनम्’ (vessel for water)

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Bali Mahārāja
• Vāmana-deva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about giving charity to Vāmana-deva?

This verse shows Bali Mahārāja agreeing with a smile and formally preparing to donate by taking the water-vessel, indicating sincere consent and the traditional dharmic method of dāna.

Why did Bali Mahārāja take the water-vessel (jala-bhājana) before giving land to Vāmana?

In Vedic custom, offerings—especially gifts like land—are confirmed through a water-libation ritual; Bali took the vessel to solemnize and complete the promise to Vāmana.

How can the lesson of Bali’s promise be applied in modern life?

Keep commitments with integrity, give with a willing heart, and let devotion guide generosity rather than ego or fear.