Shloka 1.29.2
सिद्धाश्रम-प्रसङ्गः (Siddhashrama and the Vāmana Narrative)
इह राम महाबाहो विष्णुर्देववर: प्रभु:।वर्षाणि सुबहूनीह तथा युगशतानि च।।1.29.2।।तपश्चरणयोगार्थमुवास सुमहातपा:।
trīn kramān atha bhikṣitvā pratigṛhya ca mānadaḥ | ākramya lokān lokātmā sarvabhūtahite rataḥ || 1.29.20 ||
mahendrāya punaḥ prādān niyamya balim ojasā | trailokyaṃ sa mahātejāś cakre śakravaśaṃ punaḥ || 1.29.21 ||
Thereafter, the restorer of honour—the very inner Self of the worlds, devoted to the welfare of all beings—begged for three strides; and, having received them, he encompassed the worlds with those strides. Then, restraining Bali by his power, that greatly radiant One returned the three worlds to Mahendra (Indra), placing them once more under Śakra’s rule.
"O mighty-armed Rama! Lord Visnu, the foremost among the gods, and master the great ascetic lived here carrying out yogic practices and penance for innumerable years constituting hundreds of yugas.
Legitimate authority is restored for the common good: power is exercised not for domination but to re-establish rightful order and protect all beings.
The Vāmana episode culminates: Viṣṇu takes three strides to encompass the worlds, subdues Bali, and returns sovereignty of the three worlds to Indra.
Loka-hita (universal welfare): governance and divine power are justified by their service to the well-being of all living beings.